J EEWISHW I S H A FFFAIRSFA I R S Pesach 2016 75 Years Price R50,00 incl. VAT Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper ISSN 0021 • 6313 Y&R1504706 When it comes to freedom, we have a defi nite leaning. Wishing you a Chag Kasher v’Sameach. Specialist Banking Asset Management Wealth & Investment Investec Limited and its subsidiaries, including Investec Bank Limited – 1969/004763/06, registered credit providers and authorised financial service providers. Johannesburg 011 286 7000 Cape Town 021 416 1000 Durban 031 575 4000 Pretoria 012 427 8300 Port Elizabeth 041 396 6700. 5776 Chag Pesach Sameach to all our Jewish customers www.picknpay.co.za. Customer Care 0800 11 22 88. Toll free landline only. Cellphone rates apply. JA_DIS091 MISSION EDITORIAL BOARD In publishing JEWISH AFFAIRS, the SA EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jewish Board of Deputies aims to produce a cultural forum which caters for a wide David Saks SA Jewish Board of Deputies variety of interests in the community. The journal will be a vehicle for the publication of ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD articles of significant thought and opinion on Suzanne Belling Author and Journalist contemporary Jewish issues, and will aim to Dr Louise Bethlehem Hebrew University of Jerusalem encourage constructive debate, in the form of Marlene Bethlehem SA Jewish Board of Deputies reasoned and researched essays, on all matters Cedric Ginsberg University of South Africa of Jewish and general interest. Dr Elaine Katz University of the Witwatersrand JEWISH AFFAIRS aims also to publish essays Professor Marcia Leveson of scholarly research on all subjects of Jewish Naomi Musiker Archivist and Bibliographer interest, with special emphasis on aspects Isaac Reznik of South African Jewish life and thought. Gwynne Schrire SA Jewish Board of Deputies Scholarly research papers that make an original Dr Gabriel A Sivan World Jewish Bible Centre contribution to their chosen field of enquiry Professor Gideon Shimoni Hebrew University of Jerusalem will be submitted to the normal processes of academic refereeing before being accepted Professor Milton Shain University of Cape Town for publication. The Hon. Mr Justice Ralph Zulman JEWISH AFFAIRS will promote Jewish ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS – Shirley Beagle cultural and creative achievement in South ENQUIRIES [email protected] Africa, and consider Jewish traditions and 011 645 2583 heritage within the modern context. It aims TYPESETTING/PRINTING – Bookpress, Johannesburg to provide future researchers with a window on the community’s reaction to societal challenges. In this way the journal hopes critically to explore, and honestly to confront, © South African Jewish Board of Deputies 2015 problems facing the Jewish community both Permission to reprint material from JEWISH AFFAIRS should be in South Africa and abroad, by examining applied for from national and international affairs and their The South African Jewish Board of Deputies impact on South Africa. JEWISH AFFAIRS is published 3 times annually The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is committed Annual subscription R140 including VAT and postage to dialogue and free enquiry. It aims to protect Overseas Subscriptions R300 human rights and to strive for better relations Postal Address: PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041 among peoples of diverse cultural backgrounds [email protected] in South Africa. The columns of JEWISH AFFAIRS will therefore be open to all shades of opinion. Main front cover image The views expressed by the contributors will Moritz Oppenheim (1800-1882): A Jewish Wedding, 1861. be their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, the Editorial Board or the Publishers. Original, unpublished essays of between 1 000 and 6 000 words on However, in keeping with the provisions of all subjects are invited, and should be sent to: the National Constitution, the freedom of The Editor, JEWISH AFFAIRS, PO Box 87557, Houghton 2041, speech exercised in this journal will exclude david@ the dissemination of hate propaganda, personal sajbd.org attacks or invective, or any material which may be regarded as defamatory or malicious. In all such matters, the Editor’s decision is final. VOL. 71 NO. 1 PESACH 2016 Editor: David Saks OBITUARY Reuben Musiker Naomi Musiker .............................................................................................................................................5 THE FASCIST CHALLENGE: SOUTH AFRICAN AND UK PERSPECTIVES South Africa Then and Now: Belligerent Nationalism, Ethnic Scapegoating and the Politics of Xenophobia Tony Leon ....................................................................................................................................................6 Milton Shain’s A Perfect Storm – Historical and Contemporary Angles David Saks ...................................................................................................................................................9 The Protocols of the Elders of Zion comes to South Africa (Part II) Hadassa Ben-Itto .......................................................................................................................................13 British Fascists and the Jews Gabriel A. Sivan .........................................................................................................................................21 ESSAYS AND REFLECTIONS Where are the women Yiddish writers? Cecil Bloom ...............................................................................................................................................35 Synagogal Weddings from a Halachic Standpoint David Sher .................................................................................................................................................38 Cape Town woman nominates Righteous Gentiles Gwynne Schrire..........................................................................................................................................45 BOOK REVIEWS By a Mighty Hand David Scher ...............................................................................................................................................50 Jan Smuts: Unafraid of Greatness Ralph Zulman .............................................................................................................................................51 Saba Raba (Chief Rabbi Bernard Moses Casper z.tl ) Isaac Reznik ...............................................................................................................................................55 Jews and Words Beverley May .............................................................................................................................................56 NEW POETRY Abigail S Bagraim, Charlotte Cohen, Maurice Skikne ................................................................................59 JEWISH AFFAIRS PESACH 2016 Editor’s Note: In December 2015, the editorial board of Jewish Affairs lost one of its most loved and esteemed members, and South African Jewry one of its most venerated academics, with the passing of Professor Reuben Musiker. In this overview, long-serving JA board member and contributor Naomi Musiker provides what is necessarily only an outline of her late husband’s distinguished career. The Editor, for his own part, would like to emphasize the invaluable contribution that Reuben made to this journal, whether as a regular contributor of scholarly articles and reviews, or as a member of the editorial board. On a personal level, Reuben was an unfailing source of warm encouragement, support and sage advice to him, for which alone he will be greatly missed. Reuben Musiker was born in Johannesburg on 12 January 1931, the youngest child of Judel and Sarah Musiker. He qualified with a Medical BSc from the Witwatersrand Medical School, having studied for this degree in order to save what was left of an incompatible period as a dental student, following a severe hearing loss. In 1954, he obtained, with distinction, a Higher Diploma in Librarianship from the University of Cape Town School of Librarianship. The following year, he started work at the Johannesburg Public Library, under the guidance of R F Kennedy, City Librarian. Reuben’s seven years at the JPL were extremely stressful but, from a career point of view, richly rewarding. He gained invaluable experience in the Periodicals, Reference, Africana, Cataloguing and Lending Services, rising to the post of Organiser of Branches. During this period, he began to publish books and articles, including the first edition of his Guide to South African Reference Books, which eventually ran to five editions. He also tutored students taking the correspondence courses of the South African Library Association. Reuben was an inspiring and patient teacher, and in later years advised and assisted many post-graduate students in bibliographical style, citation of notes and references. He was responsible for the compilation of a Style Guide for Theses and Dissertations, published by the University of the Witwatersrand in 1980. In 1961, Reuben successfully applied for the position of Deputy University Librarian at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, serving in this capacity for eleven years under Dr Frank van der Riet. During this period he obtained an MA (with distinction) from the University of Pretoria for his dissertation on The Special Libraries of South Africa (published, in 1970, by Scarecrow Press, US). He also played a part in Jewish communal life, as secretary of the Grahamstown synagogue committee. In 1973, Reuben