ABOUT THE JOY OF CREATING A STORY OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS / 10 2 COUNTRIES SHADOW- JODI BIEBER’S GLIMPSES INTO BOXING ‘OTHER WORLDS’/10 / 11 Subscribe to our FREE epaper - go to www.sajewishreport.co.za www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday, 27 May 2011 / 16 Iyar, 5771 Volume 15 Number 19 Obama-Netanyahu tensions down; US Pres faces political problems PAGE 8 Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer, counted since the second night of Pesach. The most popular custom BASKING IN THE is lighting bonfires, to commemorate the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who gave great spiritual light to the world. At the Great Park Shul “forest” in Johannesburg, the turnout was exceptional. The young – and WARMTH OF A LAG young at heart - toasted marshmallows and enjoyed themselves. As it has become customary, the occasion B’OMER BONFIRE again served as a rallying point to collect blankets for the less fortunate. (PHOTOGRAPH: JEREMY FELDMAN) PAGE 6 Israel rejects SA pro- Jews are returning Arrest of Strauss-Kahn Shahar Peer A taste of Jewish Palestinian activist / 3 to SA politics / 5, 9 shakes French Jews / 3 in trouble?/ 20 Holland / 12, 13 YOUTH / 16 SPORT / 20 LETTERS / 14 CROSSWORD & BRIDGE / 18 COMMUNITY BUZZ / 6 WHAT’S ON / 18 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 27 May - 03 June 2011 SHABBAT TIMES PARSHA OF THE WEEK May 27/23 Iyar May 28/24 Iyar Bamidbar Living up to Starts Ends 17:07 17:58 Johannesburg expectations The Western 17:29 18:23 Cape Town 16:48 17:40 Durban Wall and 17:09 18:00 Bloemfontein Piazza with 17:01 17:54 Port Elizabeth the Dome of 16:54 17:47 East London the Rock PARSHAT BAMIDBAR behind it. Rabbi Alex Carlebach Chabad of Lyndhurst Published by Yerushalayim celebrations S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 84650, Greenside, 2034 Tel: (011) 023-8160 MY FRIENDS, this week we commence reading the Fax: (086) 634-7935 Fourth Book of Chumash, Bamidbar - The Book of by way of a breakfast Printed by Caxton Ltd Numbers. The literal English translation is “Desert” EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin as the Jewish people were travelling at the time. RITA LEWIS On June 7, 1967, corresponding to the 28th [email protected] However, the common name for this chumash is day of Iyar, 5727 of the Hebrew calendar, Sub-Editor - Paul Maree “Numbers” as it is comprised of different censuses. JUNE 1 will herald Yom Yerushalayim, the Israeli forces captured the Old City of Ed Co-ordinator - Barry Bilewitz In today’s society, being a number is seen negatively. anniversary of the reunification of Israel’s Jerusalem. This resulted in the reunifica- [email protected] There is a sense that a person is reduced to a statis- capital city, Jerusalem, 44 years ago on June tion of the City of Jerusalem. Senior Reporter - Rita Lewis tic. 7, 1967 after the Six Day War and the estab- Zionist Jews all over the world will cele- [email protected] lishment of Israeli control over the area brate the day with music, dancing, carni- Sports Editor - Jack Milner In a Torah sense, it means that each and every one [email protected] of us has an equal value in the eyes of our Heavenly known as the Old City including the vals, etc. Books Editor - Gwen Podbrey Father. Each of us is precious and beloved. Western Wall of the Temple. In Israel Yom Yerushalayim is a national Arts Editor - Robyn Sassen This is one of the reasons we read the parsha of At the time, the Chief Rabbi of Israel holiday marked by state ceremonies, [email protected] Numbers before Shavuot, the anniversary of the giv- declared the day Yom Yerushalayim (Jeru- parades throughout the cities and memori- Youth Editor - Alison Goldberg ing of the Holy Torah. Here, we are taught the equal- salem Day) and instructed it to be a minor al services for soldiers who died in the bat- [email protected] ity and value of each and every Jew. For our Holy religious holiday - as a way of thanking G-d tle to retake the city from enemy occupa- Cape Town correspondent Sages teach that if even one of our nation was miss- for the repossession of the city and for tion. Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206 answering the 2 000-year-old prayer of “Next The original destruction of Jerusalem Pretoria correspondent ing, Hashem would not have given our people His Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471 Holy Torah. Year in Jerusalem” – words which are still was a watershed event in Jewish history Manager: Distribution In contrast, we hear today of how many of our sung at certain celebrations and festivals. that began thousands of years of mourning Britt Landsman young people we are losing to intermarriage - how The City of Jerusalem was divided after - therefore it follows that its reunification [email protected] many simply disregard their heritage. The essence Israel had declared its independence in should be a joyous event for Zionist Jews Sales Executives - (011) 023-8160 of the problem seems to be that there is little feeling 1948, when it was attacked by five neigh- and Israelis to be celebrated the world over. Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520 bouring Arab countries, resulting in what In South Africa too, Jews will celebrate Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838 of being part of a chain of Judaism. There is little Murray Schoeman: 083-627-6670 fostering of pride in our history and traditions. was known as the Arab-Israeli War. throughout the country. Freelance Sales Executive Instead of lamenting the situation, perhaps we At the end of this war, Israeli forces con- At Beyachad in Johannesburg, WIZO has Marlene Bilewitz: 083-475-0288 need to show each individual how important and trolled most of the city, but East Jerusalem, organised a fundraiser as part of their Classified Sales valuable they are to us - how each plays a unique including the Old City, was controlled by Fortnightly Forum, comprising an “Israeli [email protected] part in contributing to our people as a whole. Jordanian forces. Breakfast” and a morning’s entertainment. Design and layout Perhaps then, the same young people would feel dif- The Old City was important for strategic Rabbi Dovid Hazdan of Great Park Shul, Frankie Matthysen will speak on Jerusalem, while the Salon Nicole Cook ferently. Perhaps then, they would feel that their and religious reasons, as many sites of reli- Website decisions have more serious consequences. gious importance are in this part of the city, Soiree Girls, Patricia Flaum, Helen www.sajewishreport.co.za There is an old adage that you get what you including the Dome of the Rock and the al- Heldenmuth and Ros Bassarabie, will give Ilan Ossendryver expect. The same may be said of people. Our percep- Aqsa Mosque; the Temple Mount, (Kotel or their particular take on “Stones of IC-Creations tions and belief in people can have a significant Western Wall) of the Temple; and the Jerusalem”. [email protected] Church of the Holy Sepulchre – catering for Appearing will also be singers Mark Subscription enquiries effect on the way they behave. Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd This is even more pertinent when parents, teach- Jews, Muslims as well as Christians. Samowitz and Lindi Brest. Tel: 0860-13-2652 ers, peers and friends interact. A teacher may decide BOARD OF DIRECTORS that a particular student is incapable of being edu- KASHRUT NOTICE Howard Feldman (Chairman), Issie Kirsh cated. In turn, they may write him/her off as being ‘RETAIL SIZE’ MRS BALLS NOW KOSHER (Deputy Chairman), Stan Kaplan, Marlene unworthy of attention. As a result, these children Bethlehem, Russell Gaddin, Mrs Balls Chutney in retail size contain- logo. Norman Lowenthal, Bertie begin to live up to those expectations and create self- ers is now Kosher. The following varieties are included: Lubner, Benjy Porter, Herby fulfilling prophecies. In an “important note” to the community, • Mrs Balls Chilli Chutney Rosenberg, Howard I met an individual who, throughout his school the Johannesburg Beth Din says that “as • Mrs Balls Extra Hot Chutney Sackstein, Jason Valkin. years, was considered a nebbish. He had learning this product has a long shelf life, there is • Mrs Balls Hot Chutney difficulties and was often either told so, or just still stock of the previous non-kosher • Mrs Balls Lite Hot & Spicy Chutney KASHRUT ignored. As an adult he became a successful busi- product on store shelves”. • Mrs Balls Lite Mild & Fruity Chutney The following symbols will appear on nessman. Unilever will be printing the Beth Din • Mrs Balls Original Chutney advertisements and/or advertising fea- It would have seemed that his outcome would have logo on the labels of the new kosher stock, • Mrs Balls Peach Chutney tures to indicate whether or not they are been the opposite. He told me that it took a grade 7 kosher. Where no Kashrut mark appears but only after their existing supply of • Mrs Balls Tomato Chutney on an advert, the Jewish Report teacher to make him believe in himself. That teacher labels has run out, which is approximate- The Beth Din’s kashrut department says assumes no responsibility for the kept reminding him that he was created in G-d’s ly in four months’ time. other varieties may be added in due course. Kashrut status of that establishment or image. As a result he was special. He learnt to “In the interim, the new kosher stock of “The above applies only to the South advertiser: believe that he was valuable.