TELFED MAY 1995 VOL. 21 NO. 2 A SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION (ISRAEL) PUBLICATION A Special Breed Early South African Pioneers tell their stories Special Feature: South African Bnei Akiva celebrates 60 years Guest Columnist Leslie Susser: T h e W a r f o r P e a c e Business: Farewell to the Financial Rand Sport: Sailing across the Atlantic Art Scene: Splashes of Watercoloiir 46 SOKOLOV (2nd Floor) RAWIAT-HASHARON Tel. 03-5400070 Home 09-446967 F a x 0 3 - 5 4 0 0 0 7 7 Dear Friend, I am writing this letter whilst sitting in the departure lounge at Larnaca airport in Cyprus waiting for our 45 minute!!! flight back to Tel Aviv. Carol and 1 have been here mainly to check out hotels for a few incentives I will be operating this year. One really doesn't have to travel far to dis cover a new place with excellent hotels, good food and just that "change" that we all need every so often. Prices for packages are also pretty cheap - $350 for a 3 night stay with bed and breakfast (may change in the season). I even discovered a genuine Lawn Bowls Green in Aya Napa!!! and for the Golfers - head for Phaphos. This year looks like we will see most prices remaining stable for all Euro pean and American flights or packages. I really don't have to tempt you with cheap prices. I suppose that you just have to make the decision as to where and when. Last month the call of Africa lured us back to Kenya and then on to Tanza nia, a previous "Off Limits" destination. We had a wonderful 8 days discov ering the Magic of the Serengetti, Tanagire and probably one of the real wonders of the world, the Ngorogoro Crater, truly an exciting and memora ble experience. I can only wonder sometimes why more of my clients don't take advantage of the new vistas that have opened up these past years. I wish to bring to your notice that Ian Waldbaum is no longer associated with Diesenhaus. 1 wish him luck in his new set up. Arthur Judes and the rest of my excellent staff will as usual be very happy to help with any of your travel questions. Hope the summer is not too hot!!! ^Best regards. \ Terry Kessel Managing Director CONTENTS THEY DO US PROUD' I uki Katz, interviewed in our cover story, expresses concern with a touch of nostalgia P E O P L E 3 that, "Many people of this generation do not understand Zionism, or have a different con COVER STORY 6 cept of Zionism." Clearly for Muki and his gen SPORT 12 eration of pioneers who came from South Africa in the 1930's and 40's, so much has changed. The A R T S C E N E 1 6 era has long past when young men and women would B U S I N E S S 2 0 attend public meetings in the City Halls of Johan nesburg, Cape Town, or some small town Jewish TRAVEL IN ISRAEL...27 Club where they would listen spellbound to one of N U P T I A L S 3 1 the great speakers of the day out from Palestine. These youngsters would be so inspired that they EATINC OUT/IN 34 would make a decision that would change their lives KEREN TELFED 36 immeasurably. What they could not have known at the time was that their decisions would collectively N O T I C E B O A R D 3 8 set a course for an entire nation. In this, the first of a series, we interview four of those early pio R E G I O N A L N E W S 4 0 neers, whose spirit and idealism sent them on a GUEST COLUMN 44 journey that prepared the way for future generations. Elsewhere in this issue, we focus on Bnei Akiva B O O K N O O K 4 8 which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. T E L F E D T I D I N G S 5 0 We speak to former members who reflect on their memories in the Movement and comment on some F E A T U R E 5 4 of the ideological shifts that have taken and are taking C O N D O L E N C E S 5 8 place. Many thanks for your generous contributions to RELIGION 59 maintaining the high standards of our magazine. N E W A R R I V A L S 6 1 Keep it up. CLASSIFIED 63 David Kaplan Chairman of the Editorial Committee PRODUCTION ADDRESSES Editor: Becky Rowe South African Zionist Federation (Israel) Editorial Committee Chairman: Belt Clal, 5 Druyanov Street, Tel Aviv 61110 David Kaplan P.O. Box 11556, Tel Aviv 61114 Business Manager: Lena Nulman New Telephone: 03-6290131 Business Coordinator: Rossie Klug Regional Offices Editorial Committee: Sharon Bernstein, Haifa: contact 03-6290131 Janine Gelley, Hilary Kaplan, Narda Korakin, Beer Sheva: 07-418697 Liana Koton, Jonathan Osrin, Sidney Shapiro, Jerusalem: 02-618135, 02-634822 Debbie Zabow S o u t h A f r i c a Cover and Artwork; David Kaplan 2 Elray Street, Raedene, Johannesburg 2192 Advertising: Lena Nulman P.O. Box 29203, Sandringham, Jhb 2131 Proofreader: Victor Sanaa Telephone: 011-4851020 To advertise in Telfed Magazine, phone Lena: (03)6290131 The views and comments expressed in articles in this publication are not necessarily those of the South African Zionist Federation (Israel) or of the Editorial Board. The organisation is not responsible for the advertisers and the insertions in this magazine. 1 Israel's Leading Real Estate Agency SALES and RENTALS of Residential, Commercial and Industrial Property ANGLO-SAXON Being the leader is tough. You always have to be that much better than the rest! That is why at Anglo Saxon we strive to provide a better service, putting you and your specific Why not talk to us - We'll make the difference. property needs first. ANGL0SAXON ANGIOSAXON ANGIOSAXON ANGLOSAXON HASHARON H E R Z L 1 A H E R Z L 1 A HOD HASHARON between Raanana & Nelanya P 1 T U A C H 54HadekelSt. 11 Sokolov St. Tiran Center 55 D. Hasharon Tel Mond Herilia 46497 Herzlia Pituach Hod Hasharon Tel: 09-962420 Tel: 09-507255 Tel: 09-562256 Tel: 09-406450 Fax: 09-962421 Fax: 09-503765 Fax: 09-557115 Fax: 09-406285 ANGIOSAXON ANGIOSAXON ANGLOSAXON KFAR SABA NETANYA RAANANA 55 Weitman St. 33 Dizengoff St. 141 Ahuza St. Kfar-Saba 44250 Netanya 42270 Raanana Tel: 09-425381 Tel: 09-824802 Tel: 09-454133 Fax: 09-444658 Fax: 09-623877 Fax: 09-918930 People A r a b b i i n B n e i B r a k for the trip. "We were faced with a time bomb," who specializes in SEEING says Dr. Bassin. However, the South African family, locating the best medical who made aliyah eight years ago from Johannes facilities led Dr. Gaiy CLEARLY burg, soon learned that many of their neighbours Bassin, his wife, Adele, knew families in Cleveland. Connections were read and their son Gadi to a NOW ily made and the family arrived in Cleveland. hospital in Cleveland. Dr. Cohen performed the successful, three hour There Gadi imdenvent surgery on November 15. complicated surgery for Although Gadi's dad is a a rare condition using a physician and understood new procedure. the procedure Dr. Cohen Only a short while ago, was performing, he pre 5 year old Gadi Bassin of ferred not to witness the Ra' anana was in grave dan vA surgery. "I was outside ger of losing his eyesight, saying tehillim" he says. his full memory, or even his ' V i Three days later, young life. Gadi was happily crayon Gadi recently travelled ing a Chanukah picture, from Ra'anana to Cleve as if nothing had hap land, U.S.A. with his par pened . Adele Bassin said ents, Dr. Gary and Adele that after riding the emo Bassin. to undergo highly tional roller coaster, she specialised endoscopic and her husband cannot brain surgery to treat hydro believe that Gadi is in cephalus. Hydrocephalus Gary. Adelo and Gadi Bassin in Cleveland. Kneeling above diem perfect physical health prevents fluid from drain is Dr. Alan Cohen, who performed die life-saving opcradon. and has not suffered even ing from the brain. Instead, short-term memory loss. the fluid builds inside the brain, causing swelling "He can do anything he wants to now," she says. and visual impairment. "Anything other kids do". Dr. Alan Cohen, chief of paediatric neurosur gery at Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, per CLASSROOM formed the unusual surgery. "We could only find the expertise and the equipment in Cleveland," says DEDICATED IN THE Gary. Gadi's story began when a Tel Aviv NAME OF RACHIEL opthalmologist diagnosed the young.ster with the A room in a WIZO kindergarten in Kfar Saba potentially dangerous condition after Gadi's mother was recently dedicated in the name of Rachiel noticed her son's eye turning in. The opthalmologist Rapaporl. A large gathering of her friends, WIZO immediately sent Gadi to a hospital emergency room, colleagues in Israel, and representatives of the S AZF where doctors informed his anxious parents that the attended the ceremony. An indication of the high child required surgery. esteem in which Rachiel is held was demonstrated It soon became apparent that immediate treat by the presence of chairwoman of World WIZO, ment was necessary.