w estublishecl 1948 TELFED f APRIL 1997 VOL. 23 NO. 1 A SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION (ISRAEL) PUBLICATION THE ROri^ABOUT O^E iSOUTH 6 UP C l o a k a n d , Dagger at Beit Berl. Lithuanian I Family Reunion | m a m i Rabbis and Politics Bookstore Findings i 46 SOKOLOV (2nd Floor) RAMAT-HASHARON Tel. 03-5400070 Home 09-446967 F a x 0 3 - 5 4 0 0 0 7 7 April 1997 D e a r F r i e n d s , I have just returned from the I.T.B. (International Travel Fair) in Berlin, and had a great chance to see the "world" on show in six huge halls where I managed to pick up quite a few new ideas and destinations. I was also amazed at Berlin which is certainly one of the most exciting cities in Europe today. The blending of the old and new as well as the great Museums and Galleries really put Berlin on par with Paris, London, Rome and Prague. Carol and I decided to go back to South Africa for a eight-day vacation and chose to concentrate only on the Cape and Garden Route. Our plan was to spend two days in Knysna, 2 in Piettenberg and the rest in Stellenbosch and Cape Town. After an excellent SAA flight, we carried on directly to George and drove to our small (8-room) bed and breakfast lodge on Leisure Island overlooking the Heads and Featherbed Nature Reserve in Knysna. We were captivated and decided to cancel the last three days and to stay on in the Garden Route. The area from Wilderness to Storms River is full of the most magnificent scenery, walks, quaint shops, great restaurants, special "small" hotels and Lodges. In fact, everything that one can dream of for a great week's vacation. I'm sure that most of you have visited the Garden Route for a night or two, but believe me it is really worth a longer period of time. I will, of course, be happy to help you plan the trip of a lifetime. Those of you planning to travel this summer, please remember that the Maccabi Games take place during the 2nd half of July and space will be at a premium. So be advi.sed and book early. My staff and I will be very happy to assist you with all your travel plans. T h a n k Y o u Best regards, Terry Kessel CONTENTS IN VOGUE the "easy and ready-to-wear" Aussie look CapturingI is allcentre the ragestage in Southon the Africa.catwalks, Israeli P E O P L E 1 fashion fare hardly raises an eyebrow. COVER STORY The Autstralian merchandising machine, in the vernacular of the fashion industry, is chic. Allur F E A T U R E 2 0 ing advertisements and articles abound in the SA A R T S C E N E 2 2 Jewish Times, while parlours in top hotels play host to record audiences, receptive to the purveyors of T E L F E D T I D I N C S 2 4 "what's-on-offer" in the cozy coastal cities of B U S I N E S S 3 2 Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Against this back drop, Israeli apparel appears as last summer's "off- RELI6I0N 35 the-peg" collection alongside Australian haute couture. N O T I C E B O A R D 4 0 Yet this is not the final chapter in the convoluted B O O K N O O K 4 2 yet compelling saga of how Jews on the move swap one Diaspora for another. Intrigued by the many N E W A R R I V A L S 4 4 South Africans who over the years, have immigrated to Israel having first settled elsewhere, we decided KEREN TELFED 46 to interview some of these Olim to explore their R E C I O N A L N E W S 4 8 reasons for again changing wardrobes. Appearing as our cover story on page 12, it makes interesting CUEST COLUMN 51 reading. On behalf of the Chairman. Executive and Staff N U P T I A L S 5 4 of the South African Zionist Federation (Israel), I F E A T U R E 5 6 wish you all Chag Pessach Sameach ve'Kasher. C O N D O L E N C E S 6 0 David Kaplan CLASSIFIED 63 Chairman of the Editorial Committee PRODUCTION ADDRESSES South African Zionist Federation (Israel) Editor: Becky Rowe Beit Clai. 5 Druyanov Street. Tel Aviv 61110 Editorial Committee Chairman: David Kaplan P.O. Box 11556. Tel Aviv 61114 Design and Layout: Becky Rowe Telephone: 0.V629O131. Fax: (03)6295099 Business Manager: Lena Nulman email: [email protected] Editorial Committee: Sharon Bernstein, Regional Offices David Couzin, Janine Gcliey, Hilary Kaplan, Beer-sheva: 07-6418697 Mark Kedeni, Rossie Klug, Narda Korakin, Liana Jerusalem: 02-5618135, 02-5634822 Koton, Jonathan Osrin. Sidney Shapiro, Marcelle Ra'anana Merkaz Klita: (Wed. afternoon, call Tel Aviv Weiss, Debbie Zabow ofricc for an appoiniment) Cover and Artwork: David Kaplan South Africa Advertising: Lena Nulman 2 EIray Street, Raedene, Johannesburg 2192 Proofreader: Marvyn Hatchuel, Harriet Levin, P.O. Box 29203, Sandringham, Jhb 2131 V i c t o r S a n u a Telephone: 011-4851020. Fax: 011-640-1325 email: [email protected] To advertise in Telfed Magazine, phone Lena: (03)6290131 The views and comments expres.sed 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 PEOPLE COMINC OUT F R O M T H E COLD l-r: Patrick Adams of Cape Town, Janine Gelley of Kfar Saba. Thabisile ""1 f you chance to stroll along the Msezane of Dawn Park and Mayor of Port Alfred. Eric Khuluwe at the farewell cocktail parly of a recent training programme at Beit Berl. ■stone Bed paths Campusof the outsidewooded of BeitKfar Saba, don't be surprised to overhear conversations in Xhosa, Tswana, Zulu or Afrikaans. in handling meetings and teamwork management. South Africans of colour have been attending com We have 61 local councils in my area as we try munity development and leadership training pro to involve as many people on the local level as grammes at Beit Berl since 1986. On the day that possible in decision-making. This policy prevails the Telfed Magazine team visited the campus, throughout South Africa and is indicative of our the vibes were upbeat as the 28th group was com new democracy which empowers people to de pleting the course with a farewell cocktail party. termine their own destiny." Among the veterans of the Beit Berl programme Over the years, hundreds of members of local are two dozen mayors of South African towns and government councils and at Ica.st twenty members cities including the present mayors of Cape Town, of parliament and ministers of provincial coun Johannesburg, Randburg, George, and cils have passed through Beit Berl, contributing Grahamstown. To that list, we can now add Port leadership skills to the new South Africa and at Alfred's mayor, Eric Khuiuwe.He tells us, "Port the same time creating a cadre of leaders who have Alfred is growing at an enormous pace as people an understanding and empathy for Israel. Patrick are streaming in from the rural areas. The job Adams, a Coloured man from Cape Town, is in situation is bleak and we are finding it hard to charge of Emergency and Disaster Management provide services. The course was excellent; it for the Cape Metropolitan Council. "The course widened my horizons and gave me practical help was intensive and very professional. I am in charge .'^eed a Greeting Card or Telfed's Sp ecial Occasion cards are available •Individually liand-foiled in five attractive designs. *6 in a pacU for only NIS20 •All proceeds to Keren Telfed Conlacl: Micliclle (09)7745708, Janine (09)7657725, Frances at TelfeJ (03)62901 31, Beulali in Jerusalem (02)5618135 2 of reconstruction and development programmes of Israeli relations with the apartheid regime. Armed in the Western Cape region, and my team is now with an understanding that there would be no busy with various housing and community projects. political manifestos and no pictures of politicians Not only have I learned a new dimension of prob kissing each other, but a programme geared solely lem-solving, but I have learned a lot about Israel. to assisting in the struggle, we approached Jew We travelled all over the country, and I believe ish circles in the United States for support. In Israel, I have gained a real appreciation of the politics and the struggles going on here." What seems routine today all began in the undercover world of the early 80s when clandestine contacts took place between progressive Israelis and the anti-apartheid forces in South Af rica. We don't know whether he likes his martini shaken or stirred but the local powerhouse behind this project was Pro fessor Shimshon Zelnicker, who l-r: Mrs. Maaichen and Ambassador Frank Land, Arthur Goldreich, masterfully manoeuvered among Holly course parlicipanl, Thabisile Msezane and Professor Shimshon Zelnicker. wood stars, Black South Africans. Black Americans, Israelis and American Jew ish politicos and donors. Zelnicker. a professor Yossi Beilin, Alon Liel, Ruth Baron and myself, of political science at Beit Berl and at UCLA, was among others, spearheaded a programme in com part of Shimon Peres' advisory team in 1982.