Art, antiques, objects, furniture and jewellery Jim Dine, woodcut on Okawara paper London silver jug wanted for Grande December auction SOLD R80,000 SOLD R21,000 View previous results at www.rkauctioneers.co.za 011 789 7422 • 083 675 8468 • 12 Allan Road, Bordeaux, Johannesburg south african n Volume 22 – Number 36 n 2 November 2018 n 24 Cheshvan 5779 The source of quality content, news and insights t www.sajr.co.za South African emigres deeply shaken by Pittsburgh shooting TALI FEINBERG Joyce Fienberg, and saw her 1986. Her parents always said that a police escort. It turned out place he always saw as “‘having it at a lecture the day before the the warm, close-knit community that this was the ambulance together” could be so gridlocked he Tree of Life Congregation shooting. “On Saturday, we were where she settled in Pittsburgh transporting the injured shooter, by partisanship, irrationality, and community of Pittsburgh asking people if anyone had heard reminded them of Johannesburg. who was treated by a Jewish nurse divisiveness. “I could not have Twas participating in the from Joyce, and no one had. A few Like most other Jews in America, and doctor on arrival. “In fact, even predicted that,” he says. “Indirectly, worldwide Shabbos Project last more hours passed, and there was she has always been proudly and the president of the hospital is that is what makes things like this Saturday when a gunman opened still no word, and so this dread openly Jewish, but now wonders if Jewish,” Buchinsky says. possible.” fire and killed 11 congregants in was growing over the afternoon. Jews may need to be less visible. Buchinsky’s friend’s uncle was Tamara Dubowitz left South the deadliest anti-Semitic attack We heard the news at night, but She says the Tree of Life victim Melvin Wax, “but I did not Africa in 1977 when she was just a in American history. This was we all knew deep down, I think. I Congregation is in the centre of know him first hand. I recognised toddler, but her South African past confirmed by a number of ex- am stunned, sort of immobilised town, and she passes it every him as one of the faces I saw remains a guiding force in her life: South African Jews in Pittsburgh, really,” she says. day. Though she cannot imagine around Squirrel Hill frequently. “I feel safe as a Jew in America. And including Dr Marlene Behrmann The shul complex where the going back there, she knows the There are many one degree and two I feel safe as a Jew in Pittsburgh. Cohen, who lives in Squirrel Hill – gunman took 11 lives is around community will move forward. degrees of separation to some of However, because of my South ‘ground zero’ of the attack. the corner from where Behrmann “We will go to the funerals [which those murdered.” African background, I feel especially sensitive to language, rhetoric, and acts of discrimination – whether they be anti-Semitic or anti any other group. “This is a difficult time for me to feel safe as an American, because our leadership uses language that promotes bigotry, which in my opinion, is the most pressing issue that the US is facing today.” She describes the Pittsburgh Jewish community as tight knit. “Everyone knows everyone. It’s a true community in so many ways. Everyone knew the victims [of the shooting] through one degree of separation. I knew almost all of them through others. Dubowitz believes that President Donald Trump’s initial response to the shooting that there should have been an armed guard, was wrong and offensive. “How about: why was there someone who was walking around with an automatic rifle? Why do we need assault rifles? The community is heartbroken, sad, and angry, but at the same time, we will not allow this monster to break us.” Tali Benjamin Idell left Cape Town with her family when she was nine years old. Now a wife and mother of four children, she previously lived in Parkland, Photo: Aaron Jackendoff/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Aaron Jackendoff/SOPA Photo: Mourners hold candles in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh Florida, and knew of some of the victims in that shooting. She said, however, that the Cohen lives, and she was attending started on Tuesday], and we will Says Buchinsky, “I still feel safe So, when the Tree of Life attack number of people at shul was a nearby shul at the time of re-commit to an ethical and moral as a Jew in America, but clearly occurred, it was surreal. “We heard probably no more than normal, the attack. “If the gunman had life.” a little less so than before. Anti- the news only after Shabbos. We as this is a very active community taken a different turn, it may Dr Farrel Buchinsky grew up Semitism is dangerous everywhere. were shocked because none of the with many shul-goers. very well have been my shul that in Cape Town, left South Africa It’s particularly dangerous many shuls in the city had ever “My deep sense of security has was attacked,” she says. While in 1991, emigrated to the United when there is a general sense of been vandalised by anti-Semitic been shaken. I feel sad and angry, the horror unfolded, her shul States in 1992, and moved to hysterical fear and hate. When one graffiti, or any similar incidents. but also diminished somehow. It was placed on lockdown, and its Pittsburgh in 2001. A paediatric couples that with a gun culture – It was something we never would feels personal,” Behrmann Cohen congregants prayed amidst the ear, nose and throat specialist, almost a fetish – which is strong have guessed.” told the SA Jewish Report this chaos and uncertainty. he was just leaving his workplace here in the US, it is particularly As a religious Jew, she feels that week. Behrmann Cohen attended King at Allegheny General Hospital dangerous.” one has to have faith, and that Behrmann Cohen, who grew David Linksfield from Grade 1 to on Saturday, when he saw an What has surprised him, as an education about diversity is really up in Johannesburg, knew victim Grade 12, and left South Africa in ambulance arrive, followed by immigrant in America, is that a Continued on page 11>> 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 2 – 9 November 2018 George fires narrowly avoid being action replay NICOLA MILTZ the past few days: “George experienced a horseshoe of fire as flames came within “George has been gripped by fear. It has metres of homes all around town. It was been hell.” These are the words of long-time very scary, and touch and go at times.” He George resident and former city councillor, said some homes outside George had been Myron Rabinowitz, describing how the raging gutted, and thousands of hectares of bush fires threatened to engulf the town earlier and vegetation had been reduced to ash. this week. At one stage, uncontrollable flames While the fires are now largely contained, licked the edge of town, creating he said, “the mountain is toasted”. Though widespread fear. Residents had visions the Outeniqua mountain range continues of last year’s devastating Knysna fires to smoulder, George is no longer as smoky, foremost in their thoughts. because wind has pushed back the fire. Towns The difference between this year’s fires along the Garden Route remain on high alert and last year was that the fires remained amid wildfires in the region. largely in the mountains and bushy areas Eight people lost their lives in the fire. and did not reach the towns, Rabinowitz More than 65 000 hectares of land have been said. burnt. Several homes have been destroyed, “But there was the same feeling, the and many people surrounding George have same fear, as you watched the fire literally been displaced. There has been widespread touching the road, with gusts of wind devastation of bush and vegetation. pushing fire up into the air, and seeing A somewhat relieved Rabinowitz described blue-gum trees exploding before your eyes. That same fear grips you all over again.” Shabbat times this week Donald Goldfain, the Chairperson of the Wilderness Ratepayers and Residents Starts Ends Association (WRRA) told the SA Jewish 18:07 18:58 Johannesburg Report that it had been a very scary past the clock to organise logistics on the bottled water and energy drinks for the 18:57 19:52 Cape Town few days. ground. firefighters. And, there have been requests 18:00 18:53 Durban “The first thing that strikes you is the He said there had been overwhelming for things like lip ice, chocolate, energy 18:15 19:11 Bloemfontein speed at which the fire moves through the support from the community, and it had bars, and rehydrate sachets. 18:15 19:23 Port Elizabeth bush and scrub. It’s absolutely frightening. learnt a lot of lessons from last years’ and Goldfain said that while life was 18:15 19:12 East London Everyone thinks they are going to have previous fires. continuing, “we are cognisant of the fact enough time, but you basically don’t. Those wishing to help were asked to that the flames can jump well over 100m, People were told to have a grab bag with donate funds to the WRRA, which he said land on a roof, and cause another fire”. Appliance Repairs on Site their ID and other important documents at went towards the George Soup Kitchen, Rabinowitz said George’s Jewish , hers the ready.” a nongovernment organisation that is community, made up largely of elderly was ish es He said the alien vegetation often responsible for making food for those residents, had spent the past few days s, D s, Stov e chine explodes from the heat, and if there is a displaced.