SAJR RELAUNCH Pointing towards the future The Jewish Report is launching in 2WEEKS 2 weeks its exciting TO GO new look and feel www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday, 2 March 2012 / 8 Adar, 5772 Volume 16 Number 7 - IN THIS EDITION - They came, gave with a smile and helped make SA a better place. Nearly 2 000 people packed Sandton Making Convention Centre last week for another Miracle Drive, steered by Chabad livewire, Rabbi David Masinter. This fundraiser for Jewish and non- Jewish causes set a benchmark so high, miracles one wonders whether it can ever be bet- tered. Also launched was a Unity Torah, written in honour of Rabbi Mendel Lipskar and his wife Mashi, who estab- come lished Chabad in SA in 1972. Pictured are Rabbis Masinter and Lipskar, with the latter writing a letter in the new Torah. (PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER) true PAGE 6 2 New Jewish school opens in Durban 4 Cape Town through Jewish mayors’ eyes 4 Gary Block: Supreme educator and mensch mourned by thousands 7 There’s plenty to do this Purim 9 Pollard: A travesty of American justice 2 SA JEWISH REPORT 02 - 09 March 2012 SHABBAT TIMES SPONSORED BY: PARSHA OF THE WEEK Published by S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 84650, Greenside, 2034 Tel: (011) 023-8160 | Fax: (086) 634-7935 The privilege to pray to G-d Printed by Caxton Ltd IMAGINE A mighty king of a country EDITOR - Geoff Sifrin [email protected] who rules his dominion alone. He would live in a palace with many guards and sur- COMMERCIAL MANAGER PARSHAT Sue Morris - [email protected] rounded by his nobility. It would be diffi- cult for one to make an appointment to TETZAVEH Sub-Editor - Paul Maree have an audience with the monarch. How Rabbi Samuel Suchard Ed Co-ordinator - Sharon Akum much more so would it be difficult for a Beit Hamedrash Hagadol Sandton [email protected] peasant to see the king personally? Sports Editor - Jack Milner We are so fortunate that the L-rd our [email protected] G-d, King of kings, creator of heaven and daily, we ask G-d for all the things we Books Editor - Gwen Podbrey earth has an open door to each one of us. need. For knowledge, forgiveness, health Arts Editor - Robyn Sassen We stand up to pray three times a day offi- and wealth. [email protected] cially and at any time one may turn to Hashem wants us to turn to Him. Our Hashem with prayer. rabbis say that G-d desires the prayers of Cape Town correspondent Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206 The Torah dedicates five parshiot deal- the righteous. ing with the building of the Mishkan in Our King wants to be bothered. He does Pretoria correspondent Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471 the desert. Each article, each mode of not evade our requests; He only wants us dress is replete with important messages to come in an honest sincere way. Advertising - (011) 023-8160 [email protected] of ethics and how to conduct our lives. The Talmud (Yevamot 64) quotes Rabbi However, the overall teaching from this Yitzchak: “Why were the forefathers bar- Adi Lew: 083-407-8034 structure is the verse: “And you shall ren because the Holy One, blessed be His [email protected] make me a sanctuary and I shall dwell name, desires the prayers of the right- Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520 amongst them” ( Shmot 25:8). eous.” Rabbi Yitzchak continues, why are [email protected] G-d makes Himself available and ready the prayers of the righteous compared to Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838 March 2/ 8 Adar for our prayers. a spade, because just as a spade turns [email protected] March 3 / 9 Adar The Mishkan, the Temples later on, and grain from place to place, so do the Freelance Advertising Executives Parshat Tetzaveh now in every shul a Jew can be assured of prayers of the righteous turn G-d’s wrath Marlene Bilewitz: 083-475-0288 a listening ear and a concerned and into loving kindness. [email protected] 18:15 19:08 Johannesburg benevolent father in Heaven. It gives us a We see here the power of prayer, how it Classified Sales 18:01 19:53 Cape Town secure, safe feeling that we are able to ask can cause great changes. Charissa Newman - [email protected] 18:10 18:59 Durban Hashem for our needs. The Talmud (Baba Kama 92a) relates Manager: Distribution 18:20 19:18 Bloemfontein Moses, our teacher, writes in the Torah, that if a person prays for someone else, Britt Landsman “for which great nation who has an when he himself needs the same thing, he 18:00 19:25 Port Elizabeth Design and layout Almighty close to them, like the L-rd our will be answered first. Frankie Matthysen | Nicole Cook 18:15 19:15 East London G-d whenever we call to him” (Devarim 4:7). If a person prays for the entire commu- How do we know this that G-d is close to Website nity, it is stronger than a thousand people www.sajewishreport.co.za Fast of Esther us? The verses describe how Hashem took each praying for themselves (Michtav Ma’ Ilan Ossendryver - [email protected] Wednesday March 7/13Adar us from Egypt and performed so many Eliyahu). Subscription enquiries March8/14Adar miracles there and in the desert. Also how A recent example of this concept which Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd. Tel: 0860-13-2652 the people received the Torah standing I know as a fact, was of two sisters-in-law BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fast begins Fast ends beneath the mountain at Sinai. who did not have their own children. One Howard Feldman (Chairman), Issie Kirsh (Deputy 4:55 18:50 Johannesburg “And the fire was burning until the had already adopted two children. They Chairman), Marlene Bethlehem, Norman 5:22 19:33 Cape Town heart of the heavens, darkness and thick made a pact to pray for each other and Lowenthal, Bertie Lubner, Benjy Porter, cloud. And G-d spoke to you from the fire; both gave birth to many children there- Herby Rosenberg, Howard Sackstein, 4:38 18:40 Durban n. you heard a voice but did not see a pic- after. Jason Valkin, Elton Bondi, Michael Sieff, 4:59 18:59 Bloemfontein Steven Krawitz and Denese Bloch. ture…” (Devarim 4:11, 12). Do not wait for miracles, take out your 4:54 19:04 Port Elizabeth In the silent Amidah that we recite siddur and tehilim and pray. Advertisements and editorial copy from outside sources do 4:46 18:54 East London not neccessarily reflect the views of the editors and staff. Umhlanga has a brand new Jewish day school STORY AND PHOTOGRAPH BY He said it was correct that a school be the LAUREN SHAPIRO first building in a new community since a DURBAN Torah-based Jewish education teaches Judaism’s correct value-system at a young IT’S THE start of an exciting new chapter for age, guaranteeing the future and survival of the Durban Jewish community, with a new the community and the Jewish people. school set to take Jewish education to new Gaynor Lazarus, chairman of the govern- heights. ing committee, said of the school: “Our mis- Umhlanga Jewish Day School, which sion is to provide a leading general and opened in January, caters for Jewish chil- Judaic education while kindling within each dren in the greater Durban area from grade 0 individual a passion for lifelong learning, - grade 5, and is set to expand year by year to and to foster a devotion to the study of Torah, grade 7. a commitment to the Land of Israel, and With over 40 learners registered on its first tikkun olam. day, the school is already off to a great start. Lazarus is assisted in achieving this dream This number is even more impressive when by her team, comprising Rabbi Zekry, one considers the small size of the Jewish Stephanie Budlender, Ingrid Levin, Carryn community. Meltz, Terri Pillemer and Warren Shapiro. Kiera Keates, Adam Levin, Set among rolling fields of sugarcane, the The school office is run by Karen Plen. and Gayla Meltz are school is part of a greater Jewish community The school staff has been handpicked from thrilled to be at their centre campus which will include a shul, kol- among the best in Durban. Principal Lynn brand new school. lel, library, gym and function venue. Ducasse has over 25 years of teaching experi- Since its opening, the school last week ence, most recently heading up the B Ed pro- art media centre is equipped with Mac com- Rabbi Jarrod Garber, Rabbi Mark reached another milestone with an inspiring gramme at Varsity College. She believes pas- puters and a range of books to support both Friedman, Ariel and Ronit Garber, and ceremony to affix mezuzot to its doorposts. sionately in developing well-rounded chil- Jewish and general studies. The school Daniel Burke, who have relocated from With over 300 community members attend- dren with a focus on their social, emotional, grounds also feature a large outdoor section Johannesburg to bring this vibrant Jewish ing this historic occasion, the community intellectual, physical and spiritual needs: equipped with an Astroturf pitch, a mini school to life. had Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, as guest “We have a highly competent staff who hockey/soccer/netball field, a jungle gym, Rabbi Zekry noted that the official open- of honour.