February

Transcription

February

VOLUME 28 No 1 FEBRUARY 2011 5771
http://cjc.org.za
Herzlia matric in province’s
top twenty!
The end of an era
Cape Town Jewish community bids farewell to Irma Chait
Community leaders
and colleagues
gathered to bid
a fond farewell
to Irma Chait on
her retirement as
editor of the Cape
Jewish Chronicle at
the end of 2010.
I
Kyle Levin with Head of Education in the Western Cape Penny Vingevold, Premier Helen
Zille and MEC for Education in the Western Cape, Donald Grant.
Kyle Levin, of the Herzlia matric class
of 2010, received two prestigious
awards at the Western Cape Education
Department’s
awards
ceremony,
held at the Premier’s Leeuwenhof
residence in January.
K
yle was named as one of the top 10
outstanding mathematics pupils
in the Western Cape. This award is
given for exceptional performance
in mathematics — for which Kyle
Five Jewish
students graduated
as doctors from
UCT with Bachelor
of Medicine
and Bachelor of
Surgery degrees at
the end of 2010.
attained 100%. Over and above
his seven distinctions for matric,
Kyle also achieved distinctions in
Advanced Programme Mathematics
and mathematics paper three, thus
achieving nine distinctions in total.
The finale of the awards ceremony
was the naming of the top 20
matriculants in the province. Kyle was
placed eleventh, with an average of
93.5%, undoubtedly an outstanding
achievement!
rma has been
the
one
and
only editor of the
Chronicle
since
its inception 26
years ago, and
the
community
honoured
her
invaluable work in Irma Chait, Willie Katz and Myra Osrin at Irma’s farewell at
bringing the heart Coffee Time.
and soul of the
the Chronicle Editorial Board after 23
community to every
Jewish household in Cape Town for over years. Ben’s wisdom and support have
two decades. Irma’s knowledge, words been invaluable to the Chronicle. Lester
and wit made the Chronicle into the Hoffman has taken over as chairman of
popular publication that it is today in the Editorial Board, and we look forward
to his expertise and leadership.
South Africa and around the world.
See more photos of Irma’s farewell on
We also bade farewell to Ben-Zion
Surdut, who retired as chairman of page 25.
Walking the interfaith way on
Reconciliation Day
The Board of Deputies led
the community in marking
Reconciliation Day on 16
December, by joining the
people of Cape Town in a
special reconciliation walk.
A Medical Mazeltov
I
S
kye, Kim,
Carly and
Candyce are from
Cape Town and
Nicholas is from
Johannesburg. We
wish them mazeltov
and all the best
as they begin
their internships
in South Africa’s
Skye Katzeff, Nicholas Applebaum, Kim Gresak, Carly Levetan
hospitals.
and Candyce Levin.
n a powerful gesture
of togetherness and
acceptance, members of
the community walked with
fellow Capetonians to each
other’s places of worship.
Inside St. George’s
Cathedral, the Palm Tree
Mosque and the Gardens
Shul, a representative of
a different faith shared
words of reaching out and
reconciliation.
See more on this
important initiative on
page 9.
University of the Free State Vice-Chancellor Jonathan
Jansen speaking in the Gardens Shul.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Tali-vision:
The new
editor’s column
Exclusive interview
with author
Joanne Fedler
Honourable Menschen:
The Shammash bids
farewell
Herzlia matric results
2010
Discovering Cape
Town’s hidden Jewish
history
page 2
page 4
page 6
page 14 and 15
page 24
2
CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 2011
Tali-vision
Community Noticeboard
ZION
B NOTH
WIZO
IATION
A S SO C
The following
organisations are
affiliated to Jewish
Care Cape
Meeting
eneral at 9.30am
G
l
a
u
ry
Ann
ebr ua
Tuesda
y 15 F
S ee pa
ge 25
• Cape Jewish Seniors
Association
• Glendale
• Highlands House
www.jewishcare.org.za
What does heritage mean to you?
Being part of the Cape Town Jewish
community gives us access to a rich
and abundant inheritance, whether
it is in our religion, history, family,
customs, language, values, ideals,
literature, art, food or communal
organisations. As I take over as editor
of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, I feel the
weight of this heritage in my hands, as
I hope to capture it on these pages for
both the present and future.
I
• Jewish Community
Services
• Nechama
• Oranjia
• ASTRA Centre (Jewish
Sheltered Employment
and Rosecour t Group
Homes)
The heart of heritage
Glendale’s Annual Fish Braai
Takes place on Sunday 6 February.
Tickets at R100 available from the Glendale office.
Phone 021 712-0270
Union of Jewish Women February AED programme
2 Tali Barnett
Jews, News and Views: a discussion with the new editor of the Cape Jewish Chronicle
9 Fascia Shaskolsky Some of my favourite pieces
16 Prof Solly Benatar The limits of medicine: making end-of-life decisions
23 David Bloomberg
Cape Town’s Jewish mayors
Stonehaven, 7 Albany Road, Sea Point 10 am for 10.30 am
Entrance: R20.00 (incl refreshments)
follow in the footsteps of Irma Chait,
who along with Ben-Zion Surdut, Myra
Osrin, Willie Katz and many others
achieved this and more as they shaped
the Cape Jewish Chronicle to be a
vessel that would hold this community’s
history and heritage. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank Irma, Ben,
Myra, Willie and new chairman Lester
Hoffman for their guidance, wisdom
and faith in me as I take on this role;
and my professional team of Tessa,
Anita and Desrae for their invaluable
support in creating this issue.
This is also the end of an era as we
bid farewell to Willie Katz, who has
written his last ‘Honourable Menschen’
piece, which you can find on page six.
The column has been a cornerstone of
the Chronicle, and the Shammash has
entertained us for over twenty years
with Willie’s witty words. Willie, we bid
you the fondest farewell and know that
your name will always be associated
with the Cape Jewish Chronicle.
Heritage may seem like it is the
property of the past, but it is also a
source of sustenance for our community
today. On page five, Claudia B. Braude
discusses how the community should
connect to our rich, tragic yet uniquely
powerful Lithuanian heritage, and
what it can offer us today. Further in
the paper, we look at discovering Cape
Town’s hidden Jewish history, where we
continue the story of the Lieberman
Doors. This monumental artwork is just
next to the Albow campus, yet many
members of the community have not
seen it! On the same page, Abe Wollach
shares his story of a piece of the past
24 hours
that was lost and found
across generations.
The Lieberman Doors
depict our history, beginning in Biblical
times and ending with the arrival of
Jews in South Africa. Indeed, migration
is another aspect of our heritage that
continues to impact on us today. In our
exclusive interview with author Joanne
Fedler, she explores this issue as it
relates to her most recent novel. She
also discusses the almost inherent
connection between Judaism and
food, and why Judaism’s richness and
spiritual nourishment is passed down
in the form of abundant eating. Her
words will surely whet your appetite for
both heritage and herring!
To reap all the benefits of our heritage,
we need to know when it is time to
adjust it. A museum curator may tiptoe
around his collection, never changing
it, but eventually it will no longer
be relevant. Rabbi Greg Alexander
explores this idea as he discusses the
need for a new siddur, and so provides
a compelling argument for heritage to
be treasured and yet attuned to the
tides of time.
As I go forward as editor of this paper,
I hope to hold our heritage and history,
while at the same time bring new
adjustments, aspects and acquisitions
to our collection of communal
treasures. This balance, I feel, is what
keeps the heart of heritage beating
strong.
I hope you will join me as we continue
to record the history of this tiny yet
vibrant community on the tip of Africa.
Write to us, talk to us, email us, join our
Facebook page, and be a part of your
own heritage.
CJC Editorial Board
Chairman: Lester Hoffman. Committee:
Julie Berman, Li Boiskin, Barbara Flax,
David Jacobson, Barry Levitt, Marianne
Marks, Myra Osrin, Jonathan Silke.
Editor: Tali Barnett, Secretary: Tessa
Epstein, Advertising: Anita Shenker,
DTP: Desrae Saacks
086 18 000 18
CSO emergency number for medical and security emergencies
Issued under the auspices of the Western Province Zionist Council and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape Council)
87 HATFIELD STREET CAPE TOWN 8001 P.O. BOX 4176 CAPE TOWN 8000 PHONE 021 464-6700 FAX 021 461-5804 e-mail: [email protected] EDITOR: TALI BARNETT
3
Letters to the Editor
PO Box 4176 Cape Town 8000 or e-mail: [email protected]
Glitz and glamour at the Lord Mayor’s show
“I
am going to
need a new
outfit!” We had
just received our
invitation to attend
my cousin Michael
Bear’s inauguration
(CJC Nov. 2010).
“And you need a
new suit!” I eyed
my trusted old Yom
Kippur suit fondly
and realised I
wasn’t going to win
this one.
Our
delegation
— consisting of my
sister Linda and her
Lord Mayor Michael Bear’s golden carriage
daughter, Nola and
We then headed for the Banquet at
I, and three tons of luggage — landed Mansion House which would be the
in London, where we were collected by home of the Bears for the next year.
our daughter Zoe, her husband and our Some cave!
grandchildren.
Every building in London (of note that
The first item on the agenda was is) is at least three hundred years old.
a Service of Thanksgiving at the
This four story Georgian building was
three hundred year old Bevis Marks only two hundred and fifty years old.
Synagogue in London. Nobody in the
The Shabbat dinner was being held in
whole world is going to beat the English the breakfast room which only seated
at the assortment of hats that adorned 100, and was more cosy then the
the noggins of both the ladies and Egyptian room which is used for larger
the gents in shul that night. The Lord events. It was a very special occasion
Mayor arrived wearing his enormous spending time with my family who had
three cornered affair. He was preceded arrived from all over the globe.
by his personal sword carrier holding
The next day found us back at
aloft the most awesome sword with a Mansion House. Michael had managed
fur Cossack hat.
to find a group of Zulu dancers to
Next came the mace-bearer wearing entertain the crowd whilst we waited
a judge’s wig. I looked carefully to see for the parade to begin. What followed
whether he had planted a yarmulka on next was quite awesome. Around
top. I think British custom forbids it. the corner marched a military band,
I will not begin to describe the ladies followed by guardsmen on horseback,
apparel as to be honest without a top- floats, horse-drawn carriages and more
hat and tails I felt quite under-dressed. bands. This procession continued for
“England has been good to the Jews” two hours. Then the mayor made his
intoned the Rabbi “And the Jews have appearance from his golden carriage,
been good to England.” He then went waving his enormous triangular hat at
on to tell the story of how a hundred the crowd.
years ago Gittel Cohen had arrived in
The piece de resistance came that
England from Poland en-route to South evening: We boarded a boat on the
Africa. She was assisted by the British Thames and were entertained by the
Board of Deputies who had absolutely most spectacular fireworks display I
no idea that her great-grandson would have ever seen.
one day be the tenth Jewish Lord Mayor
of London!
Geoff Davidson
I
200% for Bennie Shapiro
have no doubt that there will be many
tributes to the passing of Bennie
Shapiro at the grand age of 99. I must
however tell you a true story which I
have verified with the Late Sir Richard
Luyt and others.
During his vacation after finishing
matric at a very young age, Bennie read
the books on Holism by Jan Smuts. In
his first year at UCT he had to do Zoology
under the great Prof Lancelot Hogben
(Mathematics for the Million etc). At
the end of his first year Bennie had to
write two papers in Zoology, each of
three hours — one in the morning and
one in the afternoon. The exam paper
said “Answer not less than 1, no more
than 5 questions”. Bennie read the first
question and it was all about Holism. At
the stroke of the bell after three hours
he had filled three exam books on this
question. When handing the papers in
to the invigilator he asked whether he
had done the right thing by answering
“not less than 1”. The invigilator said
he would take the matter up with Prof.
Hogben, who made the invigilator read
him the three exam books and who
then said “Give him 200% in case he
fails the afternoon exam!”
Kind regards,
Ben Rabinowitz
A
Mysterious Magen David in Oudtshoorn
fter reading the article
in November’s CJC
about the Robertson Jewish
community, all I can say is
oy, Oy OY! My apologies for
not having sent to the CJC
some photos I took of both
shuls some months ago.
Oudtshoorn shul, in Baron
von Rheede Street, is well
known, but I discovered
Robertson shul in Adderley
Street quite by chance
while strolling around this
lovely town. Coincidentally,
the new owner of the
The sandstone house in Oudtshoorn.
building happened to be there
with his son, sweeping away decades Street, which is currently a doctor’s
of dust and cobwebs, and they were consulting rooms. There is a small
happy for me to go in and take photos. Magen David carved in the triangular
The building is in excellent condition stone above the door. Can anyone
and the owner plans no big alterations. elucidate the origin of this?
A mystery (to me) was the small
Yours sincerely,
sandstone house in Oudtshoorn, in a
Robert
Matzdorff
narrow street off Baron von Rheede
M
Edie Freeman: A life dedicated to Israel
y late husband Abe (Blackie)
Schwartz’ older sister Edie
Freeman passed away in Israel on
the 30th November, at the age of 94.
I would not want her passing to be
unacknowledged.
Edie left South Africa in 1943 to
travel to what was then Palestine.
She had hopes of meeting her oldest
brother Abe, my late husband, who
was stationed in Egypt during the
Second World War. She then traveled to
Palestine.
She settled on Kibbutz Kfar Blum,
where she eventually met and married
her late husband, ex-British soldier,
Alan Freeman. They lived and fought
for the establishment of Israel, and for
a country where Jews could live safely.
The courage of a woman to leave a
safe environment, to travel via enemycontrolled seas to fulfill her belief, and
her continued love and devotion to
establish a country where the Jewish
people could live made her someone
who should not be forgotten. She must
have been one of the few remaining
kibbutzniks of the pre-WW2 era.
She leaves a son David and daughter
Chana and their families, as well as a
brother and sister.
Sincerely,
Miriam Schwartz
The Cape Jewish Chronicle is on Facebook!
T
he Cape Jewish Chronicle now has a Facebook
page, meaning that you can stay in touch with the
community, family, friends and happenings on a daily
basis.
To join the page, search ‘Cape Jewish Chronicle’ on
Facebook and ‘like’ our page. You will instantly be able
to take part in discussions, make comments, and send
us your letters, photos, events and ideas!
Opinions expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the
Editorial Board or its sponsoring bodies. Letters submitted anonymously will not
be printed. However, by agreement, the name may be withheld in the publication.
Letters are published subject to space being available.
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED FOOD AND CATERING SERVICES ADVERTISED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE NOT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CAPE BETH DIN
4
Love and Luggage: A story of life,
learning and letting go
LIFE STORIES
PRESERVING MEMORIES FOREVER
www.lifestories.co.za
W
elcome to a unique project that professionally
captures oral testimonies on camera for future
generations.
T
he Life Stories team, mentored by journalist Lisa
Chait, will interview you and film your story or that
of a family member, colleague or friend and present
you with a priceless record of a life that will never be
forgotten.
T
here’s the added bonus of posting the interview
for free on the Life Stories website. Now family
and friends around the world will be able to view it
anywhere and anytime on your personalised public view
or members only family page.
DON’T BE LEFT FEELING:
‘I should have done this when they were alive!
Now it’s too late’
Dave Meyerowitz (94½) told
Life Stories: “It is so different
from a written biography. Here
it is alive. It’s beyond what I
thought“
“It’s amazing what you have done
and we all appreciate it” - Gary
Hockly - grandson of Doris May
Bowles (102) above.
“This is something we as a family
have wanted to do for years” - Eddie
Oblowitz, seen here with his father
Sydney and son Ronen.
Lisa Chait with her latest
'baby' — a brand new Life
Stories DVD and online
interview.
www.lifestories.co.za
+27 (0) 72 3776211
email: [email protected]
THE PERFECT MILESTONE, BIRTHDAY OR
ANNIVERSARY GIFT
by Tali Barnett
Food, eating and cooking are almost
inherent to Jewish DNA, leading to an
intense relationship with food. Equally,
emigration is woven into Jewish
history and continues to impact on us
today. Ex-South African author Joanne
Fedler delves into these two arenas in
her new autobiographical novel When
Hungry, Eat. She chats to the CJC about
Judaism’s spiritual nourishment, the
experience of emigration, and how
South Africans have “fat souls”.
“I
t’s a story about letting go of the
things you love — whether it’s a bad
eating habit, your beloved homeland
or a way of life, and making a ‘home’
in a place of less,” says Fedler of When
Hungry, Eat. The book opens with
Fedler realising she didn’t want to be
‘fat and forty’: “I saw a photograph of
myself on the beach in a bikini and I
thought, ‘that’s just wrong.’ I couldn’t
Joanne Fedler.
reconcile how I felt and how I looked —
Photo: Richard Weinsten
I saw someone who had lost her way.”
Making an appointment with the love to emigration knows, the loss is
“Food Fascist”, she began a journey of endless and incomplete. It creates a
losing not only kilograms, but also the hunger that is never quite satisfied,
heaviness on her heart. As she takes us because you’re always living on a
back to her childhood in Johannesburg, ‘diet.’ Then when you see your family
her Shabbat dinner tables and her work on visits, it’s like having a binge,”
with women in South African NGOs, her she says. “Emigration is a deeply
fragmenting experience for everyone
story is one to which we can all relate.
But it is her portrayal of Judaism’s involved, because it shatters what the
intrinsic connection with food that is human heart understands by ‘home’
and ‘family.’ I
par ticularly
think all we can
pertinent:
“Judaism
is
a
poetic
tradition,
do is hold that
“Judaism
is a poetic rich with mysticism… It expresses a w a r e n e s s ,
and work at
tradition,
this symbolism through food,
rich with the which is a metaphor for a deeper making a home
wherever we
mysticism of
spiritual nourishment”
are.”
the Kabbalah
But it is South
and
the
Africa and her
interpretations
of the stories in the Torah. It expresses Judaism that has shaped who she is
this symbolism through food, which today. “Being both Jewish and South
is a metaphor for a deeper spiritual African has made me passionate about
nourishment. By holding this awareness social justice. Jews are a powerful
of how I’m ‘feeding my soul’ whenever I force in this world — we are more than
put anything to my mouth, I’m tied to my ‘survivors,’ we are spiritual warriors.
ancestry as well as to my own presence We have a duty to live with the sacred
awareness that we are tasked with
in whatever I’m doing,” explains Fedler.
being a ‘light unto other nations’.”
The emptiness of emigration
Fedler grew up in Johannesburg, Hout Bay, herring and hunger
What does Fedler miss most about
studied law at Yale and later lived in
Cape Town. Deeply involved in South South Africa? “The people — South
African society, she worked as a Africans have fat souls!” she says. “In
women’s rights advocate and counselor Cape Town, I miss the mountain, Hout
of abused women, and was the CEO Bay snoek and chips, swimming in
of a not-for-profit advocacy centre. Muizenburg, coffee with my friend Ilze
Therefore her decision to emigrate at Olympia Café… all of it.”
And despite a new approach to
to Sydney had a profound and painful
effect on her identity. In the book she eating, Fedler lists teiglach, kneidlach,
describes the difficulties she faced chopped herring, charoset, chicken
and her guilt at robbing her children soup, matzo kugel, pickled herring and
of extended family — essentially an challah as just some of her favourite
experience of emigration that many of Jewish foods.
What has been the most important
us don’t hear
about
from lesson Fedler has learnt on her
those
who journey of weight loss and redefining
have left for her relationship with food? “That it is
A u s t r a l i a n okay to be hungry. Hunger makes you
grateful, compassionate and opens you
shores.
“As anyone to a deeper relationship with yourself. I
who has had also learned that the best way to satisfy
to let go of my own hunger is to feed someone
someone they else.”
Visit www.joannefedler.com
When Hungry, Eat is available at leading bookshops.
Opinion
Lithuania’s lost legacy
by Claudia B. Braude
Claudia
B.
Braude
explores
contemporary resonances of South
African Jewry’s rich ‘Litvak’ heritage
I
n New York in September, I attended
Nusakh Vilne, the annual Yizkhor
service commemorating the liquidation
of the Vilna ghetto hosted by YIVO,
the Institute for Jewish Research
that preserves East European Jewish
history.
Delivering the memorial lecture, Sonia
Beker, author of Symphony on Fire: A
Story of Music and Spiritual Resistance
During the Holocaust, spoke about her
musician parents Max Beker and Fania
Durmashkin-Beker. Survivors of the
Vilna ghetto, most of their families were
murdered in the Nazi and Lithuanian
genocide of the Litvak community. “I
took my parents’ sweet tender ways for
granted,” said Beker.
Ella Levine, YIVO’s Director of
Development and External Affairs,
described a new YIVO memorial project.
She encouraged inter-generational
participants at Nusakh Vilne to write
memoirs documenting “what it meant
to grow up with parents who were
survivors and Litvaks, to leave as a
legacy for our children.”
Levine was born in Kaunas (Kovno’s
Lithuanian name) to survivor parents
who met in a DP camp. A member of
Kovno’s prominent Tamshe family, this
was her father’s second family. His first
wife and daughter were murdered in
Kovno’s notorious Ninth Fort. Before
being sent to Dachau, he handed his
infant son to a Pole with whom he’d
worked before the war who offered
to save the boy. Levine continues her
father’s life-long search for her brother.
Shortly after Levine’s family arrived in
Israel in 1968, Tamshe relatives from
South Africa visited her father. They
brought family photographs and letters
he’d sent from Lithuania before the
war. It’s not an accident that removed
from the catastrophes befalling every
remaining Jew in Lithuania, members of
our community held surviving artefacts
of their pre-war lives.
The internal landscape of SA Jewry
Levine’s encouragement to document
Litvak memories pertains, also, to
South African Jews. Despite half a
century severed by the Cold War and
apartheid, tangible connections still
remain between South African Jews
and Lithuania’s tiny surviving Litvak
community.
For example, in 1996, Simon
Davidovich, the director of Kaunas’
Sugihara Museum, discovered his
South African family. Davidovich’s
grandmother was the aunt of
internationally-recognised
Ikamva
Labantu founder Helen Lieberman.
She and her four daughters survived
the Holocaust. “Growing up, my
grandmother’s tears were the best
university to understand the terrible
events of the Second World War and
the Holocaust,” said Davidovich (who
also guides heritage tours for South
Africans exploring their Litvak roots) in
a recent interview.
Given our predominantly Lithuanian
origins, the word ‘Litvak’ signifies more
than the occasional person in New
York. It means the community itself, the
foods we eat, the rhythm of our year, the
structure of our communal institutions.
For better and worse, it means South
African Jewry’s internal
landscape.
Connecting to our heritage
It’s time to preserve and promote the
rich history of South African Litvak
life and legacy; to interpret what is
Litvak in the South African Jewish
community; to elaborate what is taken
for granted before it is lost — the
sweetness and tenderness many of
us intimately recognise; to fill the gaps
about this experience in our collective
consciousness and in YIVO’s and other
archives.
We need to articulate unspoken
histories, to examine why we’ve waited
this long to access memory. We need to
acknowledge the suppressed memory
of the destruction of Lithuanian
Jewry that accompanied the trauma
repressed with the 1948 election
victory of the nationalist Afrikaner
party, which had spent the preceding
decade promising to sort out the Jewish
question. We need to acknowledge
how this fear-laden repression shaped
South African Jewish consciousness.
Elsewhere, I have demonstrated
resulting Jewish political responses,
ranging from defensive demonstrations
of loyalty to ‘white’ interests (the
SAJBD’s policy of political noninvolvement; the ‘Yutar phenomenon’),
to active pursuit of a non-racial society
in which neither Africans nor Jews
would be treated differently (reacting
to apartheid’s ethnic project, leftist
Jews’ silenced their Jewishness). We
could fruitfully consider the sustained
effects in the contemporary scene,
both locally and internationally, in the
Israel/apartheid analogy (think Ronnie
Kasrils then and now), of the resulting
political faribel between the politically
quiescent ‘Jewish community’ and
marginalised anti-apartheid ‘Jewish
individuals’.
South African Litvaks, especially
people travelling to Lithuania, should
learn about the complex and disturbing
events in contemporary Lithuania;
including that Vilnius’ Genocide
Museum represents Soviet oppression
of Lithuanians, locally deemed a
genocide, with scant reference to the
220 000 Jews (96,4% of the community)
buried in mass graves throughout the
country. That the Lithuanian murderers
are more likely to be treated as antiSoviet war heroes than be prosecuted,
while survivors of the Vilna ghetto
who joined the Soviet partisans are
investigated as war criminals. That
Lithuania is actively promoting within
the European Union the historical
relativist equation between Hitler/
Nazism
and
Stalin/Communism.
(Anyone interested in these issues
should look at Dovid Katz’s seminal
website www.defendinghistory.com).
South African Litvaks across the
political spectrum have a role to play in
remembering the truth.
These are some of the things I hope to
programme into the new South Africa/
Lithuania track in Limmud this year.
Watch this space.
© Claudia B Braude, January 2011
Ella Levine would like to make contact
with her Tamshe relatives. Anyone
with information can contact her
at [email protected] or through
Claudia at [email protected].
5
6
T
A Board Perspective
HONOURABLE MENSCHEN
his is column 288 and the last,
so let me recap autobiographical
items some of which you may
remember.
qqq
In 1924 I was born in Tavrig, a
Lithuanian shtetl bordering on
Germany and boasting the largest
lunatic asylum in the area. By the end
of 1927 the asylum was full although
the inmates weren’t all there. They
started to export meshugeners, so I
decided to leave for Cape Town, taking
my mother, sister and brother with me
— to join my father.
On the boat, a German vessel called
the Vangonia, a fellow passenger
looked at me and said to my mother,
“What an ugly baby”. My mother burst
into tears. Along came a steward to
the rescue. “Madam”, he said, “here is
some milk to calm you and a banana
for your monkey.”
qqq
I spent my primary school years
at Hope Lodge. The school was in
Roeland Street, opposite the jail.
Today it is still in Roeland Street —
Harold Cressy, opposite the Archives
now housing old books instead of old
convicts. One of the boys from Hope
Lodge entered the Departmental
Standard 6 exam for entrance to the
civil service. He was doing badly, so
to make sure of the answer to ‘What
South African animal doesn’t make
a sound?’ he changed ‘Giraffe’ to
‘Dead Giraffe’. Needless to say, he
did not get into the civil service, which
was lucky because he became a
millionaire instead.
In Sub B Miss Rutherford did not
approve of my ‘Christian name’ Wolf
and changed it to William. In Std
5 Miss Erwood tapped me on my
shoulder during a singing class and
said “Stop singing”.
My high school was Cape Town High.
I was chairman of the school debating
society. I carried chairs to the meeting
and carried chairs back again from
the hall to the classroom — a genuine
chairman.
qqq
During my last year at the Hope Street
cheder my friend Louis and I had lost
interest and were doing minimums.
Came the time for the annual report
and I was delighted to find that I was
placed 17th of a class of almost 50.
Louis too was pleased — he was placed
21st. But we started comparing our
positions with our class-mates. There
were 3 firsts, 5 seconds, 8 thirds and
so on — there was no one else lower
than 12th which meant I was 2nd
bottom and Louis, bottom.
Jacob Sadowsky taught me my
Barmitzvah — a portion of the Torah,
but no Haftorah. He started with 3
verses — the minimum — was happy
with my progress and let me sing
another verse. Not bad for someone
whose singing career had been
summarily halted just over a year
before. I did better than Sam K, also
at the Roeland Street Shul. The
chazzan called “Ya’amod habachur
habarmitzvah” over and over, but Sam
had vanished. He had bunked his
barmy.
qqq
On to sport. I did
have a few brief
moments
of
glory on the table
tennis table. I was
Maccabi liaison officer
with the Israeli table
tennis team of 1955.
One afternoon at practice
I beat Simcha Finkelstein, t h e
visiting captain, who up to then was
unbeaten in SA. I must add that he
gave me 18 start in a 21 point game.
Also in 1955 an Israeli soccer side
toured SA. Again I was Maccabi liaison
officer. They played against the local
side, Western Province, on a public
holiday. In the crowd was Chief Rabbi
Israel Abrahams. WP scored first
but we did not worry too much. Nor
when WP scored again. But when WP
scored the third goal Rabbi Abrahams
turned to me and said “What’s next on
the program?” Happily Israel scored
seven that day; Glaser got 4 or 5, and
won 7-4.
qqq
My sister got married at the Bohemian
Club in 1946. A band of 3 played that
morning at a cost of 30 shillings (R3)
each. Schweppes mineral water cost
3/6 (35c) per dozen and catering 7/(70c) per head.
My wife took the children (and me)
for a cultural outing to hear the Cape
Town Symphony Orchestra. Everyone
raved about the conductor, except
me. “Not bad,” I exclaimed, “but I
prefer the conductor on the Newlands
E4 bus.” As my family says — I have
Van Gogh’s ear for music.
qqq
There is no business like Shul
business. Here are some snippets.
John Zieff, my son–in-law and at law,
and I once consulted a fellow davener
in the Claremont Shul. “Must a Kohein
marry his widow’s sister?” we asked.
Our neighbour started looking up the
chumash when I said “don’t worry, if
he has a widow he is dead.”
Rabbi Kurstag, Av Beth Din of SA, told
us of a lady who would not give her
husband a ‘get’. The Rabbi warned her
she would have to sit shiva for a week
if her husband died. “For him” she
responded, “I’d gladly sit two weeks.”
A convert was having her final test.
“What is your feeling about Jews for
Jesus?” asked the Av Beth Din. “No
problem”, she answered “all will be
fine when the mashgiach arrives.”
qqq
To end thanks go to all who helped :
Esther Surdut who created the little
man, my last two typists, Rene Engel
and Lesley Zieff, the CJC girls, my
Johannesburg correspondent Bernard
Katz and Dr David Scher for source
material, not forgetting my loyal
readers especially Meyer Shargey
for positive feedback. Mention must
also be made of Ben-Zion Surdut,
Chairman of the CJC for over 22 years,
and my editorial colleagues of 26½
years.
Bye bye and
keep well.
From SAJBD National Chairman Zev Krengel
I
Awaiting opportunities and challenges in
the year ahead
t was once true that the beginning of
the secular year could be expected
to be relatively quiet, as everyone
gradually got into the swing of things
following the holiday season. In our
increasingly speeded-up world, all that
has begun to change. Certainly, for
the Board of Deputies it has been a
matter of hitting the ground running in
recent years, as we saw with the 2009
Gaza incursion, and when we were
planning for the imminent Congress of
Presidents-European Jewish Congress
delegation visit last year.
At the time of writing, 2011 has
likewise gotten off to a lively start,
with our preparations for the visit of
Tzipi Livni, former Israeli deputy Prime
Minister and current leader of the
opposition in the Knesset. This will
be the most senior visit by an Israeli
political leader since Ehud Olmert’s
visit back in 2004, so the Board and
SA Zionist Federation are working hard
together to make the most of it.
While the itinerary for Ms Livni’s visit
is still in the planning stages, it can
be said that in addition to meetings
with government and other political
leaders, there will also be various
opportunities for the Jewish community
in Johannesburg and Cape Town to
hear her speak.
This is also the Board’s National
Conference year. Mindful of how
our 2009 conference attained such
heights — including the participation
of President Zuma, former Canadian
Justice Minister Professor Irwin Cotler
and World Jewish Congress President
Ronald Lauder to name just three — we
will certainly be making every effort to
ensure that this year’s conference is as
successful.
Another important project that we
expect to bring to fruition in the first
half of the year is our book chronicling
the life and career of Nelson Mandela,
as reflected through the many Jewish
men and women with whom he was
associated. We have already received
excellent input from Jewish individuals
who have provided us with their own
particular stories, and I encourage any
others who believe they too can make
a contribution to contact our offices
([email protected]).
In addition to these positive, proactive
initiatives, we also expect to have to
respond to the various problems and
challenges that will almost inevitably
arise as 2011 unfolds. Last year, while
the Middle East situation was fairly
quiet (the Gaza flotilla affair aside), we
saw the first sustained attempts by
local anti-Israel activists to get various
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
(BDS) initiatives off the ground. We
expect this to continue this year and
are gearing ourselves up to counter
it. As part of this preparation, one of
our staff members attended a BDS
strategy conference in Jerusalem last
December.
Whatever the next twelve months
holds, we feel confident that the
Board, and the Jewish community as
a whole, will once again prove equal to
meeting the challenges and taking full
advantage of the opportunities that will
no doubt arise.
Giftime
Gifts for all occasions
On display in our shop.
*Baby gifts
*Engagement/wedding
*Birthday/anniversary
*All the festivals
Email: [email protected] www.giftime.org.za
Ph; 021 4656500 Fax/ph: 021 4621967
Shabbat and Yom Tov Times
Date
4 Feb/30 Shevat
11 Feb/7 Adar 1
18 Feb/14 Adar 1
25 Feb/21 Adar 1
Portion
Terumah
Tetzaveh
Ki Tissa
Vayakhel
Candle lighting Ends
6.25
6.20
6.14
6.10
8.25
8.18
8.10
8.01
NB Please note that the times indicated are the earliest times for candle
lighting. Please consult your Rabbi.
7
Friends of the UJC Cape Town —
building foundations for the future
O
n 23 December 2010, the Cape
Town Soccer Stadium was again the
site of a truly spectacular event. The
Friends of the United Jewish Campaign
of Cape Town hosted its second annual
summer gala dinner, made possible by
our magnanimous sponsors Investec.
140 people partook in an evening
of fine dining, delightful music and
entertainment, and a truly motivational
address by internationally acclaimed
businessman Natie Kirsh.
The Friends of the UJC Cape Town
was constituted to garner the support
of annual visitors to Cape Town who
maintain a residence here. The sole
beneficiary of the Friends of the UJC Cape
Town is the David Susman Community
Foundation (DSCF). By building the
DSCF, which will provide critical income
to our community at volatile times, the
community organisations can be assured
of the resources they require to fulfil their
respective missions.
To date, the Friends of the UJC has
four patrons: Mick Davis, Sol Kerzner,
Natie Kirsh and Eric Samson, as well
as numerous “friends” who have made
generous contributions. The support of all
of these individuals will ensure that Cape
Town is able to boast Jewish life that
complements its pristine natural beauty
well into the future.
Marco Van Embden with Linda Mirels and Gerard
Mosse.
Rene Feinstein, Sheila Samson, Cheryl Lewis, Eric Samson, Leonard Feinstein,
Steven and Franki Cohen.
Lawrence Abrahamson
David Robins.
Bev and Sam Leon with Babette and Martin Strauss.
Shirley Fabian, Francine Rabb and Marion
Hasson.
Natie Kirsh, Debbie Fisher, Pamela Mirels, Eric Jaffe
and Philip Kirsh.
David Nurek of Investec.
and
photographs by Shaun Benjamin
Graham Rogoff, Denny Harris, Suzanne Ackerman-Berman and
Kathy Robins.
Alan Silverman, Simon Susman, John Rabb.
Eric Samson, Melvyn Gutkin and Philip Krawitz.
Billy Gundelfinger, Lisa Gundelfinger and Danny K.
Anthony Moshal and Eric Samson.
Michael and Nina Kovensky, Robert Kaplan, Wulf and Moira Utian, Milton
and Tamara Levine, Graham Rogoff and Denny Harris, Susan and Roy
Peires.
Robert Silverman, Liza Essers and Alan and Bella
Silverman.
Lauren Fried, Kevin and Dana Arenson.
8
Integrity • diversity • community
Talking Tachlis
David Jacobson
Executive Director
of the BOD
(Cape Council)
I don’t believe in
the ‘truth fairy’
D
uring the course of the recent SAZF
(Cape Council) conference, I had
occasion to think about ‘truth’. This
thinking was precipitated by many of
the interesting exchanges that took
place during the conference weekend,
during which I was challenged for ‘not
being able to recognise the truth’.
When I first took up my position at
the Board, I gave a talk at the annual
CSO Appreciation Dinner. There I spoke
about truth being a ‘commodity’ — a
commodity that unfortunately in the
21st century is bought and sold like
any other product. It would certainly
be much easier to be convinced of
‘the truth’ — to grip it tightly to my
chest and use it as a shield to defend
myself against the barrage of opposing
ideas and as a sword to pierce the lies
of ‘the other’. Indeed, wouldn’t it be
bliss to be able retreat into a place of
absolute certainty, rather than to have
to face a world of competing and often
compelling ideas, thoughts and truths?
In my experience, it is only the
extremists on both sides of an ideology,
any ideology, be it Zionist, Jewish or
other, that seem to be so convinced of
having ‘THE’ truth. They wield this truth
with a certain self-righteous indignation
and use it indiscriminately to batter
others into veritable submission. The
rest of us, unfortunately, are consigned
to have to battle with doubt and
uncertainty.
I read a beautiful drosha by Rabbi Ari
Kahn who says: “It is important that
we know that we are not expected to
live according to Truth as it exists in
heaven; that sort of Truth was always
out of our reach. Broken truth, truth
on the ground, is the foundation of
Creation, and the key to our continued
existence.”
Although I often wish I had the luxury
of being in possession of divine truth,
I have to settle with the bits and
pieces of ‘broken truth’ that I have at
my disposal. Therefore, with some
trepidation, I must continue holding
tightly to ambiguity — to advocating
my truth with passion, integrity and
conviction, yet at the same time
recognising that there are others who
may hold just as dearly to their truth as
I do to mine.
I believe that this ambiguity, as
painful as it is, makes me a stronger,
more compassionate and infinitely
more human being and, I hope also, a
better Jew.
2011 is going to be another
challenging year for our community
and I hope that we will all endeavour
to distinguish truth from falsehood, but
equally that we will do our utmost to be
sensitive to the truths of ‘the other’.
Walking the reconciliation talk
“None of us are here as Jews, Christians and Muslims as such; we’re here as South Africans,” Judge Dennis Davis told a
crowded mosque on Reconciliation Day. “We all know that we’re all in this boat together and if one of us is going to start
drilling a hole in the boat, all three of us are going to sink.”
by Gwynne Robins
F
ive years ago St George’s Cathedral
decided to utilise the Day of
Reconciliation (meant to focus on
repairing our historic racial antagonism)
to bring together Jews, Christians
and Muslims. Rev. Terry Lester, the
Cathedral’s sub-dean, realised that the
Cathedral was so close to the Gardens
Shul and to mosques, that why not use
the day to visit each other’s places of
worship and do something to remove
the ignorance, distrust and dislike of
the other that contribute to prejudice.
The Jewish Board of Deputies and
the Gardens Shul warmly embraced
the concept and the walk has grown
in numbers and media attention year
by year. This spirit of reconciliation is
highlighted in addresses given in each
venue by speakers who epitomise the
spirit of reconciliation yet belong to
another faith.
About 300 people converged on the
11-circuit Labyrinth in the Cathedral
courtyard, where Mayor Dan Plato
explained that he had decided to join
the pilgrimage because although the
city belonged to all who lived in it,
racism was still one of Cape Town’s
biggest challenges. “This makes it my
duty to talk about reconciliation and
the need for the people of this city to
learn to live together. We need to do a
bit more to bring people together,” he
said.
Dr Sa’diyya Shaik, a UCT lecturer in
Islamic Studies and Feminist Theory,
followed with a discussion on how
such pilgrimages involve a crossing
of boundaries and encountering the
unknown in the traditions of others.
The group included dignitaries such as
Mayor Plato, former Mayor Rev Gordon
Oliver (who is now chairman of the
CT Interfaith Initiative) and members
of the clergy; with Michael Bagraim,
National President of the Board, as
the Jewish representative. A regular
participant in the walk was the Cape
Council’s honorary life vice president,
Simon Jocum, who was following in the
footsteps of Rabbi Sherman (zl), one of
the founders of interfaith in Cape Town.
The next stop was the Gardens Shul,
where Solly Berger welcomed the group
and explained the history of the Jews
in Cape Town and the Gardens Shul;
as well as briefly describing the layout
of the Shul and the format of Jewish
services held there.
He was followed by University of the
Free State Vice-Chancellor Professor
Jonathan Jansen, President of the
SA Institute of Race Relations, who
reminded them that the day marked
the forgiveness and reconciliation that
had saved a badly wounded nation.
He warned that South Africa was still
a deeply divided society — socially,
psychologically and economically — as
could be seen in the levels of anger,
bitterness and race hate speech.
A culture of reconciliation was needed
to defuse the tension that resulted in
violence against foreigners ignited
Judge Dennis Davis among the crowd inside the Gardens Shul listening to Prof Jansen.
Participants, including members of Faith to Faith Face to Face, a Jewish-Muslim
interfaith organisation, exit the Gardens Shul from the front entrance.
by irresponsible language. Acts of
reconciliation could dampen threats of
retaliation, and demonstrate that there
are alternatives to the frustrations
found in the Middle East, Zimbabwe
and Sudan.
The walk then continued on to South
Africa’s second oldest mosque, the
Palm Tree Mosque. Barefoot, the group
crowded into the only surviving 18th
century house in Long Street to listen to
Judge Dennis Davis. He had spoken in
court, in synagogues, in the Cathedral
and television studios, but never before
in a mosque. He told them that the
rise of constitutional democracy and
simple formal equality in South Africa
was not sufficient for the reconciliation
needed to reconstruct the country, and
he used the story of Joseph and his
brothers from that week’s parsha to
demonstrate what reconciliation could
accomplish.
“Reconciliation is about serious
existential change on all sides of the
fence,” he told the packed mosque.
“Unless people like me, as a Jew,
can start seeing the humanity of ‘the
other’, you’re never going to get to a
real process of reconciliation here or
in the Middle East, but you have to
have faith that the ability to change is
possible. Without both sides changing,
true reconciliation is not possible.
“It’s a long ride, but it doesn’t mean
we haven’t done quite well — I mean
the very fact that we can have an event
like this — in Cape Town nogal… I think
there is a process of reconciliation on
the way.”
A long ride, but a short walk. For many
of the participants it was the first time
they had entered a house of worship
of another faith, and it received wide
coverage on radio, television and
newspapers.
It was appropriate that such a meeting
should have been held in the Gardens
Shul. Rev AP Bender, its rabbi for many
years, was very involved in interfaith
work. In a sermon he delivered to the
Sea Point Congregational Church Guild
on August 31 1915, Rev Bender told
how when travelling missionary Abbé
Huc visited China in the 19th century,
he observed that when strangers met,
politeness required that each should
ask his neighbours (who might have
been Confucian, Taoist or Buddhist),
“To what sublime religion do you
belong?” After they had responded
appropriately, he would reply “Religions
are many, reason is one, we are all
brothers.”
Anything that helps the process of
reconciliation between the peoples of
South Africa can only be good for our
community. A reconciliation march
like this reaffirms that, no matter our
religion, we are all brothers and sisters.
9
Board of Deputies makes a difference
The Importance of Context
by Lindy Diamond
The Talmud explains the verse:
“There shall be no needy among you”
(Deuteronomy 15: 4) to mean that
your first duty is to take care of your
own community and your own family’s
needs, which is an ancient version
of “charity begins at home.” Yet the
Talmud continues that anyone who goes
through life with
this as his maxim
here
is
no
will
eventually
other
Jewish
There is no other Jewish
become
poor,
community in the
community in the world
since few will
world like us, and
place
any
there is no other
like us, and there is no
confidence
in
one
community in the
other community in the
whose
attitude
world like Jews.
world like Jews
is
completely
This creates an
selfish. We must
opportunity
for
realise that there
us to behave in a
unique, inspiring and inspired way. The is a greater context, and be sensitive
context of being Jewish brings with it and aware of the needs of South
responsibilities for gemilut chasidim, Africans as well as the needs of Jews.
tikkun olam and tzedakah. The context By doing this, we enshrine the beauty
of being South African allows us to add of our religion and cultural heritage
our own personal texture to how we into that of our nationality, and create
a beautiful context for our community.
fulfil these responsibilities.
Context refers to the conditions in
which something exists or occurs.
Without context, the subtle and allimportant textures that make life
interesting would be missing. Our
context is that of South Africans and
Jews, in whichever order feels most
comfortable to us.
T
O
Lead SA
n 15 November, the Board of
Deputies organised for the
Blood Bank to visit the Samson
Centre and Albow Campus, so that
staff and volunteers, as well as
community members, could donate
much needed blood to this important
cause.
This formed part of the Board’s
Lead SA campaign. Just one blood
donation can save up to three lives.
Adonis Musati Project
I
n December, the Board of Deputies
provided beautiful gift bags to
a crèche for refugee children in
Observatory. The crèche, run by
Adonis Musati Project, provides
schooling for young refugee children
who are either in transit or too late
in the year for acceptance into
a government school. The class
provides the children with creative
stimulation
and
educational
opportunities. Adonis Musati has
a fair number of qualified teachers
passing through their offices, and has
paid one of them to teach the class —
so the crèche provides opportunities
for both children and adults. The
children were very excited about the
personalised gifts they received.
Most of the children at the bridging
school are from war-torn places
like East Congo and have never
received first-hand presents of
their own. I know they will cherish
these gifts for a long time.
Project Coordinator, Adonis Musati
Project
The Board of Deputies, through
its xenophobia sub-committee,
put together 30 ‘love packs’ to
be distributed by Adonis Musati
Project for victims of xenophobia
‘Love Packs’ containing toiletries and
luxuries for the festive season.
in November. Each pack contained
much-needed toiletries, a few luxury
items as well as food. Packs were
personalised for men, women and
babies.
The Board also took four books of
tickets for the Adonis Musati raffle.
These raised funds for their bridging
school, skills and business training
program, Well Woman Clinic and food
packs for those who are struggling
and need extra support.
e’Pap Donations
I
T
Saul Gerdis donates blood during the blood drive.
he Board of Deputies, as part
of its Lead SA campaign, has
started a recycling project.
All discarded paper is now being
shredded and dropped off at the
Nampak centre in Epping. A bin has
Colourful cans waiting to be recycled.
also been placed at The Samson
Centre, so that all cans can be
recycled.
All proceeds of these recycling
efforts will be channelled into one of
the Board’s outreach projects.
The recycling bin at the Samson
Centre.
the
donations
n December, the
you are offering
Board,
through
to the refugee
its
xenophobia
clients we assist
sub-committee,
on a daily basis
disseminated
an
at our centre.
email to all the civilThe donation will
s o c i e t y - f o r u m - f o rmake a massive
xenophobia members,
difference
to
offering e’Pap to their
their daily food
organisations to help
consumption.
ease the burden of
We thank you
food
requirements
once again and
over
the
festive
G-d Bless.’
season. So far, the
Welfare
Board has provided
Consultant,
e’Pap to Scalabrini
Scalabrini Centre
Centre, PASSOP, Rape
Crisis and Adonis e’Pap is a welcome addition to the
Musati Project. The diets of small children, the sick ‘Thanks so much
for your generous
e’Pap
comes
in and infirm.
donation.’
500g bags, contains
essential nutrients and requires no
Project Coordinator, PASSOP
cooking. It can be mixed with warm
or cold water, milk, maas or yoghurt.
An average helping of four spoons
he Board also made a donation of
will swell up to four times in volume.
e’Pap to a crèche in Kayamandi
e’Pap can also be mixed to any facilitated by the UJW Na’arot Group.
consistency, depending on the age
of the consumer. It is also Halaal and
‘On behalf of the UJW Na’arot
Kosher.
Group, we would like to thank you
so much for your donation of e-Pap
to our crèche in Kayamandi. It was
‘On behalf of our refugee clients,
greatly appreciated.’
we would like to express our
many thanks and gratitude for
Co-chairs Na’arot Group
T
T
he Board also elected to forego the usual fare provided at some Cape
Council meetings in 2011, and will allocate the money to a designated UJW
crèche project.
10
SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION (Cape Council)
SACH and the Rus Nerwich Quartet
– a special Channukah gig
A view from the Chair
Ben Levitas
M
uch of the work we do at the Zionist
Federation involves responding to
calls for boycotts, to disinvestment and
delegitimisation of the right of Israel
to even exist. No other nation has to
confront this agenda, which is driven
by an ever increasing number of states
and NGOs that have bought into the
Palestinian narrative. What is so galling
is that while human rights violations
are institutionalised in almost all the
countries calling for Israel’s demise,
only Israel is held to account for its
actions.
So, as the year begins, the events
of two years ago seem set to repeat
themselves. Hamas in Gaza has
T
Eliot Osrin receives
Jerusalem award
he
South
African Zionist
Federation
would like to
acknowledge
and
commend
Mr. Eliot Osrin
on being the
recipient
of
the prestigious
2010 Jerusalem
Award of the
World
Zionist
Organisation and Jewish Agency for
Israel. Mr. Osrin qualifies pre-eminently
as an outstanding personality in the
Jewish community of South Africa and
is most deserving of having this honour
bestowed upon him.
T
rearmed itself, and is
stronger than it has ever
been. Its armaments
can blow up tanks and
its new Iranian rockets can reach Tel
Aviv. It has mandated itself to fire
indiscriminately at any civilian target in
Israel, and since the last conflagration
has fired 500 missiles into Southern
Israel (source: Arutz Sheva). While
Israel’s UN Ambassador Meron Reuben
has called on the UN Security Council
to “send a clear and resolute message
that these attacks are unacceptable”,
no condemnations have ensued.
Where are the self righteous voices
of all the human rights groups who
watch and criticise Israel’s every
move, condemning the targeting of
kindergartens, where a young Israeli
was recently injured by a rocket at
Kibbutz Zkim? The voices are silent and
dormant and will only be heard when
Israel eventually reacts to protect its
own citizens.
For the time being, Israel is
downplaying these provocations, in
order not to disrupt the 3.4 million
tourists that visit each year. It needs
to protect its citizens and is building
shelters and reinforcing the roofs and
walls of schools. It is developing new
equipment to thwart the powerful
weapons of Hamas. It is soul searching,
at a conference dealing with the war to
delegitimise Israel, held this week in
Jerusalem on how to fight for its very
right to exist as a nation.
To complete my work I pray for peace
and the right to live in our land to enjoy
the same rights as any other nation.
A brilliant ‘buy-cott’
he South Africa Zionist Federation
(Cape Council) would like to
thank everyone who supported the
‘International Buy Israeli Products Day’
on the 30 November 2010.
The Sea Point Spar was enthusiastic
to come on board and be a part of
this wonderful initiative promoting the
purchase of Israeli goods. Their support,
and yours, is greatly appreciated!
This is going to be an annual event
and we are excited about venturing
further with more local shops in our
efforts to support Israel.
Galya Greig of SAZF and Chaya Chait of Sea Point Spar encouraging the purchase of
Israeli goods with shoppers.
C
ape Town’s jazz
lovers
were
treated to a sparkling
performance by the
Rus Nerwich Quartet
at the recent Save a
Child’s Heart special
Channukah gig.
Around 150 people
filled the South
African Broadcasting
Corporation’s
Auditorium in Sea
Point on the evening
of Wednesday, 1
December 2010.
Being the first night
Esta Levitas at the Chanukah gig in support of SACH.
of Channukah, this
event was held in an
surgery. Eight year old Esther is from
atmosphere of remembering how it is Kenya and is a Masai orphan who
possible to overcome great trials and suffers from congenital heart disease.
arise victorious — a reality for all of the Approximately R18 000 was raised
young children helped by SACH.
through the event, with all proceeds
A definite highlight at the event was the going directly towards Esther’s flight
launch of the Save a Child’s Heart song. and surgery in Israel.
Written and composed by Capetonian
For Capetonians, the onset of
Lenoy Barkai, it is a deeply moving and Channukah 2010 was especially
inspiring composition. The lyrics serve memorable as it was framed by this
to remind us all of the sanctity and gift heartfelt endeavour to help save the
of life; truths that transcend all political life of one child in great need. What
barriers.
better way to remember and express
All present had the opportunity thanks for the miraculous provision of
to ‘play’ their part as the evening Channukah than to play an active role
was dedicated to raising funds for a in providing the needed funds to save
young girl in desperate need of heart a life!
A farewell letter from Omer Kalderon
E
nding my Shlichut is not an easy
task. I am not just leaving a job but
also leaving friends who have been
more like my family for the entire time,
and an amazing community that I have
been a part of for more than a year.
Saying goodbye to so many people who
have been a part of my life is an almost
impossible job. What an outstanding
year in Cape Town it has been! A warm
Cape Town welcome waited for me on
my arrival, and now a warm feeling is
filling me as I write these lines.
My parents taught me many lessons
in my life, one of which has been to
never do what I don’t feel passionate
about. I must say that the work I’ve
done here has been so exciting that I
never lost the spark of this job. Working
in Herzlia in the past year was more
than just work — meeting the pupils of
the different age groups and building
a personal connection with them was
so inspiring. Meeting so many kids
who feel so close to Israel, a country
about 7,500km away from them, was
something I didn’t expect to encounter.
Through my syllabus I feel that this
connection has gone from strength to
strength.
Habonim Dror was my home this
past year. Living in the Bayit and being
exposed to so many wonderful young
stimulating people was indeed one of
the highlights of the year. Talks into
the night, peulot, machanot, meetings,
channichim, friends, ideology, lots of
Remember Gilad Shalit!
laughs and so much more sums up
Habo for me!
The South African Zionist Federation
(Cape Council) has been my workplace
but they have been so much more than
just that. The SAZF (CC) has been a
habitat for me.
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank all the people who adopted me
here and made their homes my home
away from home.
Thanks a lot for a brilliant year!
Omer Kalderon
Habonim Dror, SAZF (CC) and Herzlia
Schools Shaliach
Be in touch: [email protected]
www.gilad.org
11
Aliyah — flights and farewells
Goldblatt drawing record crowds at
Jewish Museum
Kith, Kin & Khaya,
the exhibition of
David
Goldblatt’s
South
African
photographs,
is
drawing
record
crowds to the South
African
Jewish
Museum in the
Company’s Garden
Justine Friedman Farewell
W
“O
ver
five
h u n d r e d
visitors
streamed
into the museum in
one day, breaking A Farmer’s Son with his Nursemaid, Heimweeberg,
previous
records” Nietverdiend. From the South African Jewish Museum's
said director Andrew current exhibition: Kith, Kin and Khaya, David Goldblatt, South
Goldman.
The African Photographs, open through 11 February.
exhibit, which is
and clarity, re-affirming the adage “a
scheduled to close on 11 February, picture speaks a thousand words.” An
has been almost universally praised by audio guide, narrated by Goldblatt, is
visitors as well as by the press. Lucinda available to visitors free of charge; and
Jolly of the Cape Times suggested that the exhibit includes an outstanding
“Goldblatt should be considered one of documentary by Greg Marinovich,
our living treasures.”
featuring interviews, commentaries
Goldblatt’s work has received a host and the opportunity to ‘shadow’
of honours and awards, and he is Goldblatt as he revisits old haunts
the only South African to have been and undertakes a new and intriguing
awarded the Hasselblad Award: “It’s commission.
the closest thing there is to a Nobel
Also on view at the South African
Prize for photography,” says Goldman.
Jewish Museum is ‘Hidden Treasures of
Kith, Kin & Khaya features 119 Japanese Art’, a world-class collection
silver gelatin prints, each a striking of Netsuke, enchanting Japanese
and thought-provoking study. They miniature sculptures.
are uniquely South African, with the
The museum’s JArt program has
circumstances of the country intruding activities every other Sunday at 11am
into every composition. Goldblatt’s work for children aged three to thirteen.
has a purpose, not only to captivate The project on February 6 is “Amazing
but to capture the essence and, in his Mosaics”. E-mail [email protected] for
words, ‘the ethos’, of the country, past bookings.
and present. The photographer, who
The museum is open Sunday through
just celebrated his 80th birthday, has Thursday from 10am–5pm and Fridays
documented the complexities of life in from 10am-2pm. The museum is
his native country for over 50 years.
closed on Saturdays and will be open
For a long time, Goldblatt’s chosen for free on 30 January and 27 February.
medium has been black and white Join the ‘South African Jewish Museum’
film. A multitude of shades and page on Facebook to hear about other
contrasts imbue his work with force free days and special events.
e wish Justine Friedman a fond
farewell. She has been in the
Aliyah Department as the Aliyah
Consultant and Events Coordinator
for over one and a half years. Justine
has made an invaluable contribution
to this very busy department with her
efficiency and bubbly personality! She
leaves us to join eTV, an industry she is
eager to pursue.
“It was a very rewarding opportunity
to assist people in a variety of different
capacities to make Aliyah, but I am
excited about getting into a more
creative field,” says Justine.
She will be missed in the Aliyah office.
Encounter 2011
I
srael Encounter 2011 once again
exposed last year’s grade 11 pupils
to the beauty of Israel. A large group
of students went to Israel from the 3rd
to the 13th of January, and enjoyed
an experience of Israeli heritage and
culture with this busy and exciting
tour. The pupils also visited academic
programmes and universities across
the country. This year we had an
incredibly large group from Cape Town,
almost fifty children, many of whom had
never been to Israel before. Encounter
is a highly subsidised tour and it was
our privilege to provide the opportunity
for Jewish students to go to Israel at
such a reduced cost. It is a life changing
experience and is amazing that so
many of our Cape Town pupils went on
1
Encounter jewish_chron_festive_R3.pdf
this year.
MEDIA LIAISON
An organisation based in the CBD is looking for a Media Liason
with excellent writing, research and communication skills as well
as good admin and computer skills.
The Media Liaison will need to have a good understanding of
both print and electronic media as well as building strong
relationships with the media.
The ideal candidate needs to be a passionate Zionist, have
knowledge and an interest in Israeli affairs.
Justine Friedman and Yossie Eshed at
Justine’s farewell tea.
December Flight
T
he Chet 8th Red Carpet Flight from
South Africa took off on the 20th
of December 2010. A couple went
to the city of Beit Shemesh, which
is partnered with Cape Town in the
Partnership 2000 Programme, along
with the Mateh Yehuda region. A
student went to kibbutz to do his ulpan,
and three people went to Ulpan Etzion
in Jerusalem for their intensive ulpan.
We are looking forward to our next flight
on 11 April 2011. We are proud to state
that 71 people made Aliyah from Cape
Town in 2010 and we expect many
2011/01/10
3:14 PM
more
this year.
Pensioners
Discounts
C
Every Thursday
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To start in February 2011 , salary will be based on experience.
To apply please send your CV to [email protected] or speak to
Joanne or Linda 021 464 6700.
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Parking
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12
Melton 2010 and its graduates enjoyed the fruits of
Jewish learning
2010 was a rich and exciting year for
the Midrasha Adult Education Institute
and the Florence Melton Adult MiniSchool, a Project of Hebrew University
W
hen asked where Melton would
be in five years’ time at the
introduction of Melton to Cape Town
in 2006, Director Viv Anstey had said:
“We will have exhausted our potential
student base.” However, she now adds:
“But I was so wrong, as 2010 proved!”
Enrolment peaked again in 2010 for
the two year classic Melton programme
and the two graduate courses. These
were on The Holocaust as Reflected in
Diaries and Memoirs (a collaborative
work by Yad Vashem and Melton); and
Israeli Literature as a Window to Israeli
Society. 2010 saw our first students
join the Israel Melton seminar for 11
days, touring Israel and learning text on
site, touching on biblical and historical
episodes, alongside issues of Jewish
identity and Israeli society.
Promises for 2011 attracted students
to “taste” the Beyond the Borders
course, which will unpack conflict in
the Middle East through texts; and the
Foundations course for parents with
children in mind (see advert below!).
We were treated to Melton/Hebrew
University’s scholar in residence
Morey Schwartz, curriculum developer
and faculty advisor: He worked
with Melton faculty and students,
wowed his audiences at Limmud SA,
and spent Shabbat at West Street
Shul in Johannesburg as a scholar.
International guests offer new styles
and perspectives which enrich our
Jewish learning.
Celebrating Jewish Journeys
The Graduation Ceremony for Year 2
students is a highlight in our calendar.
The 2010 Melton Graduates and those
who partnered them on their Jewish
journey, came together to celebrate two
years and collectively over 2000 hours
of Jewish learning the Melton way.
The reflections below highlight what it
meant to the students to accomplish
mastery in Jewish literacy:
MELTON CLASSIC COURSE: WE ARE RECRUITING FOR THIS TEXT BASED
COURSE, SUCCESSFULLY ENTERING IT’S 6TH YEAR IN CAPE TOWN:
T
his sequential 2 yr curriculum is organised in a conceptual framework. The
goals of Year 1 are to expose the students to the concepts of Jewish behavior
and Jewish belief, while Year 2 seeks to study the way that Jewish behaviour and
beliefs impacted upon the major decisions of Jewish history and continues to
impact upon the ongoing ethical dilemmas of human existence.
Course starts mid February 2011; Choose between Monday mornings or
Wednesday evenings.
For more details contact:
Viv Anstey, director, [email protected], cell: 082 8095414
RSVP to Lauren Snitcher, recruitment: [email protected]; cell:082 8802257
Daniel
Kurgan
attended classes with
his wife Nicky: “Our
educational journey is
an inverted pyramid
— it flows from a point
of no choice early in
our lives, to one of
complete choice later;
hence, the significance
of the Melton course
is vast, given that we
choose to do it at a
stage in our lives when
we are not obligated
to learn. Yet, the drive
and thirst for more
Jewish learning are
what spurred me to
commit two years Back: Lenny Chait, Ronnie Gotkin, Barbara Gurwitz,
to studying through Louise Slavin, David Padowich, David Jacobson and Jeremy
Melton, and reunited Wanderer. Middle: Daniel Kurgan, Melanie Osrin, Matilda
Kurland, Martine Berman, Peta Feldman, Cathy Michelson,
me with my most Yoni Hoffman Wanderer and Nicky Kurgan. Front: Lauren
inspirational teacher Snitcher, Hayley Rubin, Viv Anstey, Matti Hasson and Amira
of my entire school Shap. Absent: Evie Rabinowitz.
career,
Yonatan
investment of time well spent. Together
Mirvis, who I had no
idea was behind the Melton programme we engaged thoughtfully with a variety
when I signed up. Two fulfilling years of texts and ideas, discovering what
of learning, discovery and growth, our tradition has to offer, suggesting
highlighted the incredible depth and new ways of understanding and
breadth of our wonderful religion, and applying this tradition, and challenging
our own preconceived ideas about
stimulated my thirst for more.”
Hayley Rubin, part of the Wednesday our tradition as well as those held by
evening group, is a psychologist at others. Melton aims to provide a safe
Herzlia: “Jewish adult learning — what space to grow and learn, treating your
a vast experience: Sacred narratives, classmates with tremendous respect
rhythms, dramas, ethics — all and understanding.
This does not mean that we always
presented with texts that ultimately
agreed.
The Mishna refers to two kinds
reveal a multi-perspective and often
dialectical reasoning that appears to of machlokot — disputes — the negative,
be one of the core Jewish processes. such as the rebellion of Korach, and
As a psychologist, I think it’s this the good kind, such as those between
ability to recognise and appreciate the Hillel and Shammai. A good machloket
complexity and paradoxical nature of is one that is, according to the Mishna,
life and people that is in fact one of the “for the sake of heaven” — well
crucial components of psychological intentioned. Talmud further notes that
health. As a Jewish person, it also both sides to these disputes present
offers the greatest hope we have for the words of a living God, suggesting
the future. Melton’s process for me that both have value. In some sense,
was about exploring past and present this is the life-blood of Melton, as they
so that we can envision a promising have always been in Jewish tradition.
Without good-natured debate about
Jewish future.”
Martine Berman, a parent, seeking the issues that matter most in life, we
her own knowledge, joined the morning would not be exposed to new ideas and
group: “Herzlia’s website states that it perspectives, causing us to respond
“does not discriminate between Jews and to rethink old positions.”
Lauren Snitcher, recruitment cowithin the community and welcomes
Jews from different ideological coordinator, gave a graduate’s
backgrounds”. I believe Melton follows perspective: “‘You are not required
the same path. During the course to complete the task, yet you are not
you will be exposed to debate, texts free to withdraw from it’. Rabbi Tarfon
and opinions from various Jewish understands the human condition
ideologies. In Melton different opinions in relating this text to beginning a
are presented but not judged. There journey of adult Jewish learning. Even
is such an easy learning style. It’s up though we may feel so overwhelmed
to each participant if they do further that we conclude that “never in my
reading, or just arrive for the lessons. entire lifetime can I complete all there
We read texts that were written is to learn”, we should know that we
generations ago but felt current, are not expected to complete the task
debating how they apply to us today. nor are we penalised for being unable
We put ourselves into the mindset of to finish the task. We merely need to
Jews throughout time, and imagined try our best. Pirkei Avot, Chapter 5,
what life was like before the State of Mishna 26 summarises: ‘Delve in the
Israel. We were exposed to writing Torah and continue to delve in it — for
from scholars and intellectuals from everything is in it!’”
Melton clearly means different things
our past and learnt to appreciate their
to
different people, but the common
devotion to our religion.”
purpose remains a commitment to
A place for debate
Jewish learning, embarking on a
Yoni Hoffman Wanderer, Ethics teacher personal journey and thereby acquiring
posited: “Regardless of your reasons for a repertoire of skills and knowledge
joining Melton, in the last two years you that are deeply embedded in our
have all set aside two hours per week Jewish tradition.
for Torah study. This is a significant
13
iva
h
s
Ye
Gran-Gran and the Dialectic of Jewish
Peoplehood
e
Vib
by chairman Lance Katz
My wife’s grandmother and I often engage in a
recurring debate. Gran-Gran, as she is affectionately
known, is perplexed by the fact that modern Jews are
voluntarily taking on an observant way of life that
she associates with the shtetl she escaped from.
I
Kabbalat Shabbat jamming session.
Rabbi Eitan
Bendavid and Shai Balkin with young congregants at
Beit Midrash Morasha bringing in the Shabbat vibe.
(Photograph taken before Shabbat).
Bringing the Israeli spirit to Machaneh: Rabbi Eitan
and Merav Bendavid and Bachurim Amitai Koschitzky,
Dalik Samkai, Shai Balkin and Noam Warhaftig together
with members of the Israeli Mishlachat to Bnei Akiva
Machaneh 2010.
n Lithuania, she argues, they had no choice but to
be Jewish. “We were not religious, we just did. We
didn’t know any other way,” she says. “Jews today
have choices. Why are they choosing to go back to
the shtetl?”
Gran-Gran reminisces of a time in Cape Town
when she and a number of her friends met weekly to
discuss the question of what it is to be Jewish. Are
Jews followers of a religion? Are Jews a nation? What
is it that makes us Jews? They discussed it for a year
and were unable to come up with a definitive answer.
There is something in Gran-Gran’s formulation that
puts me on edge. No matter how many times I have
tried to address her questions and challenge her
assumptions, I have never managed to bring this
debate to an end.
A few months back I volunteered to give a lecture
series to the Grade 10 Herzlia students on the subject
of Jewish peoplehood. I decided to use the thoughts of
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (“The Rav”) as a framework
for the lectures.
Fate and Destiny
The Rav was the pre-eminent Talmudic scholar of the
20th century and the leader of modern orthodoxy
in America. In 1956 he penned his famous essay
‘Kol Dodi Dofek’ in which he expounded on what he
perceived to be the dialectic of Jewish peoplehood in
describing the momentous shift from the Holocaust
to the creation of the State of Israel.
Jews, he said, are subject to a twin covenant which
binds them inextricably to one another. The first is
the covenant of Fate which was born in slavery in
Egypt and which is often characterised by loneliness,
vulnerability and victimhood. The second is the
covenant of Destiny which was born at Mount Sinai
and which is characterised by uniqueness, selfdetermination and purposefulness.
Whilst the first covenant can be crushing and filled
with horror, it nonetheless provides the opportunity
for the redemptive power of the second covenant.
Kahlil Gibran expressed a similar paradox in his
poem The Prophet when he wrote “The deeper that
sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can
contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very
cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?”
Since Gran-Gran justifiably perceives her previous
shtetl lifestyle as laden with Fate, it is incomprehensible to her that the same traditional observant
lifestyle may now be motivated by a vastly different
spirit, namely Fate’s twin brother Destiny. Whereas
life in the shtetl was isolating and frightening, Jews of
today are engaging with their Jewishness with a sense
of pride and purpose.
For me personally there is no better example in our
city of this positivist Jewish spirit, than the Chief Rabbi
Cyril and Ann Harris Yeshiva of Cape Town.
Learning Opportunities
‘Jewish Literacy 101: a Journey through Jewish
Intellectual History’
Wed: Sea Point, Thurs: Claremont
Kids Beit Midrash, Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-6
Wed afternoon: Sea Point
1-1 Chevruta with bachurim
Mon: Milnerton, Tue and Wed: Sea Point,
Thurs: Claremont
Watch this space for new and exciting
initiatives that will be launched shortly!
14
Herzlia
december ticket draw • R2500 - Cheryl Puterman • R1250 - Stuart Stone • R625 - Arthur Gillis • R200 - Barr
Matric 2010
Simone Adler
Marc Alperstein
Gina Anstey
Robert Beck
Melissa Cohen
Brandon Cuming
Michal Dahan
Ryan Fabian
Joshua Goodman
Isabella Bisogno
Claire Friedman
Michael-Angelo Bootcov
Chanel Cloete
Jordan Cohen
Joshua Cohen
Carla Frumer
Sasha Gamsu
Tayla Geben
Jenna Goldberg
98 Candidates
100% pass rate
Bianca Goott
Michael Hammerschlag
Gali Hartuv
87 admissions to Higher Education – PASS
BACHELORS (Matric Exemption) = 89%
Daniella Hasson Alexander Herzenberg
238 subject distinctions
In 15 out of 19 subjects offered, the 2010 year
group achieved an average of 70% or more
Joshua Horwitz
Ross Horwitz
Mikaela Kagan
Aaron Kahn
Yarden Kalif
Shane Kaplan
76 out of 98 candidates achieved 1 or more
distinctions (77%)
Marco Joffe
Dean Jones
Bradley Kahn
Jonathan Kaimowitz
Adam Karp
Jonathan Katz
Joshua Katzeff
Tarryn Kawalsky
Jaryd Kay
Kiara Klitzner
Aimee Koff
Andrea Kopman
Joshua Kotlowitz
Michael Lazard
Jesse Lazarus
Kyle Levin
Justin Levitt
Shane Lipman
Deborah Lipshitz
Eden Lurie
David Lutrin
Jarred Marcus
4 candidates achieved 7 distinctions (Full House)
2 candidates achieved 6 distinctions
November ticket draw • R2500 - David Resnick • R1250 - Harold Jedeikin • R625 - David Zetler • R200 - Da
15
Highlights
ry Friedman • R200 - Irwin Krombein • R200 - Neville Kosviner • R200 - Selwyn Bloom • R200 - Alison Katzeff
Matric 2010
Nicole Marcus
Tamara Marcus
David Nathan
Mieke Neugebauer
Bradwill Markgraaf
Jodi Maron
Ryan Mendelsohn
Ricky Novis
Jessica Puterman
Ashleigh Rabie
Gadi Messinger Daniella Mosselson
Nicholas Muller
Loren Naicker
Glen Rabinowitz
Darren Rozman
Shaun Rozowsky
Alix Reingold
Individual Achievements
7 DISTINCTIONS - FULL HOUSE – 4
Andrea Kopman • Kyle Levin (Maths 100%) • Jessica Puterman • Candice
Schneider (Maths 100%)
Alexander Sack
Leora Sacks
6 DISTINCTIONS – 2
Tarryn Kawalsky • Ruby Schalit
Jordy Sank
Mikheila Sank
Candice Schneider
Mordechai Serraf
Daniel Shields
Laurie Shone
Melinda Simon
Joshua Singer
Simone Adler • Sasha Gamsu • Dean Jones • Bradley Kahn • Joshua
Kotlowitz • Glen Rabinowitz • Melinda Simon • Emma Van Braningan •
Samuel Van Embden
Ruby Schalit
Joshua Scher
Carla Frumer • Tayla Geben • Jonathan Kaimowitz • Kiara Klitzner • Jesse
Lazarus • Eden Lurie • Ryan Mendelsohn • Jordy Sank • Daniel Shields •
Jared Silber • Mikhail Todes
Gina Anstey • Bianca Goott • Michael Hammerschlag • Gal Hartuv •
Daniella Hasson • Marco Joffe • Justin Levitt • Deborah Lipshitz • Cari Miller
• Nicholas Muller • Mordechai Serraf • Casey Slot • Adam Todes • Brynn
Travill • Chelsey Varkel • Dylan Venter • Benjamin Weiner • Daniel Yach
Isa-Faye Shapiro
Craig Sheldon
Michael-Angelo Bootcov • Melissa Cohen • Brandon Cumings • Michal
Dahan • Claire Friedman • Jenna Goldberg • Joshua Katzeff • Jaryd Kay •
Michael Lazard • David Lutrin • Nicole Marcus • Daniella Mosselson • David
Nathan • Alix Reingold • Leora Sacks • Joshua Scher • Isa-Faye Shapiro •
Craig Sheldon • Laurie Shone • Joshua Singer • Steven Theron
1 DISTINCTION – 11
Jared Silber
Joseph Simon
Casey Slot
Idan Smollan
Emma Van Braningen
Samuel Van Embden
Robert Beck • Isabella Bisogno • Joshua Cohen • Alexander Herzenberg •
Joshua Horwitz • Shane Kaplan • Tamara Marcus • Mieke Neugebauer •
Alexander Sack • Joseph Simon • Melissa Zackon
Liam Solomon
Chelsey Varkel
Steven Theron
Adam Todes
Mikhail Todes
Brynn Travill
Daniel Ullrich
Dylan Venter
Dylan Wakefield
Benjamin Weiner
Daniel Yach
Melissa Zackon
avid Ossher • R200 - Stan Boiskin • R200 - Michael Saben • R200 - Gail and Brian Kirsch • R200 - H Soffer
16
Jewish Community Services
The elderly at risk
Jewish Community Services has been
in existence in various forms for over
150 years. However, the aim has
remained the same: to ensure the wellbeing and protection of vulnerable
individuals and families in crisis within
the Jewish community of Cape Town.
J
CS provides a full range of
preventative,
educative
and
supportive
counselling,
statutory
services, material relief and several
community development projects. Of
note is the fact that JCS is unique in
the Jewish welfare system in that we
are a generic welfare organisation,
meaning that we work in all areas of
specialisation in all age groups.
JCS as such, work very closely with the
other specialist welfare organisations
and play the role of referral agent,
coordinator and facilitator of specialist
services. Usually JCS is the first contact
for any individual requiring the support,
assistance and services of welfare.
Having said that we work in all age
groups, an analysis of our current
caseload reveals that between 18%
and 20% of our cases involve services
to elderly persons. Our intake stats are
showing a marked increase in cases
involving issues related to aging, which
require intervention. This is of grave
concern, and the reasons for this would
be a subject for further research. It is
in light of this situation however, that
the professional team at JCS have
made a policy decision to embark on
an awareness campaign within our
community — not only to create an
awareness of these very vulnerable
individuals and to be more vigilant, but
also to provide practical solutions to
the question of “what can I do?”
Assisting the elderly
Our referrals come from family
members, the clients themselves,
doctors or hospitals, rabbis and
neighbours. What is important to
note is that although there may be
concerns, elderly persons are adults
with the constitutional right to selfdetermination. We cannot judge a
person’s lifestyle based on our own
standards unless the person’s lifestyle
choices pose a risk to themselves or
others, or if they are not competent
mentally or cognitively to make
lifestyle choices that are in their best
interests. In this case, there are legal
processes to follow. If not, we need to
put monitoring and support systems
in place until such time as there are
grounds to proactively intervene. JCS
often gets requests to “get him into
Highlands House” or “make him get
medical treatment”. As hard as it is to
watch a situation deteriorate, we can
do no different unless there are legal
grounds if an elderly person refuses
assistance.
Some of the more severe case
scenarios
• A 75-year old woman living on the
streets moves from place to place
as soon as she hears that JCS social
worker is coming. She is incontinent,
malnourished and physically frail.
We managed to get her into a private
nursing home for almost a year before
she absconded about two years ago.
We believe she is squatting on a smallholding somewhere near Joostenberg
Vlakte, and we are awaiting an
opportunity to have her committed for
assessment and treatment.
• A 60-year old man living in a
partially open garage in Mitchells Plain,
sleeping on old newspapers. He spent
some time at our cottages and is now
at Highlands House.
• A 97-year old man referred by a
neighbour after a fall, had been living
without electricity and was severely
dehydrated, malnourished and very
frail, both mentally and physically. He
was legally committed for medical
treatment but died in hospital two
weeks later. This was a man of means.
Many older persons living in senile
squalor — cluttered, dirty environment,
which poses a health, safety and often
physical risk. One such case is an 80
year old woman who JCS monitored
with the assistance of a neighbour for
a period of four years was admitted
to Highlands House after she was
hospitalised having broken a femur
through a fall.
Presented by Anne Marx, Social Work
Manager, Jewish Community Services,
at CJSA Silver Anniversary Seminar
held on 28 October 2010
Practical signs in recognising an elderly person at risk
Elder abuse
This occurs when other people’s actions
may cause problems for an elderly
person, due to abuse, exploitation
or neglect. At times, actions are
intentional — that is, someone setting
out to do physical or emotional harm to
the older person. Sometimes a harmful
situation may occur even though
the other party never intended that
outcome. It can be difficult, at times,
to ascertain a person’s intent towards
an elder.
Elder abuse constitutes:
• Physical mistreatment: Acts of
violence that may result in pain, injury,
impairment or disease.
• Psychological mistreatment: Verbal
insults, harassment or intimidation,
threats of punishment or deprivation,
treating the older person like an
infant, lack of a safe environment, and
isolating the older person from family,
friends or activities.
• Financial or material mistreatment:
The misuse of the person’s income or
resources for the financial or personal
gain of a caretaker or advisor, stealing
money or possessions, coercing the
person into signing contracts, assigning
durable power of attorney to someone,
or making a will.
Elder neglect
As opposed to abuse, neglect involves
failure to use the available funds and
resources necessary to sustain or
restore the health and well-being of
an individual. For example, a person
suffering from sub-standard care at
home despite adequate resources;
withholding information about personal
resources, and pressure to transfer
assets to a family member all constitute
elder neglect.
Elder self-neglect
Self-neglect is the result of an adult’s
inability to perform essential self-care
tasks due to physical and/or mental
impairments, including: Providing
essential food, clothing, shelter
and medical care, obtaining goods
and services necessary to maintain
physical, mental and emotional health,
and general safety and/or managing
financial affairs.
Signs of self-neglect
We all may know someone who has
been thrust into the role of caregiver
for their aging parents or an elderly
loved one, which is a major transition.
How can we prepare ourselves for this
responsibility? How can we become
more proactive? The signs below can
signal that our elderly parents or aging
loved ones may need assistance or
possibly home care:
1. Changes in housekeeping patterns:
Has your parent or elder always
maintained a certain housekeeping
pattern that is beginning to change?
2. Finances: Are bills not being paid?
Are there issues with accounts such as
overdrafts or bounced cheques?
3. Weight loss: Could this be because
your aging parent cannot cook or shop
on his or her own? Do you notice that
food in the house is past the sell by
date or close to rotting?
4. Does your aging parent have unusual
bruises on their body? This could
indicate that they may have fallen or
have trouble moving in the home. Any
burns may indicate that they may have
problems cooking.
5. Poor hygiene: Do you notice changes
in the bathing, dressing, grooming or
toileting habits of your aging parent?
Are they wearing the same clothes
often or even wearing clothing that may
be inappropriate?
6. Movement: Does your aging parent
have problems navigating the kitchen?
Are they having problems walking and
doing normal tasks like checking the
mail?
7. Forgetfulness: Is your aging parent
forgetting things like appointments,
returning calls, or what day is garbage
day; are they frequently misplacing
things or can’t recall names of familiar
people or objects?
8. Depression: Does your parent seem
sad or more withdrawn than usual? Do
you notice a lack of motivation?
9. Physical or verbal abuse: Does your
aging parent seem uncharacteristically
volatile? Do you notice sudden verbal
or physical outbursts?
10. Physical signs: Do you notice that
the car has dents and scratches or that
there are stains on the carpet from
spills? Do you smell a urine odour in the
house? Are there stacks of unopened
mail, or unfilled prescriptions?
If you see any of these signs in your
parents, discuss it with them. Try to
get them to see a doctor, or make an
appointment with one to discuss your
concerns. The doctor can point you to
various agencies that can help, and can
closely observe your parent the next
time they are in for an appointment.
Children who have aging parents
living a distance away
Children who have elderly parents
living a distance away face a difficult
situation. They must balance the
needs of their aging parents with their
immediate family, job and finances;
and must decide when to visit, which
adds more financial burdens. These
challenges can be overwhelming,
leading to caregiver stress and guilt.
Many children feel that the situation
would be more manageable if their
aging parents moved closer, but this
can create other issues. Many people
do not want to move and lose friends,
relationships or independence.
So, what can a caregiver do when their
aging parents don’t want to relocate
and they are burdened with juggling
responsibilities? The worst thing they
can do is let frustration consume
them. There are many resources
available that can help them make their
situations more manageable.
Long distance care giving tips
1. Find a geriatric care manager —
usually a licensed nurse or social worker
who specialises in geriatrics. They are
a sort of ‘surrogate’ parent that can
help families identify needs and how
they can meet them successfully. They
can also be helpful in leading family
discussions about sensitive subjects.
2. Gather personal, financial, health
and legal information — effective care
giving depends on keeping information
in order and up to date. Often, children
living far away will need to have
information about a parent’s health,
financial and legal records. Maintaining
these lets you get a handle on what
is going on and allows you to respond
quickly if there is a crisis.
3. Plan ahead — making advance care
plans is a key step to make sure that
healthcare preferences are known.
Healthcare providers can only respect
those wishes that are documented
in the medical record. Advance care
planning can help your family avoid
conflict over treatment decisions. So,
find out if your parent or relative has
an advance directive stating treatment
preferences. If not, talk about setting
one up, and make sure you and the
doctor have a copy.
4. Make friends — develop
relationships with people in the same
area as your parent or relative as they
can be your eyes and ears.
Legal process: The Older Persons Act
The Older Persons Act has provisions
for reporting abuse or neglect of
an older person in need of care
and protection. Section 25 deals
with reporting obligations when an
older person is in need of care and
protection, and Section 26 sets out the
reporting obligations of anyone who
suspects abuse of older persons.
If concerned, please contact Rhita
Russon at Jewish Community
Services on 021 462-5520
17
UNION OF ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUES OF SOUTH AFRICA
The committed life – Bnei Akiva returns to its roots
Rabbi Eitan Bendavid, Rabbi of Yeshiva of Cape Town
I am no official representative of Bnei
Akiva (my wife, Merav, is the shlicha),
but I can tell you from our experience
at camp this summer that Bnei is
charting a new course, and that this
summer represented the beginning of
a reinvigorated Bnei Akiva movement
in South Africa.
T
his year, leaders of Bnei took a
hard look at the movement’s core
values of “Commitment to the Jewish
People, the Land of Israel, and the
Torah of Israel,” and used camp as an
opportunity to not only live according
to these values, but more importantly,
to imbue them with contemporary
significance in light of modern day
South Africa.
Let me explain what I mean. After
Pharoah rebuffs Moses’ request to let
the Jews leave Egypt, The Torah tells us
“And G-d spoke to Moshe and Aaron,
and he instructed them to command
the Jewish People and to Pharaoh the
King of Egypt to take the Children of
Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 6:13).
There is an ambiguity in the text —
what exactly did Moses and Aharon
command the Jewish people?
The Talmud Yerushalmi offers a rather
strange interpretation: “What Did
[Moses] command them? About the
laws of letting slaves free at the end
of each seven year agricultural cycle
(shmittah).”
This interpretation begs the obvious
question — why did G-d choose to teach
this particular message to the Jews at
this point in time and not wait until the
Sinai revelation, a few weeks later?
Rabbi Chaim Shmulovitz offers a
brilliant psychological insight through
his analysis of this particular law. He
argues that it is very hard for slaveowners to let their slaves go. The
master sees the slave as his property,
and invests in him accordingly.
Therefore, the timing of this
particular teaching is very apt. At the
very moment when the Jews are still
enslaved, God commands the Jews
about the importance of letting their
own slaves free. G-d wants the feeling
of servitude to be so ingrained in the
Jews’ consciousness that they will be
able to understand the plight of their
own slaves. The reason Moses taught
this law now is because the sense of
being enslaved will dissipate once the
Jews are no longer slaves.
A constant refrain in the Torah is:
“Remember that you were a slave in
Egypt, foreigners in another land”.
This act of remembering is not for
historical reasons, inasmuch as it is
about remembering what it was like to
be a slave on a deep emotional level —
in one’s guts, so that if one ever sees
slavery, bondage, oppression, pain
transpiring in front of their eyes, they
will not be able to turn away.
Reaching out to the other
This message of “remember” is not
only for past generations of Jews — it is
for us today.
The Exodus from Egypt is perhaps
the greatest story of history. There is
no better depiction of the underdog
beating the big bully — the David beating
the Goliath, the oppressed destroying
their oppressor. It is the paradigm for all
redemptions stories. The fact that our
ancestors experienced it is the source
of our nationhood. Rabbi Shmulovitz
teaches us that because of our past
historical experiences, we have the
capacity to feel pain and suffering in
a way that other people cannot, and
we have the divine obligation to act on
these feelings.
This is a message which the Bnei
leadership took to heart.
This summer, Bnei stopped being
an ideologically stagnant movement,
closed up in its ivory tower, separate
from the rest of the world and South
Africa, preaching meaningless mantras
of “Torah V’avodah.”
This year, Bnei Akiva left the confines
of camp in order to engage in chesed
projects in many of the local townships
in the Mossel Bay and George area.
Every age group had a project of its own,
such as painting a safehouse, planting
a vegetable garden at a local old age
home, and running programmes for
kids in orphanages.
The newly created educational staff
organised very popular discussion
groups about pressing issues in the
Jewish world, such
as the future of
South African Jewry,
how to respond to
annual gay parade in
Jerusalem, debating
the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict followed by the halakhic
discussion surrounding exchanging
land for peace.
For the first time, Bnei recycled at
camp and dedicated a whole Shabbat
to teaching environmental values in
partnership with Lenny Glasser of
the JNF. We hosted speakers such as
Jack Bloom of the Democratic Alliance
and Dennis Goldberg, a Jewish, antiapartheid activist who spent 22 years
in jail alongside Nelson Mandela.
In addition, the newly revamped Beit
Midrash program offered kids different
shiurim options throughout the day and
the opportunity to learn with rabbis
from all over South Africa and Israel.
In short, Bnei camp this year
represented
the
movement’s
awakening to the challenges of our time
and to inculcating the message that
Jewish nationalism does not mean that
we cut ourselves off from the world, but
rather that we join together as a nation
to help fix the problems of the world
through the prism of Jewish values.
Let us hope that that Bnei Akiva will
go from “strength to strength” and
that their good work this summer will
continue throughout the year.
Channukah in Cape Town
Marais Road’s
‘Daven e caffe’
Claremont Wynberg and Ohr Somoyach held a joint Chanukah picnic and candle lighting at Queen’s beach.
David Ginsberg, Gavin Cohen and
Stephen Heilbron.
Lighting the menorah on Gardens shul’s channukah sunset cruise.
Marais Road’s Young Adult Party: Rebbetzin Leah Silman and Lara Stein chat; and a sand
menorah competition was held.
Rabbis Opert and Deren dance in front
of the ice menorah (pictured above) on
Dolphin Beach, at Chabad of West Coast’s
celebration.
Ivan Galansky, Rabbi Levi Silman and
Michael Katz.
18
Nechama
Family Announcements
FAREWELL
CONDOLENCE — THANK YOU
JACK AND TOEKIES PLAX
LIEBENBERG AND GRUSD
We wish to say good bye to all our
friends and relatives.
We will be leaving Cape Town at
the end of February to join
our children in Los Angeles.
We extend our deepest gratitude
to all family, friends, congregants
and representatives of communal
organisations for the many
messages of condolence
and support, as well as the tasty
food, received on the recent
passing, in close succession, of our
beloved mother, mother-in-law and
grandmother Jacqui Liebenberg, and
our dear grandmother and
great grandmother, Lydia Grusd.
Our best wishes to all.
THANK YOU
Irma Chait
To the Chronicle ‘family’ and
Hatfield colleagues, organisations,
dear friends and CJC readers,
your very warm wishes and
interest — as well as advice and
suggestions on what to do — in my
retirement are much appreciated.
May I reciprocate by wishing you
all a happy and healthy 2011 and
continued enjoyment of Cape
Town’s own special publication.
BIRTHDAY — THANK YOU
ROLÉNE
Thank you for the warm wishes on
the occasion of my birthday, for
the donations made to charities
and the gifts received.
Your friendships are invaluable
to me.
We would like to thank all family,
friends and organisations for their
love and support, for letters,
visits and phone calls from
all over the world.
This has been very comforting to
us on the passing of our beloved
husband, father and grandfather.
Hilda, Ian, Michelle, Mark
and their families.
JOEL MILLER
I would like to thank all family,
friends and organisations for their
love, support and kind messages
of sympathy on the passing of my
precious and beloved son, Joel.
He enriched the lives of so many.
Bennie Miller.
W
(This message should have appeared
in the November issue — CJC)
MAX MARIN
To all family, friends, colleagues
and communal organisations,
our deepest gratitude and thanks
for the overwhelming number
of calls, e-mails, letters, visits and
support offered following the
passing of our beloved husband,
father, father-in-law
and grandfather.
Your caring has been a wonderful
source of comfort and consolation
to us at this difficult time.
MAURICE STEIN
To all our dear family and friends
We would like to thank all our family,
friends and Jewish organisations
for the many warm messages of
sympathy and comfort on
the passing of our darling husband,
father and ‘pa’ who will be lovingly
remembered and sadly missed.
We are most grateful to all of you
for your support and kindness
which has been a source of comfort
during this difficult time and
which is greatly appreciated.
Essie Stein
Stanley, Pamela and family
Ronnie, Rose and family
Lawrence, Melanie and family.
side of the child and he added a
running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the
young novice transferred a frightening
situation into a wonderfully creative
experience. The audience was
mesmerised.
That’s the way it is with G-d.
What we can accomplish on our own
is hardly noteworthy. We try our best,
but the results aren’t exactly graceful
flowing music.
With the hand of G-d, our life’s work
truly can be beautiful. So the next
time you set out to accomplish great
feats, listen carefully and you can
hear the voice of G-d whispering in
your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Feel His loving arms around you.
Know that His strong hands are
playing the concerto of your life.
Remember, G-d doesn’t call the
equipped; he equips the called.
Your worst days are never so bad
that you are beyond the reach of G-d’s
grace.
And your best days are never so
good that you are beyond the reach
of G-d’s grace.
Don’t quit. Keep playing.
RONNIE ROSENBAUM
HYMEE SAMOLS
Our heartfelt thanks to all our family
and friends for the many messages
of sympathy, support and comfort
on the passing away of our dear
father, father-in-law, grandfather and
great-grandfather, Ronnie.
Sincere thanks to family and
friends for the wonderful support,
letters of condolence and for
showering us with love and
comfort on the passing or our
darling husband, father and
grandfather. We were truly
humbled by your outpouring of
concern and caring.
Marcelle and Solly Almeleh
Avron, Hayley and Ryan
Almeleh families in Melbourne,
Edinburgh and London
Lynn and Peter Foster, Jason,
Lara and Matthew.
We shall love and miss him always.
Naomi, Leanne, Evan, Barry,
Melissa and grandchildren.
LILY YANKELOWITZ
BERNARD SHAPIRO
We extend sincere appreciation to
family and friends for the comfort,
care and support on the passing of
our beloved mom, granny and
great-granny.
We extend our sincere thanks to all
family and friends for the messages
of sympathy, support and comfort
on the passing of our beloved
husband, father, grandfather and
brother.
He will be lovingly remembered.
Elaine Eitzman, Shifra Jowell, Stanley
Yankelowitz and families.
To place a family announcement phone Tessa 021 464-6736 (mornings)
Rubi and Anne
Chaitman
Foundation
No Admittance — Author Unknown
ishing to encourage her young
son’s progress on the piano,
a mother took the small boy to a
Paderewski concert.
After they were seated, the mother
spotted a friend in the audience and
walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore
the wonders of the concert hall, the
little boy rose and eventually explored
his way through a door marked “NO
ADMITTANCE.”
When the house lights dimmed
and the concert was about to begin,
the mother returned to her seat and
discovered that her son was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted
and the spotlights focused on the
impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little boy
sitting at the piano, innocently picking
out ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’. At
that moment, the great piano master
made his entrance, quickly moved to
the piano and whispered in the boy’s
ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”
Then leaning over, Paderewski
reached down with his left hand and
began filling in a bass part. Soon his
right hand reached around the other
Rabbi Matthew, Lee, Chani Merryl
and Naomi Liebenberg.
Shirley, Jenny, Robert, Basil and
Sammy-Leigh.
EVAN BOISKIN
9 Gorge Road, Highlands Estate Tel: 021 465-9390
Fax: 021 465-9391 Email: [email protected]
Thelma, Ian, Martine, Georgie,
Howard, Joan, Louis and families.
With Compliments
FREDDY AND
AGGIE HIRSCH
THE CAPE JEWISH COMMUNITY RECORDS ITS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO OU
Meyer Hirsch
Goldschmidt
Foundation
THE HAROLD AND
BEATRICE KRAMER
FOUNDATION
Paul Arieli
of the Goldschmidt
Family Trust
19
Chief Rabbis to attend inauguration of new
Rabbi at Marais Road Shul
Glendale’s Annual Fish Braai
Takes place on Sunday 6 February.
Tickets at R100 available from the Glendale office.
Phone 021 712-0270
Can you sing, dance, or play a musical
instrument?
G
lendale Home for the Intellectually Challenged
is desperately seeking entertainers for their
combined monthly birthday parties, which usually
takes place on the third Sunday of each month from
approximately 3pm- 4.30pm Your assistance in this
regard would be gratefully appreciated.
An hour of your time will put a big smile on the faces
of the 63 residents presently residing at Glendale.
If you can assist in any way please phone our Social
Worker, Terri, or Hazel in Admin on 021 7120270
or email [email protected]. Our website
address is www.glendalehome.co.za or visit www.
youtube.co.za and search Glendale Cape Town
The Green and Sea Point Hebrew
Congregation have announced the
upcoming inauguration of their new
spiritual leader, Rabbi Dovid Wineberg,
on 27 February. This momentous
occasion will be marked by a special
visit by Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
Yonah Metzger, who will be joining
South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren
Goldstein in performing the ceremony.
“I
n the few months since the Rabbi
and his wife, Sara, joined the shul,
a palpable sense of fresh air has been
breathed into South Africa’s largest
community,” says one congregant.
Rabbi Wineberg’s engaging sermons
have continued the Marais Rd shul’s
tradition of high-energy Friday night
services, which, coupled with their
renowned chazzan Ivor Joffe and choir,
have been drawing record crowds.
As rabbinic appointments are often
for life, inaugurations are a rare and
important event. “We invite the broader
community, as well as our own, to join
us on Sunday 27 February” says Aubrey
Miller, the shul’s president. “A rabbinic
inauguration sets the tone of the shul’s
future, and we pray that it will continue
to be a bright one.”
In its almost eight decades, Marais
Rd Shul has only formally inaugurated
four rabbis, which highlights the
significance of the event. The fact that
Israel’s Chief Rabbi has agreed to join
further emphasises the importance of
the occasion.
BARGAINS GALORE
• Bargains Galore is a Jewish Community Services project that provides
gainful employment to those in financial need.
• Bargains Galore, situated at 305 Main Road Sea Point, sells clothing
generously donated by the community
Important
information:
• Bargains Galore Furniture Store, a new venture, recently opened at 359a
Main Road Sea Point and sells good used furniture, appliances, bric-a-brac
and also relies on contributions from the community.
• Our shops have many excellent books for sale.
• Both shops provide a source of income for Jewish Community Services.
All donations to Glendale are now tax deductible
Thank you most sincerely for your continued support.
Our residents are most grateful
Our well known shabbat, miniature shabbat, yartzeit candles and
shabbat glass candle holders are now available from all supermarkets
and at our office. Bridge cloths available at R120.
Getting married overseas? Ask your guests to donate to Glendale
Home in lieu of wedding gifts. An appropriate letter will be sent to the
bride and groom advising them of your donation. No amount will be
disclosed for further details contact the office.
NEW!! A yahrzeit light for life, beautifully designed, uses very little
electricity. R220 Available from Glendale office.
• Think of us when moving house or clearing the clutter. We urgently require
beds and mattresses.
• We have a collection service if you are unable to drop off your donation.
Help us make
a difference
in the lives
of those less
fortunate!
Glendale Greeting Service
Letters can be sent to your loved ones and friends for birthdays, wedding
anniversaries and chaggim or any special occasion. Make use of this
service which is available world wide.
Should you have any further enquiries, please contact Ethne at Jewish
Community Services 021 462 5520, or email: [email protected]
Tins: If your tin needs collecting please phone the office
10 Galway Road Heathfield
PO Box 40 Bergvliet 7864
www.glendalehome.co.za
tel: (021) 712-0270 fax: (021) 712-0873
Glendale activities now on you-tube: www.youtube.com search
Glendale Cape Town.
ERRORS, OMISSIONS AND CORRECTIONS The Cape Jewish Chronicle regrets any errors or
omissions that may occur in the paper and, where possible, will attempt to rectify these in a
subsequent issue, should such a measure be deemed appropriate. No repeat advertisement or
credits will be given for small typographical errors which do not appreciably lessen the value of
the advertisement. The appearance of an advertisement does not necessarily indicate approval
by the Editorial Board for the product or service advertised, and it takes no responsibility for
any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the reliance upon the information
contained therein.
The Susman
Charitable
Foundation
With compliments
The Jack & Ethel
Goldin Foundation
UR PATRONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF THE ‘CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE’
Stanley and Zea
Lewis
Foundation
www.stonehage.com
With Compliments
Kalman, Esther and
Michael Maisel Trust
20
An exciting end to Astra’s 60th anniversary year
Race Day — a first class finish to the year
T
his year’s annual fundraiser saw over
300 guests at the Kenilworth Race
Course. It was a wonderful event, ending
off the Centre’s 60th anniversary year.
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors
and donors, guests were able to enjoy
delicious food, participate in an auction
of fine items and have the opportunity of
winning amazing prizes in the well known
‘cracker raffle’.
Sponsors of this year’s events were
Berk Enterprises, ICA Laboratories,
Macsteel, Market Toyota, President
Hotel, Tantalum Capital and the Camps
Bay Consortium.
Race Day convener Doran Jaffe (on right) with co-convenor Richard Kommel,
the newly appointed vice-chairman of Astra.
Michael Albeldas of sponsor
ICA Laboratories.
Peter Greenberg (centre) with Selwyn Bloch and Alan Robinson, of sponsor
Market Toyota.
Astra chairman Peter Greenberg with sponsor
Tantalum Capital’s Richard Kommel.
Debra Sivertsen, representing sponsor President Hotel, with
Peter Greenberg.
Doughnuts and Dance at Astra Centre
Sponsor of the tea for the
guests, Nita Immerman,
enjoyed the happy mood.
Kelly Levinthal, Brenda Voigt and Denise
Furman (visiting from London).
Saville and Shelly Furman, who
sponsored the party in honour of
their 37th wedding anniversary,
and the December birthdays of
daughter Donna (36), father Alec
(92) and sister Denise (60).
Lighting the candles, Ivor Joffe, Shelly and Saville Furman.
The Furman brothers, Saville and Martin (visiting from Israel).
Workers and guests were entertained to a morning of traditional melodies with Ivor Joffe, at the annual
chanukah party. Delicious doughnuts and delightful dancing were the order of the day!
21
Cape Town Progressive Jewish Congregation
Consider This
A new Siddur for South Africa — Why?
by Rabbi Greg Alexander
Y
ou may have heard through the
grapevine that Temple Israel has
just launched a brand new siddur,
Mishkan T’filah. After using our current
prayer books, Sha’arei Tefilah (the
Gates of Prayer ) for over four decades,
you may be forgiven for asking, “Why
the need for a new siddur? The Sh’ma
is the Sh’ma, right? What changes
could you possibly need?”
The Archaeological Dig
Let’s start with where all those prayers
come from. Is the siddur that we have
today the same as the one that Moses
used? Or Rabbi Akiva? Or Rashi? Or
your grandparents?
The siddur is not a book, it is an
archaeological dig. There are some
prayers that have existed since the
days of the Bible (the Sh’ma, for
example), some that were written by
rabbis of the first generations over two
thousand years ago (the main themes
of the blessings before and after the
Sh’ma and of the Amidah), some from
the Talmud (Torah service, for example)
and some that joined us in the Middle
Ages (Aleinu, Adon Olam). In the 17th
century a whole new service was
invented by the kabbalists of Tsfat to
welcome Shabbat on Friday evenings,
including a new number called L’cha
Dodi, which swiftly became popular
around the Jewish world. When Israel
was declared a State in 1948, new
prayers were added for Israel and for
the new festival of Yom Ha’atzma’ut.
And so it continues.
Of the Making of Books there is no
End
People’s praying needs change, evolve
and develop. Today, we see in all the
Jewish movements a constant need to
update siddurim. When I was a child, my
synagogue used the old Union Prayer
Book and the Orthodox synagogues
largely used the British Singer’s siddur.
In my teens these were replaced with
the Gates of Prayer and Artscroll, and
now we see the Orthodox movement
has come out with the Rabbi Sacks
Koren siddur and we have launched
Mishkan T’filah. So what’s new?
The Layout
Mishkan T’filah was a joint project of
American, Australian, New Zealand
and South African rabbis, educators
and lay-people to shape and create a
new siddur for the 21st century. The
first change will strike you as soon as
you open the siddur: Every two-page
spread contains a traditional prayer
on the right-hand page with an English
translation and a transliteration of the
full Hebrew prayer (Baruch Atah etc.).
This last aspect is not uncontroversial.
Some rabbis and educators were
concerned that if you included
transliteration it would encourage
people to not learn Hebrew and
simply to read the English letters. The
research undertaken seems to show
that for younger children this is true, yet
for teenagers and adults the knowledge
that they are able to follow the service
yet not “actually read Hebrew” is an
incentive to learn (sorry all Cheder kids,
we will still use the non-transliterated
prayers for class!). Mishkan T’filah is
a siddur for all people, and so chooses
not to lock out those who have not (yet)
learnt Hebrew.
When you turn towards the left-hand
page you will see an alternative reading
based on the traditional prayer’s
theme. This might be a modern Israeli
poem, an inspirational reading, a
feminist voice, advocacy for social
justice, personal reflections and so
forth. Running along the bottom are
short commentaries, historical notes,
spiritual insights or guides to practice.
The idea is that no single linear
service caters for every person in the
minyan. Some daveners appreciate
evocative poetry; others are drawn to
prayers with philosophical messages,
some to the music, some to silence.
Every double page has enough variety
to allow each individual worshipper to
find a ‘home’ there. People may daven
along with the larger community, or
choose instead to meditate on an
alternative passage.
Men, Women and God
How do you imagine God? As a beam
of heavenly light? A dreamy filmy
cloud? An invisible energy? Many
people see God as an old man with a
beard sitting on a throne. And while
any GOD101 course would explain
that from the beginnings of the Torah
God is clearly seen as beyond gender,
English translations that I grew up
on called God ‘Lord’ or ‘King’ and
used the pronoun ‘He’ throughout.
No wonder God is seen as a man!
Mishkan T’filah does not describe God
as male or female, but rather uses
evocative language that lends the
possibility of seeing God as either, or
B’Sha’ot Tovot ...
Erin Samakosky
barmitzvah
5 February
Maya Sarembock
batmitzvah
12 February
Sean Barenblatt
barmitzvah
19 February
as both. Instead of translating God’s
four-letter name with the usual ‘Lord’,
it uses the word ‘Eternal’, referring
to the understanding of God’s name
as reminding us that God was, is and
always will be. Instead of translating
‘Blessed are You Lord our God, King of
the world, who with His word brings on
the evenings’, it offers ‘Blessed are You
Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe,
who speaks the evening into being.’
And what about people invoked in
liturgy? The Amidah in most siddurim
begins with recalling that God is
our God just as He was the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Mishkan
T’filah includes the names of the
matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel
and Leah, importantly reminding us
that male leaders of the Jewish people
are often celebrated without noting the
female ones who inspired, lead and
supported alongside them. Even in the
brevity of the Torah we have a strong
sense of the importance of the role of
the matriarchs, and the Amidah in the
new siddur reflects this.
Holy Place and Holy Time
The words Mishkan T’filah mean a
Sanctuary of Prayer, and it is our hope
that this new siddur will create a sacred
space for any person of any age, gender
or sexuality to express
their
innermost
conversations with
God and the Jewish people. May it
inspire us and our children for decades
ahead, until they too decide it is time
for revision and move forward once
again. Make your way to Temple Israel
in Greenpoint, Wynberg or Milnerton
this Shabbat and step into the Mishkan.
Netzer Visitor’s Day
— A great success!
Over 150 family and friends of our
incredible youth movement, Netzer,
got together on the 21st December to
find out what goes on at Machaneh.
All of the shichavot (groups) delivered
creative presentations on the three
pillars of the Netzer ideology — these
being Progressive Judaism, Zionism
and Tikkun Olam. Songs and a ruachfilled rendition of Birkat Hamazon
followed a delicious schwarma and
falafel meal. The visitors could see
that Netzer really is the leading light
of Jewish youth in South Africa. We
wish the movement a hearty mazeltov
on a fantastic machaneh, and their
incoming leadership all the best for the
coming year.
Shabbat Magic 2011
Temple Israel’s
community Shabbat
re-launches on
Friday 4 February
in Green Point.
Bring yourself,
your friends and family and
enjoy the
meaningful service,
fantastic food and
educational kids services.
Sherman Memorial Lecture 2011
The annual Sherman Memorial Lecture will
take place on Sunday 13 February at 8pm
Maxine Shaff
batmitzvah
26 February
Our guest speaker will be Sir Ronald Harwood,
renowned playwright and author, who has been knighted
by Queen Elizabeth.
Harwood grew up as a Sea Point boy,
and his family are prominent members of our congregation.
THIS PAGE IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE DAVID AND BERTHA SHERMAN FOUNDATION
22
The Union of Jewish Women Kesher Group
help to close the Grade R gap
Members of the Union of the Jewish Women Kesher
Group watched proudly as Cape Town Executive Mayor
Dan Plato ofcially opened a new Grade R classroom at
the Masikhululeke Educare Centre in Joe Slovo on 25
November 2010.
The Kesher Group has assisted the Masikhululeke
Educare Centre for over ten years in a variety of ways.
Falling under the auspices of Ikamva Labantu, dedicated
principal Nokuzola Dlabantu has supervised the learning
of three groups of children aged 2 – 6 in the one-roomed
Educare centre. Finally, she has realised her dream of
having a separate classroom for the Grade Rs, enabling
her to provide age - appropriate education and a solid preprimary foundation for the children.
The 12 committed women of the Kesher Group fund
raised for three years to raise R210 000. The build
subcommittee of Adele Klitzner, Ilana Shone and Jann
Saven project-managed the build and worked persistently
to obtain quotes. They dealt with the relevant government
departments to ensure that the Masikhululeke Educare
Centre would have a beautiful new classroom, which will
house 30 grade R children in 2011.
E-Kwikbuild commenced building at the end of July, and
within two months a beautiful 65m² chromadek building
was standing where long grass and litter had been before.
On 25 November, parents, children, members of the Joe
Slovo Community, heads of the Joe Slovo Development
Forum, SAP Sector Crime Forum, representatives of the
Departments of Social Development, Education and
Property Services, Ikamva Labantu, South African Jewish
Board of Deputies Cape Council, the UJW Executive
Committee, Lion’s Club of Tableview, and the many
sponsors of the build joined together to celebrate the
opening.
Shaded under umbrellas, the gathering listened intently
as Mayor Dan Plato praised the Kesher Group for this
important undertaking, saying, “This is a wonderful
moment for me, as well as for all the stakeholders in
this project. Our government needs to join hands with
the people of Cape Town - we can’t do it alone. We need
the cooperation of our communities. Through meaningful
engagement with one another, we can get things done.
We need to recognise that the poorest of the poor could
one day, given an education, become future leaders of
South Africa. We need to structure their mind sets so
that they can become good citizens and future leaders
of our country. A good education in the formative years
is the start of a process which leads to a mushrooming
development. My wish for you all today is that you make
this centre your own – it is now your building to protect and
embrace.” He took great pleasure in cutting the ribbon to
open the new classroom.
The Mayor was presented with an artist’s rendition of
the new classroom, drawn by Siphelele Bayoti, age 7.
The ultimate reward was seeing the excitement on the
children’s faces as they bounced around their new clean,
light and airy classroom.
The Union of Jewish Women and the Kesher Group are
committed to making a difference in the Cape Town Jewish
community and the broader Cape Town community, of
which we are a part.
We gratefully thank: ABI, Albert Carpets, Anonymous,
Banks R & L, Bazbus, Carolyn’s Catering, Chevron, Civils
2000, Cobra Watertech, Dafna Pre-Primary School,
e-Kwikbuild, Green Pop, Integr8 IT, Jeffart, Kessler
Family, Lions Club Tableview, Plastics for Africa, Rabie
Property Group, Saldhana Group Holdings, Seeff Property
Group, Shoprite Holdings, Solara Awnings, Tarna Klitzner
Landscape Architects, Vaal Sanitary ware, Wendy Fisher,
the Witkin Family, and those who attended our fund
raisers, or bought a rafe ticket - this would not have been
possible without you.
Photographs by Jann Saven and Glenn Stein
23
Limmud SA: Looking back;
moving forward by Brenda Stern
“I
n the beginning there was darkness”... and in 6
days the world was created. Limmud feels like
the creation of a new world. When looking at the part
that Limmud played in the evolution of the UK Jewish
community, we can consider how Limmud SA may
similarly influence and impact the evolution of the
South African Jewish community.
For 30 years, the UK Jewish community was a
conservative, religiously oriented, insular community
with a defined existence. It focused largely on four
areas of activity: Synagogue movements, welfare
organisations, educational institutions and Israel
activity, including aliyah.
Over time the community disengaged. Alienation,
coercion to a single mode of worship and communal
structures were considered irrelevant and
unresponsive to a diverse range of needs and interests
among UK Jewry. There was a call for more creative,
inclusive modes of Jewish interaction and being.
Limmud was a direct result of a deep need within UK
Jewry where conventional modes of expression and
authoritarian communal structures with their closed
dictums, were unsatisfactory.
Limmud UK was conceived as a Jewish festival of
learning and loving Judaism. In December 2010, it
celebrated 30 years of existence and growth from a
150 person festival in Warwick England to 3500 people
from all over the world coming together to celebrate
Jewish life and learning, its richness and diversity. I
had the privilege of attending four Limmuds in the UK
before my return to SA, where I experienced the joy
of my first JHB Limmud. Limmud gives me an almost
sacred space to explore my Jewish identity, expand
my Jewish learning and be exhilarated by a diverse
range of Jews and Jewish thought from around the
world. The ‘challenge’ of Limmud is not whether there
is an interesting session to attend — but deciding
between so many interesting and inspiring sessions.
Limmud reflects the inherent creativity and latent
interests of our Jewish communities in over 80
Limmud festivals worldwide today.
In South Africa we are at the beginning of our own
Limmud experience. Thanks to the vision and courage
of a few dedicated individuals, their leadership and
commitment has ensured that Limmud South Africa
celebrated the 4th annual successful Limmud festival
in South Africa in 2010. It is enjoyed by Jews in Cape
Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Each centre reflects
the dynamism and dedication of both Limmud
attendees and volunteers who ensure that different,
challenging and diverse communities are represented
and encouraged to participate in the evolution of the
SA Jewish community.
Evolution has always been challenged religiously,
socially and politically. Limmud SA is no different.
Its programmes and activities have been a source of
some dispute in the community. The call by the UOS
to discourage members of the community to attend
Limmud has been a particularly painful challenge
because it flies in the face of 5000 years of Judaism
whose central tenet is teaching. The core of teaching
at yeshivot is discussion and debate and yet the very
act of engaging with all sectors of the community,
without fear or favour has evoked a deep antagonism
from the leadership of UOS. However, attendance at
Limmud by many religious people who proudly wear
their observance in tzitzit, yarmulkes and sheitels, is a
sign that not everyone has abdicated their intellectual
and spiritual independence and growth.
Evolution in the SA Jewish community is not only
inevitable but imperative if we are to grow into a
community that embraces the transition which our
relatively young democracy is going through. To
establish a community consciousness that feels
connected to South Africa and our place in its future,
we need to make a space to explore our history,
heritage and future.
Danger comes not from looking into the darkness
— but from not looking into the light. Our Jewish
tradition exhorts us to be a light unto the nations.
Limmud is an experience of the senses in multiple
ways. Where else could you enjoy the magical
mythical sounds of a Hassidic beat boxing entertainer
joined by a Jewish hippie and Jewish rapper singing
together about peace at 3:30am? Where else could
you find a safe space where principles of respectful
speech protect your voice and the views of those
with whom you debate — without recrimination but
with a common purpose to seek common ground and
understanding? Where else could you experience a
fresh perspective on the politics of our people, in Israel,
SA and the world? Where else could you find your
fellow Jews: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, cultural,
Zionist, non-Zionist, scientific experts, mystics, myth
busters, Kabbalists, Cohanim, environmentalists,
Holocaust survivors and those who dedicate their
lives to preserving the memory of our shared Jewish
experience?
Most importantly, where else could YOU find a place
that welcomes Jews of all ages, stages and phases to a
space where your kavod is not your membership and
the only entry requirement is your courage to explore,
experience and evolve. Nowhere but Limmud!
I look forward to meeting you, as volunteer or
participant at Limmud 2011. Let’s evolve and commit
as South African Jews to our shared future in this
awesome, inspiring country of ours!
Want to experience Limmud? Get a
taste! Pencil in the 14th of April 2011,
Albow Centre for our highly anticipated
evening of innovative Jewish learning.
Union of Jewish Women, Cape Town
Meet other members of the Community!
Get involved in Community Outreach work!
Start a new group of the Union of Jewish Women in
*Atlantic Seaboard *City Bowl
*False Bay *Tableview
Suggest an Area!!!
Please contact:
Stonehaven, 7 Albany Road, Sea Point.
Tel: 021 434 9555 (mornings only)
www.ujw.co.za
Mauritius
Valentine’s 2011
7 Nights from R14 885 pps
Includes return airfare from Cape Town
Price valid from 15 January until 23 March 2011
Terms & Conditions apply.
Come and visit us in
our revamped
Sea Point offices!
• Holiday Packages
• Family Packages
• Best Flight Deals
• Special Transfer Rates
152 Main Road | Sea Point | Tel 021 433 1677
24
Discovering Cape Town’s hidden Jewish history
The Lieberman Doors — our story in art
In the December issue of the Chronicle,
we wrote about Mayor Hyman
Lieberman. The story continues with
a look at the Lieberman Doors, a
treasure of South African Jewish
history.
A
fter Mayor Lieberman passed away,
his trust donated funds for the
‘Hyman Lieberman Memorial Doors’ to
be commissioned especially for the SA
National Gallery, which was being built
at the time.
The doors were carved by Herbert
Vladimir Meyerowitz, and can be found
in the courtyard of the Iziko South
African National Gallery. The huge
wooden doors depict the story of the
Jewish people in detailed and beautiful
carvings, beginning in Biblical times
and ending with the Jews’ arrival in
South Africa. Looking closely, you will
see Dutch gabled houses, smouses
and scenes of South Africa alongside
biblical stories and historical moments.
One can also find a sketch of the doors
in the reception area of the Samson
Centre.
History may sometimes seem lost,
but the Lieberman doors demonstrate
that it is all around us. They also show
how the story of the Jewish people and
Jewish migration to South Africa are
valued in this country.
Lastly, history can continue to
inspire us. Artist Joanne
Bloch utilised the image of
the smous depicted on the
Lieberman Doors in a work
entitled After Meyerowitz: Old
Moses, which was displayed
at a recent exhibition held
at the Association for Visual
Arts Gallery in Cape Town. “I
A panel on the Lieberman Doors
decided that a representation depicting Jewish life in SA
of Old Moses would add value
to my work, which speculates
about the experience of
the Jews who left Lithuania
to become smouses and
shopkeepers in this country,”
explains Joanne.
“Using mapping pins and
Joanne Bloch’s ‘Old Moses’
Editor Tali Barnett at the Lieberman Doors
other materials transforms
and the numerological associations Indeed, history may be from the past, it
the image but at the same time
retains something of its very particular of chai — so, for example, there are is also a vibrant and dynamic entity, all
quality. For this exhibition, I decided 108 buttons in the Old Moses image.” around us.
to use materials that a smous like Old
Moses or a shopkeeper like my oupa
might have sold — buttons, little toy
whistles and straight and safety pins.”
According to Joanne, “the works
speculate about chance, luck and The Cape Town Jewish community was
prosperity. Because they escaped formed by those who came before us,
the persecution they were facing in from Lithuania, Russia and the shtetls
Lithuania, these immigrants had the of Eastern Europe. It is easy to forget
good fortune to survive the Holocaust, this history, but every now and then a
which the family members they left piece of the past surfaces to remind
behind did not. I referred to this issue of us of our roots. Abe Wollach shares
good fortune in life with both the symbol his story…
Saved from Burial —
a Megillah’s journey comes full circle
“T
Volunteer Opportunity
The South African Jewish Museum is looking for
enthusiastic, history lovers to volunteer as guides at
the museum. If you enjoy meeting interesting
people from around the world, have a passion for
South African and Jewish history and would like to
guide at one of South Africa’s finest museums,
Please contact us: 021 465-1545
Training for prospective guides will be provided.
FREE ENTRY
To the South African Jewish Museum
Valid on the last Sunday of any month in 2011.
Bring the whole family, it is NOT necessary to
present this coupon!
Museum Hours:
Sunday - Thursday 10 AM- 5 PM, Friday 10 AM- 2 PM
Closed Saturdays and Jewish Holidays
OPEN ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
his Megillat Esther scroll was
rescued from being buried in
Israel by a one in a million chance,”
says Abe, as he delves into the story of
how the Megillah came to Cape Town:
The late Lazer Wollach, Abe’s father,
was one of a long line of scribes who
flourished in Russia. “His father and
grandfather, his uncle and his two
brothers were all scribes.”
“He used to do his work by the light
of an oil lamp, tracing the letters with
a firm hand. Using a pen made from
a large tough turkey feather, he would
complete one and a half scrolls a year.”
Lazer came to South Africa in 1926,
following his childhood sweetheart
Mashkah, whom he married in Cape
Town, and together they had five
children. “He arrived with a suitcase
and a rolled up scroll, which was his CV
— the only example of his profession!”
He planned to continue this vocation
in South Africa, but realised he was
unable to support his family as a scribe.
Lost and found
After Lazer died in 1970, the scroll
was presented to the Great Gardens
Synagogue by his wife Mashkah
Wollach. As the years passed, the
Megillah was somehow forgotten,
and lay lost for 40 years amongst
other stored Judaica at the shul. Abe
picks up the story: “After many years,
I had occasion to visit the Jewish
Museum, and while browsing around
remembered the Megillah which was
donated to the Gardens Synagogue.”
Abe looked around but could not find
it anywhere, and after some detective
work, discovered that the Megillah
was in a box of surplus scrolls and
manuscripts that was momentarily
bound for burial in Israel. However, if
he could identify the scroll, he could
Abe with his restored Megillah
reclaim it.
Abe soon found the Megillah, which
he remembered from 40 years earlier.
It was approximately 400-500mm
in length, “and I remembered that
my father had a style of writing and
letter printing almost like a signature
— a ‘Peacock’s Crown’ on various
vowels and letters. There it was as I
remembered it! Saved from burial and
being lost for ever.”
“Very pleased with my very
sentimental rescue, I felt something
substantial had to be created now,”
continues Abe. After much thought,
he realised that it was the writing and
letter printing that made this scroll a
real work of art, which was definitely
worth displaying. “Hence the idea of
turning it into an open display in the
form of a little Torah was the most
appropriate design.”
With the help of Morris Kushner from
the Chevra Kadisha, Abe was able to
acquire old Torah handles from the
Pinelands Cemetery Tahara house and
reconstructed them to the correct size.
“I stitched the once rolled up scroll into
the form of a little Torah, built a glass
case around the handles and mounted
it in one of the most prominent
positions in my home.”
Asked how he feels about rescuing the
work of art from burial, he said, “I am
pleased and thankful that I was able to
save this wonderful masterpiece — an
absolute labour of love.”
So long, farewell!
C
ommunity leaders and
colleagues gathered to
bid farewell and express
thanks to Irma Chait on her
retirement as editor of the
Cape Jewish Chronicle, at a
breakfast at Coffee Time on
Tuesday 30 November and a
tea at the Samson Centre on
Wednesday 8 December.
Irma was the editor of the
Cape Jewish Chronicle for 26
years, and her words, wisdom
and wit will be missed!
Irma Chait saying goodbye and thanks, at
her farewell to the community at Coffee
Time.
Outgoing chairman BenZion Surdut with incoming
chairman Lester Hoffman.
Li Boiskin speaking on behalf of the Looking back: Colleagues from the Leeusig
sponsoring bodies.
House days!
Saying goodbye to the Samson Centre ‘family.’
25
Singing her praises: Precious
Zumani spontaneously sings to
Irma.
Irma with incoming editor
Tali Barnett.
Irma with former Chronicle designer
Paula Cohen.
Irma and Joe Boltney — colleagues
and friends for many years.
The 2011 Chronicle team: Desrae Saacks,
Anita Shenker, Tessa Epstein and Tali
Barnett.
Media Liaisons Galya Greig and She’s a catch! Irma with Barry Levitt, Kim
Lindy Diamond.
Suttner, Fiona Sacks and Debbie Saks.
Bnoth Zion and Oranjia hit the jackpot!
B
ZA WIZO, together with Oranjia
Jewish Child and Youth Centre,
hosted another hugely successful
Charity Texas Hold’em Tournament
at the President Hotel on Thursday
24 November 2010. This was the
first collaboration between our
two organisations, and was a very
successful partnership.
Our sponsors and donors were
once again extremely generous. Alon
Sacks, with the help of Rael Sheat
and a bevy of WIZO and Oranjia
women, made sure that all the table
sponsors and players had another
tremendously exciting evening.
With the support of our sponsors,
donors and players, the children of
Neve WIZO in Israel and the Children
of Oranjia in Cape Town can look
forward to a better future.
Above:
Alon
Sachs,
coordinator of the poker
tournament.
Left: BZA WIZO and
Oranjia ladies who ran
the successful event.
BZA WIZO AND ORANJIA THANK ALL OUR SPONSORS AND
DONORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
Sponsors: Jameson, Caviar Group
Bnoth Zion Association Wizo
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 15 February
9.30 for 9.45am
At the Albow Centre, Hatfield Street
All welcome
Table sponsorship: Applied Derivatives • David and Cindy Bacher • Bernadt
Vukic Potash & Getz • Jonathan and Ida Broll • Clifton Casino • Steve and Franki
Cohen • Decofurn • High Road • Ronald and Tamar Lazarus • Ben and Esta
Levitas • Marais Road Shul • Mazor Families • MGI Bass Gordon GHF • Salvo
Poker School • Leonard Sank • Anthony Schneiderman • Snoekies • Spur Group
• Stenham Group
Donors: Addis • Audio Lens • All Office Equipment • Avron’s Place • Biggest SA
Trading Company • Caviar Group • Claremont Kosher • Barrie Cline • Emboss
Designs • Barry Friedman • Trevor Garvin • Ryan Joffe • Just Ginger BonBons •
Lindt • Mantelli's • Mazars • Aubrey and Kerry Miller • Mobelli • Nomad • Nougat
Nouveau • Picardi Rebel • President Hotel • Promo Connection • Puffaway •
Pureau Fresh Water Company • Benny Rabinowitz • Ramsay Media • Saeco
Coffee • Gene Stern • Talon Security
26
New Year brings new appointments
at Cape Jewish Seniors Association
CJSA are happy to report the appointment of
two new trustees.
by Tali Barnett
W
ell known philanthropist and business
personality, Benny Rabinowitz, has
generously agreed to give of his time and
expertise to join the CJSA family as a trustee.
We look forward to his input and insight in
taking the CJSA to new heights.
C
arrying on the tradition started by his
father, the late David Susman (a founding
trustee), we are so pleased that Simon Susman
has agreed to come on board as a trustee
of the association. We look forward to his
involvement and expertise.
Benny Rabinowitz
e are also pleased to announce that
Samantha Reinders, social worker in our
Claremont branch, has been appointed as
the coordinator of the volunteer programme,
which was successfully initiated by Claire
Greenspan. Samantha will also be coordinating
the Lifestylers programme with volunteers — so
look out for exciting events in 2011.
Singing in celebration
Simon Susman
For lovers of Yiddish, we are proud to
announce that the CJSA’s initiative, the
Yiddish Song Festival, is spreading its
wings. Most of the cast will be going to
Johannesburg for a performance on the
16th March to celebrate ORT’s 75th birthday
in South Africa.
Please note that the Cape Town Zing CD is
available for R120
(Call 021 434-9691 for further details).
Before it was wrong as
there was no such thing
as retrenchment. We
set about correcting it
but it went too far, so as
to seriously handicap
productivity. The same has
happened with divorce
and company law… but it
will come right.”
South Africa and
success
On the state of the country,
t’s great to have whatever work John notes that “there is a saying that
I’ve done recognised by my peers,” historians have, that ‘revolution always
says John. However, he notes that the devours its own children’.” We are seeing
way to a fulfilling career is to “never this today, when a new generation
stop learning — and learn things that wants to forget about the past and grab
aren’t in the law books!” John has the offerings of the present. John fears
been practising law in Cape Town since the bloodshed that was avoided in
1953, particularly in commercial and 1990 may still be coming, “but it won’t
corporate law, intellectual property and be black on white, but rather the haves
estate planning. He has also lectured at and the have-nots… we’ve already seen
UCT and held a number of leadership it in Hout Bay and Khayelitsha. If you’ve
positions in the field.
got nothing and you see these fat cats
At the same time, John has always who have made millions upon millions,
been extremely involved in the Cape how long can you expect the cauldron
Town Jewish community, and has been not to explode?”
Chairman of the
However, despite
SAJBD, the IUA
all this, he remains
and the Jacob
“What common sense
optimistic about
Gitlin
Library.
South Africa. “The
doesn’t
do,
time
does”
He
has
since
whole legal system
devoted himself
has
changed,
to academic Jewish Studies, obtaining and we have a Constitution and a
an M.A. in Jewish Civilization from UCT. Constitutional Court. I think there are
He is currently a member of the Kaplan enough people in the ANC — Mr Malema
Centre Management Committee and on excluded — who are well-educated and
the Editorial Board of “Jewish Affairs”.
responsible.”
“One can measure the value of this
In terms of challenges facing the
centre by trying to picture what it Jewish community, John thinks that “we
would be like if we didn’t have it — the need to keep our heads on the Middle
amount of scholarship and publications East issue. All of us are having agonising
we would have lost,” says John of moments, but we need to remain loyal
the Kaplan Centre. “It really is a very to our basic heritage.” He also feels that
important academic resource, and it is vital to limit confrontation between
has made the South African Jewish different sectors of the community: “It
community stand high in the field of is wrong to find rabbis who will sit on a
Jewish Studies.”
platform with an imam, but not with a
Looking back at how both the reform rabbi. Cape Town has always led
community and South Africa have in the more tolerant approach.”
changed, John strongly believes that
Reviewing a fruitful career from the
“ma lo ya-aseh seichel, ya’aseh zman age of 80, John offers his perspective
— what common sense doesn’t do, on successful living: “If you look forward
time does.” However, on changes in to getting to work in the morning, and if
South African law, he explains that you look forward to getting home in the
we haven’t quite completely moved evening — that’s success!”
to a system when legal practice and
John has been married to Shirley for
the administration of justice are going 55 years, and quips that the secret to
smoothly. “There is a tendency in a successful marriage is to “choose the
South Africa that when something is right wife!” They have three sons, who
perceived to be in need of correction, are all living in South Africa, and five
the pendulum goes too far the other grandchildren. “We are very blessed,”
way. A good example is labour law. he says.
Lawyer John Simon was
awarded the prestigious
Lifetime
Achievement
Award from the Law
Society at the end of
2010; and celebrated his
80th birthday in January.
With no plans to retire,
John shares his thoughts
on South Africa, the
community, and secrets
to success.
“I
W
Yiddish Song Festival
Life and Law: John Simon receives
Lifetime Achievement Award
Samantha Reinders
27
JACOB GITLIN LIBRARY
ALBOW CENTRE PHONE: 021 462-5088 FAX: 021 465-8670
Fiction
Howard Jacobson THE FINKLER QUESTION. This wry and devastating novel
examines the complexities of identity and belonging, love and grief through
the lens of contemporary Judaism. Julian Treslove feels out of sync with his
longtime friend and sometimes rival, Sam Finkler, who is a popular author of
philosophy-themed self-help books and a rabidly anti-Zionist Jewish scholar.
The two reconnect with their elderly professor, Libor Sevcik, following the
deaths of Finkler and Libor’s wives, leaving Treslove — the bachelor gentile
— even more out of the loop. But after Treslove is mugged (the crime having
possible anti-Semitic overtones) he becomes obsessed with what it means to
be Jewish, or “a Finkler.”
Naomi Ragen THE TENTH SONG. When life is at its best, the unimaginable
can shatter everything you think you know. Abigail Samuels has no reason to
feel anything but joy on the morning her life falls apart. The epitome of the
successful Jewish American woman, she is married to a well-known and
respected accountant and is in the middle of planning her daughter Kayla’s
wedding. Kayla, too, wakes up that morning with the world in the palm of her
hand. Having lived the charmed life of a well-loved child from a happy family,
she is a bright, pretty Harvard law student who has never really questioned the
path she found herself on.
Joan Leegant WHEREVER YOU ARE. Yona Stern has travelled from New York
to Israel to make amends with her estranged sister, a stoic ideologue and
mother of five who has dedicated herself to the radical West Bank settlement
cause. Yona’s personal life resembles nothing of her sister’s, but it isn’t politics
that drove the two apart. Now a respected Jerusalem Talmud teacher, Mark
Greenglass was once a drug dealer saved by an eleventh-hour turn to Orthodox
Judaism. But for reasons he can’t understand, he’s lost his once fervent
religious passion. Is he through with God? Is God through with him?
Jonathan Tropper THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU. Judd Foxman is oscillating
between a sea of self-pity and a “snake pit of fury and resentment” in the
aftermath of the explosion of his marriage, which ended “the way these things
do: with paramedics and cheesecake.” Tropper is wickedly funny, a master of
the cutting one-liner that makes you both cringe and crack up.
Israel – Middle East Affairs
Mitchell Bard THE ARAB LOBBY. In this authoritative history — the first in over
twenty-five years to investigate the scope and activities of the Arab lobby —
Mitchell Bard provides a timely and valuable corrective to the unbalanced view
of Middle East affairs that is so widely promoted today. His detailed political
history brings much-needed balance to a debate fraught with ignorance.
Yehuda Avne THE PRIME MINISTERS. An intimate narrative about Israeli
leadership, it is the first and only insider account of Israeli politics from the
founding of the Jewish State to the near-present day. It reveals stunning details
of life-and-death decision-making, top-secret military operations and high level
peace negotiations. It brings readers into the orbits of world figures, including
Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Henry Kissinger,
Yasser Arafat, Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Martin van Creveld THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY. From its Zionist
beginnings at the end of the nineteenth century through the past sixty
tumultuous years, the state of Israel has been, as van Creveld argues, “the
greatest success story in the entire twentieth century”. While most studies on
Israel focus on the political, this encompassing history weaves together the
nation’s economic, social, cultural and religious narratives while also offering
diplomatic solutions to help Israel achieve peace. Without question, this is the
best one-volume history of Israel and its people.
Kai Bird CROSSING MANDELBAUM GATE. Coming of Age Between the Arabs
and Israelis, 1956-1978. The son of a U.S. Foreign Service officer, Kai Bird,
spent his formative years with the Arabs, but he ended up marrying the only
daughter of two Holocaust survivors. This Shoah survival story becomes a part
of Bird’s own personal narrative, and provides him with a deeper understanding
of the historical relationship between the destruction of European Jewry and
the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Jews in Germany- Holocaust
Robert S. Wistrich LABORATORY FOR WORLD DESTRUCTION. This is a bold
and penetrating study of the fateful symbiosis between Germans and Jews in
Central Europe, which culminated in the tragic denouement of the Holocaust.
Wistrich shows that the seeds of the catastrophe were already sown in the
Hapsburg Empire, which would become, in Karl Kraus’s words, “an experimental
station in the destruction of the world”.
News Update
I
The daring Dona Gracia
t was a great pleasure to host
Emilie Barnett for a talk about
her latest book, Daring Daughter
of the Covenant, a historical
novel based on the life and times
of Beatrice Nasi Mendes, known
as ‘Dona Gracia’. With very
short notice and on one of the
rainiest evenings in Cape Town,
Mrs Barnett enlightened the
audience about the extraordinary
life of Dona Gracia and about
her courageous character as a
Jewish businesswoman during
the 16th century. This book
is now in our collection and
available for borrowing.
Gwynne Robins, Dr David Scher, Devis Iosifzon
and Emilie Barnett.
Bible
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks COVENANT AND CONVERSATION - EXODUS. The Book
of Redemption. (A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible). The Jewish Bible is
an encounter between past and present, moment and eternity. In this second
volume of his long-anticipated five-volume collection of “parashat hashavua”
commentaries, Chief Rabbi Sacks explores these intersections as they relate
to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity, and destiny. He
fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy, and literature to present a highly
developed understanding of the human condition under God’s sovereignty.
Comparative Religion
Reuven Firestone AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM FOR JEWS. A balanced
introduction to Islam that will be helpful for all beginners, but particularly for the
Jewish readers for whom it is intended. Firestone extends a real effort to be fair
to both sides; in his discussion of Muhammad’s massacre of between 600 and
900 Jewish men, for instance, he reminds readers that the Jews had committed
treason and points to examples in the Hebrew Bible where Israelites engaged in
similar tactics. Firestone undertakes an in-depth discussion of the Five Pillars
of Islam, finding much common ground.
Autobiography – Biography
David Klatzow and Sylvia Walker STEEPED IN BLOOD. Human rights lawyers
called him when they needed independent forensic evidence to uncover the
truth. Although some cases are still unsolved, for Klatzow, a case is never
closed. The truth is out there, and he will find it. Klatzow’s investigations into
countless notorious cases, such as the Guguletu Seven, the Trojan horse, the
murders of human rights lawyer Bheki Mlangeni and activist Dr. David Webster,
and the bombing of Khotso House and Cosatu House, made him a controversial
public figure.
Ariel Saba MY FATHER’S PARADISE. In a remote corner of the world, forgotten
for nearly three thousand years, lived an enclave of Kurdish Jews so isolated
that they still spoke Aramaic, the language of Jesus. To these descendants of
the Lost Tribes of Israel, Yona Sabar was born. Yona’s son Ariel grew up in Los
Angeles, where Yona had become an esteemed professor dedicating his career
to preserving his people’s traditions. Ariel wanted nothing to do with his father’s
strange immigrant heritage — until he had a son of his own.
Cookbooks & Kashrut
Rabbi Ze’ev Greenwald LET’S LEARN ABOUT KOSHER FOOD. With its endearing
and amusing illustrations and fun format, this book is a winner at teaching about
the laws of kashrut. You will be treated to a wealth of information presented in
dialogue form as you accompany the 6th grade girls on their preparations for a
huge bar mitzvah party.
Joan Nathan THE CHILDREN’S JEWISH HOLIDAY KITCHEN. Like many Jewish
cookbooks for grown-ups, this is arranged by holiday and has recipes for all
the well-known celebrations. It also contains recipes for holidays not routinely
included in cookery roundups. The presentation of the directions is also
unusual in that rather than being listed step-by-step, they are organised into
age-appropriate tasks for children, for a child with adult help, and for the adult.
Most grateful thanks to the donors who have helped us to enrich the Library Collection over the last few months: Joyce Katz, Lolly Lazar, Shulamit Derman, Avron
Kaplan and Shmuel Keren-Krol.
This month’s WISH LIST
Miriam Cohen BEHIND THE WALL ....…....…......…………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... R260.00
Wrestling with God: Jewish Theological Responses During and After the Holocaust …..…....…....…....…....…....…....…....………....………....….........…....….. R400.00
… And many more to choose from on a list at the library.
28
Avital Kawalsky to Suzanne Anziska
photo: Freda Elliot-Wilson
29
Sammy Laskowicz to Gina Gottschalk
NEGATIVES
If you would like your negatives
from any past functions I have
photographed, please phone or email.
Madeleine Stone cell: 083 4561913
Photo: Jani B
To enhance your Ceremony
or Reception with the best
performance in Jewish Music
IVOR JOFFE
Also SHEVA BROCHOS AND
BENTSCHING with SUPERB
musical accompaniment
to add the finishing touch
082 7777740
or 021 434-2002
Lisa Radomsky Physiotherapy
Lisa Radomsky
B.Sc (Physio) UCT
Martine Cohen
B.Sc (Physio) UCT
Sea Point Medical and Sports House
14 Kloof Road, Sea Point, 8005
Tel/Fax: 021-4396051
021-4393558
Also every Wednesday at The Grand,
Camps Bay, from 7.30pm.
SPINAL CONDITIONS, HOME VISITS,
ORTHOPAEDIC REHABILITATION, SPORTS
INJURIES, DRY NEEDLING
30
31
CHRONIC ADS
Rates: R30 per line + VAT Phone:
021 464-6736 (mornings)
DOMESTIC AVAILABLE
KITKE BOARDS / CHALLAH COVERS
Live in, seeks immediate employment.
Good cook, excel refs. Tabeka
082 7081814.
A stunning range of kitke boards,
challah covers, mezuzahs and much
more for all gift requirements.
Phone Sybil-Ann 021 715-1964.
HOLIDAY APARTMENTS SYDNEY
HOUSEKEEPER / COOK
Eastern Suburbs. A selection of fully
furn apartments avail for holiday or
short rentals.
Email: [email protected]
Seeks immed daily employment.
Drivers license, skilled cook, excel refs.
Girlie 079 8621115.
MAGIMIX FOOD PROCESSORS
HOWIE’S SHUTTLE – Since 2007
PERSONALISED SERVIETTES
Airport transfers, general transport.
www.howiesshuttle.co.za
Howard 082 7114616.
Stickers and stationery. Michelle Shev
021 434-3290 or 083 3535732.
ACCOMMODATION WANTED
Atlantic seaboard. Responsible female
postgrad student seeks granny flat or
similar. Billie 072 9103329.
Sales, repairs, spares. Ph Brenda
021 712-9932 / 082 7825054.
TOWNHOUSE TO LET SEA POINT
BECK ’N CALL
STICKERS/CLOTHING LABELS
Furn, 4 bed, garden, pool, fam room.
Security complex, garage, walk to shul
and shops. April – end Oct.
021 439-0169 / 082 5564727.
Shuttle and airport transfers. Avail
24/7. Covering the peninsula. Air cond
vehicle. 072 2526989.
Bridge Cards. Gayle 021 423 4115
MAID’S ROOM TO LET
Phone Keith Benjamin 082 4218219.
At Vredefort, Beach Road, Sea Point.
Electricity, own shower, TV connection,
cupboard, security. Excel condition.
R1,250 pm. Noel Lipschitz
083 2349648.
DOUBLE GARAGE TO LET
Vredefort, Beach Road, Sea Point.
Electricity, remote doors, plenty
shelving. 45 sq m. R2,000 pm. Noel
Lipschitz 083 2349648.
HOUSE / PET SITTER
Reliable, professional, over 9 yrs exp.
Refs avail. Linda 083 7269873
K A B SHUTTLES AND TRANSFERS
MEL’S SHUTTLE SERVICE
INVITATIONS
Stunning and different, all occasions.
Phone Paula 021 423-1544.
JEWELLERY EVALUATION
Podiatrist
Sean J Pincus
NHDPod (SA) BSc Hons (Brighton)
20 Years clinical experience
At the New Cape Quarter
27 Somerset road. Greenpoint
For appointments call
021 425-2298 or 082 4674581
Email queries to [email protected]
For treatment for the following:
• Chronic foot, ankle, knee and lower back
pain • Sports injuries • Foot orthotic
management • All general foot and nail
conditions • Diabetic foot Assessment
and management • Video gait and cycling
assessment • Computerised Foot
Force plate analysis
Under cover parking at the Cape Quarter
Easy access to rooms using the Napier road lifts
Airport round trip special.
Mel Gottschalk 082 3960370.
Need advice on selling some of your
jewellery? Call Robert Lurie Jewellery
Evaluators. 021 551-1686.
COMING TO JHB?
SHAWN BENJAMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Experienced, reliable driver avail to
fetch you from O.R.Tambo – 24 hrs.
Paul 083 5426480.
Chartered Accountants (SA)
Weddings, bar/batmitzvahs. Archiving
of photographs. 021 794-3443
www.arkimages.co.za
O R TAMBO / LANSERIA
CONVERT VHS AND PICS TO DVD
Airport shuttle from R170.
Ph Sam 083 6278516 / 011 728-5219
Barry Kay 082 885 7458
[email protected]
http://mediamemories.bax.co.za
Advise, that pursuant to the new
Companies Act which will be effective
April 1, 2011.
Formation of Close Corporation
Cost: R400 inc.vat
(Hurry must be registered by
April 1, 2011)
Shelf Private Company
Cost: R1000 inc.vat
Shelf Private Company tailored to suit
your requirements
Additional Cost R2300 inc.vat
BEAUTY THERAPIST
All About U. Skin and body care.
301 Medical Centre Sea Point.
Phone Shelley Myers 021 434-5857
KOSHER FOOD AND CATERING
Functions, dinner parties or individual
dishes for freezer. Gifts, cakes, biscuits,
kichel made to order. Bev Kleinman
021 439-4232 / 021 439-7608.
Too old to drive?
No garage space?
Emigrating?
I will buy your vehicle!
Melville Silke
Ph 072 132-5572
021 5523429 a/h
ACTIVE ELECTRIC
Reliable 24hr 7-day service. All
contracting, maintenance and servicing
(including intercoms). Phone Norman
021 439-4311 or 083 2257409.
PLUMBERS TO THE RESCUE
Plumbing maintenance services.
Phone Harold 082 9628477.
Sweidan and Co
CONTACT MEL SWEIDAN
Cell: 074 668 5944
Tel: 021 703-4981
Fax: 086 664 7940
32
CHRONIC ADS contd
AMBASSADOR REMOVALS AND STORAGE
COMPUTER LESSONS
JOFFE PLUMBING
For all sanitary plumbing repairs,
maintenance and renovations. Phone
Hilton 082 7892897 or 021 439-5550.
Home and office, since 1985.
Storage – safe, secure, clean.
Prices slashed.
Ph Eric 021 555-1988
Easy steps to learn email and internet.
Patient teacher in the comfort of your
home. Joyce 084 6704989.
BLINDS
BRIDGE LESSONS
New
blinds,
and cleaning.
082 5631955.
servicing,
repairs
Stephen Guinsberg
CARPET CRAFT
For the steam cleaning of carpets and
upholstery. All work done personally.
Phone Leslie Kaplan 082 5477208.
STANS REMOVALS
No job too big or too small. House and
office moves. Personal supervision.
Stan 021 434-8035 / 083 2923781.
Learning the game and supervised
bridge play. Joyce 084 6704989
In the comfort of your home. Emails,
internet etc. Adele 021 551-5538 /
083 4149040.
THE COMPUTER GUY
MASTER MATHS
Internet connectivity, Upgrades, New
Systems, Specialised software, Repairs
and Troubleshooting. Ph 082 549 0457.
Sea Point and Gardens areas.
Expert maths tuition. Grades 6 – 12.
Reasonable rates. 28 yrs experience.
Ph Karen Weinberg 021 461-8543..
COMPUTERS
All PC needs including new computers,
virus removal, upgrades, ADSL, Skype
and troubleshooting. Phone Ilan
082 7324830 or 021 434-7691.
Calling all French fanatics
Are you ...
MAZAL MOTORS
Leon Levitt — Maintenance and
repairs to all types of vehicles. Try us.
Ph 021 797-1550 or 082 4102756.
BASIC COMPUTER LESSONS
•
•
•
•
A beginner with an interest in learning the French language
Keen to learn conversational French in order to make travel more enjoyable
Studying French at school and wanting to get ahead
Needing the French language to progress professionally
TUTORING
Homework supervision, one-on-one
tutoring. Grades 1 – 6. All subjects.
Stacey 082 4672185.
Have YOU found YOUR match?
Matching ideal JOBS with ideal CANDIDATES since 1999
Contact: Joanne or Linda on:
021-464 6700 or [email protected]
Individual and group lessons offered
by highly qualified French teacher
with many years experience.
LEON BOYD
for best prices on
appliances tv sets
and beds
Contact Dorothy Kowen
(BA Hons French UCT Professorat Sorbonne)
Mobile: 083 457 0516
Phone: 021 433 1945
[email protected]
try me first before buying
021-4343852 076 9262041
[email protected]
Piano Teacher
Rhea Wetzler (CT ABRSM)
 Beginners to intermediate (all ages)
 Preparation for examinations or learn just for fun
 Includes music theory
Cell: 076 062 7521
Aviva - the PC Diva
MONUMENTAL ART
Tombstones AND REPAIRS
No price increases for 2011
Are you upset when people walk over your loved ones’ graves??
We have an extremely affordable solution
that has delighted many of our clients
Please contact Cantor Ian Camissar
021 434-5664 / 072 6795533
Are you in desperate need of some fundamental PC know-how — the kind of
knowledge and skill that will get you from frustrated and on the verge of 'giving
up' to active, effective and productive PC user?
Well, Aviva Katzman, provides workshops in the comfort of your own home.
Let's emphasise this: She comes to YOU to give you detailed and step-by step
guidance and tuition, at home, at a pace that works for you. Aviva will help you
to close the gaps in your knowledge and understanding. Ideal for self-starters in
business, people trying to stay in touch with loved ones overseas, and for those
who want to enrich their marketable skills.
Call Computer Tutor, Aviva Katzman on: 082 8266 368.
33
34
Cape Town handcyclist conquers NY
Marathon
Karate Kid: Samuel Rosenberg is a
national Karate champion
“T
he best part of karate
is training, being fit
and being with friends,” says
Samuel Rosenberg, aged 13,
who was recently selected to
represent Western Province in
full contact Karate. Sam went on
to win the title of National Karate
Champion for U14 in the Karate
South Africa Tournament, held
at UCT Sports Centre at the end
of last year.
Sam is passionate about
Karate and has been training
twice a week since the age
of four. “It’s a great sport – it
controls your actions and behaviour
and it’s also fun,” says Sam. What are
G
Last year, Cape Town
handcyclist
Andrew
Stodel took on and
beat the majority of
elite competitors in the
handcycling field in the
New
York
Marathon,
finishing sixth out of 198
professional handcycling
athletes. He shares his
story of endurance and
adventure…
his aims for the future? “Being a black
belt, going to Japan to fight and coming
back world champion!”
Gregg Bryer awarded USA soccer
scholarship
regg Bryer was recently awarded
a soccer scholarship to attend
Boston College, Massachusetts, USA.
Gregg matriculated from Herzlia
High School in 2009. He first started
playing soccer for the Goodwood/
Edgemead Soccer Club, from as young
as three years old. At the age of 14
Gregg was scouted to play for Ajax
Academy Football Club in Cape Town.
He played for their under 15 and under
17 first teams, and in 2009 joined
the Ajax reserve team squad. Gregg
represented South Africa in the under
19 soccer team
at the Maccabiah
Games in June
2009.
Last
year, he was
approached by
an international
soccer
scout
to
play
for
Boston College
University,
in
the
American
university’s first
league.
A
ndrew’s performance
was inspired by his
late friend Joel Miller, who
at speed it was interesting to note
passed away just a week
before Andrew did the race. “It was the different ethnic groups screaming
always going to be emotional,” Andrew from the pavements. First the Hispanic
says. “Joel encouraged me to enter, and block, then the Hasidic Jews, etcetera,”
he gave me a check-list of things to see he explains.
‘The rest of the race is a bit off a
while in the Big Apple, so Lee and I went
to Carnegie Deli and celebrated his life blur — I guess I was just trying to keep
with a hot pastrami on rye sarmie, and going. Just two miles to go and my
I rode with a black arm band in his escort waved me through and said
‘you’re on your own now.’ Passing
honour.”
Andrew has been in a wheelchair Strawberry Fields in Central Park is a
since a cycling accident in 2001, and really beautiful place to end, and the
had to pre-qualify to be entered into the screaming crowd was deafening…I felt
elite category. After being allowed into like a rock star for a day.”
Andrew finished sixth overall in a time
the group he went on to beat most of
of
1 hour and 36 minutes, which was
the pros, which was an unprecedented
achievement. “The elite field was 198 “much better than I could ever have
strong and I had a real job convincing dreamed of, and ahead of some of the
them that I belonged in that category. ‘big boys.’” The New York Times wrote
about him as the
All but three in
“unknown African”
the field were
“I felt like a rock star
who had swept into
pros and I guess
for a day!”
such a prestigious
a rotund geriatric
place; and he was
from South Africa
invited back to the
didn’t quite look
invitation-only
marathon
next year.
the part!” he quips. “I suppose I had a
Back in Cape Town, Andrew is well
point to prove.”
known along the Atlantic Seaboard,
Against all odds
where he cycles five days a week.
Many of the participants in the He is now aiming to do a race on
marathon
were
young
military every continent: “It’s my very own
amputees while others were paraplegic. Bucket List!” Andrew and his bike
“The start was a tense affair with lots are a ‘moving billboard’ and present
of posing and ‘chest beating,’ and the an opportunity for any brand to gain
Aussie contingent couldn’t help making exposure at local and international
disparaging comments about our rugby events, so feel free to e-mail him to
boys!”
discuss sponsorship opportunities at
The race began at the base of [email protected].
the bridge that joins Staten Island
and Manhattan, so there was a two
kilometre climb at the beginning in
extremely cold conditions. “I decided to
give it everything at the start and then
just try and hang on as long as possible.
The crosswind and temperature
PRINTING & PACKAGING
made it the most extreme start I’ve
SPECIALISTS
ever experienced, but about 20 of us
PRINT CENTRE
managed to break away from the rest
WESLEY STREET
of the field,” says Andrew.
CAPE TOWN
The marathon weaves through the
five boroughs of New York, “and even
TEL: 021 461-7030
35
D
NETZER
BNEI AKIVA
Netzer Rises Up!
Machaneh Briyat Machar – Revolutionary!
ecember has come and gone, and
in recounting the month’s events I
find that Netzer has outdone itself. The
Machaneh Z’richa 2010 build up was a
week of hard work for our madrichim,
where they planned the informal
education for our camp. The camp
started with great atmosphere and a
jam-packed first week, where we did
a tiyul in the Silvermine conservation
park and held our traditional, fun-filled
colour war! The week ended in high
spirits as the youngest group, Tipot,
joined us for the weekend.
The Shabbat on camp was, as
always, very spiritual and relaxing as
we focused on the parasha of Joseph
being reunited with his family. As we
progressed into week two, the general
atmosphere once again began to
bubble. On Tuesday 21 December
we had our visitor’s day, where each
kvuztah (group) did a short skit for the
visiting parents based on one of the
five pillars on which Netzer stands. On
a sad note, Netzer also had to sing their
goodbye songs to Maia Zway, Hayley
Kormblum, Jackie Maris and Rina
Epstein, who will no longer have active
roles within the movement.
The following day, for our Tikkun
Outreach Project, Ikamva youth
from Masiphumele came to join us
for the day. They took part in our
peulot (programmes) and were very
interactive. The day ended on a high
note with a carnival, where we had
jumping castles, slippery slides and
candyfloss! However, being that time of
the week and of camp, the madrichim
needed a rest. It was time for the
oldest age group, Keshet (rainbow), to
take over! Needless to say, they did a
fantastic job and we look forward to
them becoming madrichim.
Finally, the last Shabbat on camp
arrived. The Shabbat was as amazing
and the ruach was high. On Saturday
night we ended off with our spectacular
Mifkad Eish (lighting ceremony), with
thanks to Mr Joe Amos who built it for
us. But, all good things must come to an
end and as camp finished we had to say
goodbye. After camp, we held a three
day feedback seminar, where we also
taught Keshet about being leaders.
The positions for Netzer for 2011
were established and are as follows:
National Mazkir (chair): Jarred Durbach
National Gizbar (treasurer): Gareth Hall
Rosh Chinuch (head of education):
Lauren Kessler
Rosh Tikkun Olam (head of outreach
and conservation): Talia Mayson
Rosh Gauteng: Gareth Hall
Rosh Cape Town: Talya Davidoff
Netzer has had such a large increase
in numbers this year and have really
stepped up to the plate. We are working
hard to expand to the wider community
and increase our numbers even more.
Thank you for all the support we
have received and we look forward to
working with you all again.
Nilmad ve na’aseh,
Talya Davidoff
HABONIM DROR
Exciting times ahead for Habonim Dror!
2
The Bogrim body of Machaneh Koach Le'Shanot 2010.
011 is an exciting year for Habonim
Dror. For the first time in the
movement’s history, six members
of the bogrim body are dedicating
a year of their lives to work full time
for the movement. The team, led by
Mazkir Klali Ross Engers, is a group
of passionate individuals who are
ready to take Habonim to new heights.
After the success of Machaneh Koach
Le’Shanot, there is no doubt that 2011
will see channichim and madrichim
from all over South Africa getting
involved in weekly Habonim events.
Our first national event of the year is
Veida — an ideological conference that
we hold once every 2 years, where
the bogrim body comes together to
critically discuss the movement’s
ideological beliefs and direction. It is
at this conference that the Chukkah
(constitution) as we now know it was
developed, and this year it will be open
to discussion and debate. Bogrim are
able to make proposals on things they
would like to add, remove or change
and, by means of a vote, these will
either be passed or fall away. Veida
always proves an inspiring few days for
those who attend and will undoubtedly
be a powerful start to 2011.
I am thrilled to be a part of the
movement leadership during these
exciting times. The Hanhagah (National
Executive) for 2011 is made up of
young, up-and-coming leadership who
are filled with fresh ideas and the drive
to take Habonim forward. In addition
to our annual events such as mini
machanot, April Leadership Seminar
and our Israel programmes (Shnat,
Shorashim and leadership tour); this
year we look forward to the return of
our national winter camp and many
more exciting new projects. To keep up
to date with events in your Ken, visit us
at www.habo.org.za. We look forward to
sharing the Habo magic with you!
Aleh ve’hagshem,
Mia Candy
W
ow, can you
believe it’s been
a month since camp
ended? Dozens of
brilliant
memories
come
to
mind
whenever I think of
this past camp. We
shared unbelievable,
n e v e r- s e e n - b e f o r e
highlights on a Bnei
Akiva Machaneh, such
as a live Prime Circle
concert,
Chessed
projects, video music
awards, glow in the
dark
dodge
ball,
Going crazy at Shevet Na'aleh naming.
and acoustic ruach
trust that they will return next camp as
sessions — and the list goes on and on. madrichim and help lead Bnei forward
This year we welcomed the new to a better and stronger future.
shevet ‘Na’aleh’ to the Bnei Akiva
The camp team went into Machaneh
family. The word Na’aleh means ‘we will Briyat Machar with the ideal of being
make Aliyah’ or ‘we will go up’, which is revolutionary — to make changes to the
entirely fitting as the newest and most camp experience that were never seen
powerful shichvah Bnei has seen in a before, in order to ensure that we make
long time will make its way up through camp the best possible experience
the movement showing everybody the for our Bnei Akiva channichim and
ideals of Bnei and where we are all madrichim. Camp this year was a
going.
raging success and everybody involved
We also bid farewell to an unbelievable truly had the time of their lives.
shevet ‘Dvir’, who had their last ever
Bnei doesn’t stop with just camp, so
camp as channichim. Dvir has truly stay tuned this year as a fresh new
been a force to be reckoned with over team of madrichim take on Cape Town,
the past couple of years, showing with all new programmes and activities.
incredible strength, ruach and unity like Hope to see you all there!
no other shichavot in recent memory.
Their presence as a shevet will truly
Hashem Imachem
be missed on the campsite, but we
Shayne Saacks
36
Maccabi News
WP Maccabi Cricket Festival hits a six!
W
P Maccabi hosted the 1st
Junior
Cricket
Festival
against WP and the Powerplay
Academy
on
Sunday
5th
December. The age groups
included mini cricket, U12 and
U14.
The mini cricket matches were
played at Yeoville Rd, where
WP Maccabi Haifa took on the
Powerplay Academy A and WP
Maccabi Jerusalem taking on
the Powerplay Academy B teams
respectively. The matches were
played in great spirit with friends
and family cheering on their
boys. Although the teams gave
their best effort, WPCC were too
strong, wining both matches.
The U12 match, WP Maccabi vs
Powerplay Academy, was played
at Nazareth House with the
Powerplay Academy running out
victors.
The day was enjoyed by all and
a big thank you must go to Robert
Gad and ENS for sponsoring
the caps, to Stuart Diamond
(Grassboots FC) for the use of
Yeoville Rd field, to Gina Isserow
and Renee Greenberg for helping
out with the mini cricket matches
and to Herzlia for the use of their
fields and security.
MORE FUN FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
TO COME — WATCH THIS SPACE!
WP Maccabi Haifa.
WP Maccabi Jerusalem.

February

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