December 2018/January 2019 November 2018
Our Community. Our People. Our Magazine
Our Community. Our People. Our Magazine
Volume 95. No 4 Volume 95. No 3
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Editorial Special Feature Travel In Conversation0 Cool Culture Political Past Tense Bubkes Naches News
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EDITORIAL Hayley Lieberthal
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Community News
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Divote Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre Chabad Limmud WIZO SAJBD Wostup Wizo KZNC Beit David Akiva College UJC Beth Shalom Talmud Torah Young Israel Centre DUHC Durban Jewish Social Services Eden School CSO Sisterhood Cooking with Judy and Linda Social and Personal Diary of Events
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A Positive Year As we get on in our lives, we learn just how fragile life is; its importance and how validating the ones we love every day is as vital as the air we breath. The recent anti-Semitic attack in Pittsburgh was felt by every Jew and many non-Jews across the globe. I believe the attack was not just on the Jewish people and our faith, but also an attack on humanity. The eleven souls that died represent the past, present and now from their passing, future decisions are being implemented in terms of gun violence and personal safety within every Jewish community. It is a call to every being that every life is precious and to celebrate the good at every opportunity. This year has seen its fair share of newsworthy events and for many the negative news stands out and hangs over us like a dark dense cloud. We tend to forget the “feel good or good news” stories and I would like to touch on a few of the happy ones... Groundbreaking research from Tel Aviv University has seen a stop to transplant rejection by utilizing the patients own fat cells for personalized tissue implants. The result; eventually there will be no risk of an immune response to any implant.
The views expressed in the pages of Hashalom are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or any other organisation or religious body unless otherwise Hashalom merely reflects views of particular organisation or individual.
Hashalom Editorial Board: Editor: Hayley Lieberthal Sub Editor: Colin Plen Editorial Board: Hayley Lieberthal, Michelle Campbell Lauren Shapiro, Mikki Norton Production Manager: Jacqui Herbst Notice to Organisations/Contributors: All material to be submitted by email to hashalom@djc.co.za DEADLINE FOR THE DECEMBER: 9 JANUARY 2019
Advertisements Contact: Jacqui Herbst P.O. Box 10797 Marine Parade 4056 Tel: (031) 335 4451Email: hashalom@djc.co.za Hashalom is issued under the auspices of the SAJBD KZN Council, KwaZulu-Natal Zionist Council and the Durban Jewish Club. Typesetting Supplied. Designed by RBG Studios, email: rowan@rbgstudios.co.za Printed by Fishwick Printers
October saw the 40th anniversary of peace between Israel and Egypt. Israel won the 2018 Eurovision contest and Tel Aviv will be the host city to the Eurovision 2019 contest. Along with the US embassy, Guatemala and Paraguay amongst a few opened their embassies in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was voted 3rd in the “5 best cities in Africa and the Middle East”, with Tel Aviv taking 4th place. I would like to challenge each and all to fixating on the positive and good news over the next 12 months. To highlight for yourselves the “great stuff” that you are surrounded by everyday and to actively seek out “feel good” stories. There are so many out there; I have only touched the surface. With Chanukah being early in December please remember to be open to seeing the miracles around you in the days that come. Chanukah Sameach to each and every one of us!
Visit our website: www.hashalom.co.za
December 2018 /January 2019
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Durban Rabbonim Where are they now?
We know them, respect them – but where are they now? by Hayley Lieberthal
Then and Now
Rabbi Abner Weiss
Rabbi Weiss currently lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Dr Yolande Bloomstein Weiss. He left Durban in 1976 due to an invitation from the Riverdale Jewish Centre in New York as well as to teach Jewish Studies at the Yeshiva University. Since then he has been the senior Rabbi of the Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, California and the Head of the Los Angeles Beth Din in 1984. He has travelled to London as the Senior Minister of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue as well as holding a professorship in the London School of Jewish Studies (formerly known as Jews College) which is one of 17 colleges of the University of London, he later became the principal of The University of London which he held a professorship with. Rabbi Weiss then returned to Los Angeles where he is now retired. Although leaving Durban was bitter sweet, Rabbi Weiss has fond memories of Durban. “Durban taught me the real lessons of leadership, which I was able to take with me to the United States and Great Britain,” Rabbi Weiss continued to say that there were many fond memories of his time in Durban and that although there are too many to list there is the support of a community that stands out the most. “I took controversial and often dangerous public positions, political, religious (such as bringing Bnei Akiva to Durban over the protests of the CNJ and NZC) and found great support from the community. The committed teens who attended the ‘Mini Yeshiva’ at Natal University after school became rabbis and community leaders and helped alter the Durban Jewish Culture. Rabbi Weiss was ordained by the Chief Rabbi of Israel and Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavne in 1965 and said that being a rabbi came out of the blue for him whilst he was at the end of his second year at Wits in about 1958. “It was a sudden intuition that made no logical sense, given my personal background,” he said.
On Israel Rabbi Weiss visits Israel often and presents at many international conferences. Most of his children, grand-children and great grandchildren live there, so the trip is always meaningful and joyous. “My primary identity is being Jewish and having a connection to Israel,” Rabbi Weiss continued to say that Israel is the only place in the world whose heart beats to the rhythms of Jewish life and history, “paradoxically I feel more free and safe and at home in Israel than anywhere else in the world.”
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Rabbi Weiss and his wife, Dr Yolande Bloomstein Weiss
On Judaism
Rabbi Weiss likes to speak about aspects of Judaism that can heal parts of our world that are broken, “I believe in justice, loving kindness, love of neighbour, commitment to principle and the courage to protest evil,’ Rabbi Weiss said. It is this, coupled with the miracle that is the State of Israel that gives him hope and keeps him inspired during challenging times. With regards to his favourite Jewish holiday, Rabbi Weiss said that choosing a favourite chag would be asking him to identify his favourite child, ‘it’s impossible, as each Jewish holiday punctuates the Jewish experience and provides us with its grammar and meaning.” Rabbi Weiss believes that the greatest threat to Judaism is assimilation and ignorance of great gifts both to the Jew and to humankind along with a diminished focus on Israel. Keep a watch full eye out for Rabbi Weiss up and coming memoir which he currently completing. The book goes into great detail of his years in Durban and his South African connection.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Rabbi Sam Thurgood Then and Now Rabbi Sam Thurgood left Durban for Cape Town in October 2012. His wife Aviva and their 8 week old daughter Shalva (now 6 years old) accompanied him on the move. “There were definitely mixed feelings when we left Durban. I was sad to leave the community that I had always called home and had nurtured me so much. There were also so many people who were an important part of my life, but I was excited for the journey ahead,” Rabbi Thurgood said. His parents found it difficult to leave their friends in Durban, yet they made the move about a year after Rabbi Thurgood and his family had moved. “My brother and sister had moved independently to Cape Town some years earlier and it made sense that our parents join us.” Rabbi Thurgood said. “My fondest memories of Durban are playing in the back garden of the home in which I grew up and sleeping in the Sukkah on the deck overlooking our swimming pool,” Rabbi Thurgood said looking back on his time in Durban, he continued to say that Durban taught him that every single person makes a difference in a community, “you see this more clearly in a smaller community, but it’s a lesson that applies everywhere. Durban taught me that my Jewishness is valued and to value the contribution that others make.” Rabbi Thurgood first thought of being a Rabbi, when he was eight years old. At the time he was not religious and was told that if he wanted to be a Rabbi he would have to keep Shabbat. He put the idea on ice and eleven years later during his second year of Yeshiva, Rabbi Thurgood decided to devote his life to the Jewish community and education. “My three great loves in life is Hashem, teaching and people and being a Rabbi means that I am given the opportunity to teach.”
On Israel “I think I have been to Israel eight times. My average trip has been two weeks, although I was once there for a month and once for 72 hours,” he continued, “Israel is our homeland. Judaism is not just a religion, but a people. Although we keep the Torah wherever we are in the world, it is only in Israel that we live as a nation in the full sense of the world.” Rabbi Thurgood said that the Torah itself is a guidance, that it is not just for the individual, but for society – and a Jewish society has only ever truly existed in Israel. “Although Hashem is everywhere and everywhen there are days – such as Shabbat and Yom Tov – on which His Presence is more closely felt. Israel is such a place - a country in which our
closeness to Hashem is greater than anywhere else on earth,” Rabbi Thurgood mentioned.
On Judaism Rabbi Thurgood likes to speak on the twin themes of kindness and holiness and how their relationship with one another and our relationship with Hashem affect us. He believes that every Jewish value can be used to heal aspects of the world that is broken. “The value of having G-d in every part of your life; the values of family and community, of holiness and social responsibility. The values of prayer and hope, as well as the values of acceptance and serenity and the values of respect and of peace and of strength and kindness,” he said. He believes that nothing threatens Judaism, however, There are various communities which are threatened by ignorance and apathy and during challenging times Rabbi Thurgood is inspired by Noah and the Ark; it is this story that gives him hope, “after the great flood, Hashem revealed the rainbow. Rabbi Yaakov Medan teaches that the rainbow is seen not only after a storm of rain, but that after any storm, Hashem’s promise is that the clouds will clear, it will be a bright day and we will see His promise of a future,” Rabbi Thurgood said. Rabbi Thurgood loves all Jewish chags and finds it hard to choose a favourite amongst them. “As each one approaches, I say ‘definitely this one is my favourite!’ but then I say the same as the next festival comes around. I will commit to enjoying the Torah festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) a little more than the rabbinic festivals such as Purim and Chanukah, but that leaves me with 5 tied for the top spot.” Rabbi Thurgood said.
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Then and now
Rabbi Selwyn Franklin
“I served the Durban community from 1974-1982 where I left for Israel with my wife Eileen and 4 children.” Rabbi Selwyn Franklin said. He returned to Cape Town for a brief time before emigrating to Sydney, Australia in 1988; fearful that his anti-Apartheid political involvement would bring repercussions to him and his family. Rabbi Franklin now lives between Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia and Modi’in, Israel with his wife and frequently spends time with his children and thirteen grandchildren across the globe from New York, Israel to Australia. Rabbi Franklin nostalgically admitted, “My fondest memories of Durban was being part of a closeknit Community and sharing experiences with young and old. I also had mixed feelings with leaving South Africa. I had a deep connection to SA and the Jewish Community, but on the other hand, I wanted to protect my family from the political association of my anti-Apartheid involvement.” Rabbi Franklin said that from a young child, he aspired to be able to convey to others the vitality and beauty of living a Jewish way of life – it was this coupled with his upbringing that influenced him a great deal in becoming a Rabbi. He felt privileged to pursue rabbinic studies in Israel and at Yeshiva University in New York. “My teachers and mentors were Rabbi J B Soloveitchick and Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein and I was ordained by the former,” Rabbi Franklin said. During his studies in New York Rabbi Franklin witnessed the student Motororium Movement, which was against the war in Vietnam. “It convinced me of the futility of aggressive war. I did, however participate in Outreach to Jewish Youth and was able to cultivate techniques which I brought to South Africa – the informal Education Program “Counterpoint”, (known as Encounter today), this proved eminently successful in bringing Jewish children back to their Jewish heritage.” Rabbi Franklin said.
On Israel “Along with my mother and brother, who live in Jerusalem I have a son who lives in Modi’in with his family yet, it is not only them that gives me a deep attachment to Israel and I am privileged to live there permanently and to witness first-hand the miracle of Jewish National rebirth.” Rabbi Franklin said. Rabbi Franklin realizes that not every Jew in the Diaspora is able to live in Israel and with the knowledge that in five years’ time that the majority of the world Jewry will be living in Israel, he does want to encourage everyone to seriously consider making Aliyah as he sees and believes that Israel is the epicenter of Jewish identity and culture. “The greatest threat to Judaism is losing thousands of Jewish Souls through assimilation and intermarriage. That’s why Aliyah is so crucial to individual Jewish survival,” Rabbi Franklin continued, “My mother was 12 years old when she, her mother and her younger sister were able to get out of Lithuania in December 1938 which was just in time to avoid the Russian and immediately thereafter the Nazi occupation,” Rabbi Franklin said. He had recently returned to his mother’s birthplace in Lithuania, shtetl ‘Kamai’ and became aware first hand of the decimation of 100 000 Lithuanian Jews in the war. Knowing the real threat of antiSemitism, he admitted that the threat of anti-Semitism is palpable in many parts of the world. However, he is fully confident of the eternity of the Jewish Community primarily because G-d has
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made it clear through word and deed that His covenant with the Jewish People is indestructible. “This give me hope and keeps me inspired during challenging times.” Rabbi Franklin said.
On Judaism Rabbi Franklin likes to speak about how Judaism can bring meaning to modern humanity. He does, however, avoid speaking about divisions amongst the Jewish Community. “I feel that the greatest value behind Jewish teachings is to help perfect the world under the kingship of G-d.” With reference to the three major categories of Judaism G-d; Torah; and; Israel, Rabbi Franklin understands these as, “G-d; the Creator and Sustainer of the universe; Torah; G-d’s universal teaching, providing a roadmap for meaning and fulfilment; and Israel, is essentially the people and the land charged with a unique role to be a ‘light unto the nations’.” Rabbi Franklin said. Rabbi Franklin said that there are many Jewish values that can be used to heal aspects of the world that are broken. “Clearly the Jewish fundamental belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual has inspired activist Jews to enter the struggle for human rights in many parts of the world. In fact, this basic belief led to the founding of Jews for Justice, an anti-Apartheid Movement (with which I was closely identified) which played a significant part in the conscientization of the Jewish Community to the deprivation of the majority of citizens of South Africa.” Rabbi Franklin finds Yom Kippur to be his favourite Jewish holiday, “Yom Kippur at its essence is about reconciliation between the human and G-d, and between human beings.” He says that it was his mentor Rabbi Abner Weiss who taught him how to be there for those in need; Jew or Non-Jew and the importance of presenting Judaism both as a tertiary academic encounter and as a religious opportunity to find meaning in life.
TRAVEL
A Once In A Lifetime Trip
By Janine Saperson
Who could have known that by the grace of Hashem we would have been included in Rabbi Zekry’s plan that was hatched 25 years ago to send the Masadaniks to Israel! 7 Masadaniks, the Rabbi, June (the Housemother), Gaynor Lazarus and Janine Saperson accompanied them. With all good things there is always someone watching over us and we found ourselves speaking of Cedric Braude, of blessed memory often and knew that he was with us with every step we took.
with the flow’ and experience so many different sights and sounds and of course tastes! This trip took a village to organise and what a village we have! The community rallied behind this dream and provided a first class, once-in-a-lifetime trip for all those who were able to travel. Yasher Koach to all!
Day One There is nothing to beat the majestic sign and ensuing goose bumps as you arrive in Ben Gurion Airport…Bruchim Habaim! Our tour guide Mark Kedem (Kusman), an ex Durbanite was there to greet us and our first stop was to Neot Kedumim; a biblical landscape reserve between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Here we each planted a tree and planted one for our brothers and sisters who couldn’t join us! Our first evening in Jerusalem (we stayed at the King Solomon Hotel) we walked to the Montefiore Windmill outside the old city and with Kiddush wine in disposable cups we all sang Shehechyanu together – yet again we were covered in goose bumps. Day Two We spent a very meaningful time at the Kotel where the women stood in a circle and said the Shema out loud together; there wasn’t a dry eye! At the same time Rabbi took the men and they all laid tefillin. We put our notes (and those from our ‘family’ back home) in the wall and said special prayers of thanks. That night we experienced a dynamic light and sound show at the King David Citadel. The entire day had been an incredible and heart-warming experience. We couldn’t believe it was over and wondered what day three had in store for us. Day Three We ventured to Tel Aviv in the morning and had the privilege of having lunch at Jonathan Beare’s home. With our tummy’s full and our spirits high we then spent the afternoon on Ingrid and Koby Aboud’s boat visiting with family and friends who live in Israel. Israel truly is a country with an array of beauty at every corner; with Jerusalem and Tel Aviv under our belt we went to bed excited for the trip down to Masada and the Dead Sea. Day Four Masada holds a great deal of history and one could easily call the mountain majestic with all the stories it has to share. Yet again Israel was showing us the vast sights, history, and beauty that she holds. We boarded the cable car once more and took a final panoramic view; ‘spectacular’ is a word that does not give it justice. We soon found ourselves floating on the Dead Sea - once more, we were experiencing two magical and unforgettable moments in just one day. I have to admit that it’s quite daunting letting nature take the lead and trusting that you will float with ease; we did and we did it gracefully. It was so inspiring to watch people who are affected by mental and / or physical limitations, stretch their boundaries and comfort levels to such a huge degree! They made us so proud and they worked unbelievably hard to ‘go
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IN CONVERSATION
A journey of fair wind and following seas Jacqueline Herbst “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Yves Cousteau Wrapped up in the ocean’s net of wonder, Lenny and Sharon Sackstein are living their lifelong dream of sailing around the world. The Oyster Yacht Rally is exclusively for owners of Oyster yachts and takes crews on a magical 27,000 mile circumnavigation of the planet, exploring the Pacific and Asian islands, New Zealand and Australia. The Oyster Yacht Rally is not a race but an opportunity to see the world at your own pace. On January 15, 2017 a fleet of 29 Oyster yachts set sail from the island of Antigua on a 27 month long adventure of a lifetime. Lenny and Sharon’s journey however started six months prior when they picked up their boat, Shalen in June 2016 in England from where they sailed to the starting point in Antigua. The name Shalen is a combination of Lenny and Sharon’s names (Sha+Len). Growing up in Durban, Sharon was an active member of the Durban Jewish community before leaving South Africa in 1989. Lenny is originally from Johannesburg and the two met at a conference in Durban in 2002. Today they Live in Hodhasharan, Israel, have seven kids (Sharon has four and Lenny three from previous marriages) and have been blessed with 12 grandchildren. Lenny and Sharon describe themselves as good ambassadors for Israel and proud Jews, sharing their beliefs and seeking out a shul every Friday night, wherever in the world they may be. “We are nomads; we love to travel and meet new Jewish people everywhere we go,” said Sharon. Along the way from England to Antigua, the couple joined an Israeli Flotilla and sailed with them from Cape Verde to Barbados.
The rally consists of four connecting stages, including the Pacific Rally, the Antipodean Cruise, the Asian Rally and the Passage Home. Starting from Antigua (the spiritual home of Oyster yachts), the Pacific Rally explores the Caribbean islands before navigating the Panama Canal and then taking the fleet past thousands of Central Pacific islands, among them the Marquesas Islands with its dramatic volcano terrain and to the west Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tonga and Fiji before regrouping in New Zealand for the second leg of the rally. The Antipodean Cruise is essentially a five month “holding pattern” during the New Zealand and Australian summer months while waiting for weather patterns to calm down in the Pacific. The Asian Rally Starts from New Zealand from where boats sail to Vanuatu, Australia, along Queensland’s Pacific shoreline, past the Great Barrier Reef and then up to Darwin. The Asian Rally ends in Bali where participants make final preparations before crossing the Indian Ocean via Cocos Keeling, Reunion and Mauritius.
Shalen is a floating home, kitted out with an office, heater, air conditioner, television, three bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. The kids’ bunk beds have been turned into a storage facility, chockablock with supplies. Being far out at sea, the couple does a lot of fishing, reeling in many a big tuna for the pot.
The final 12,000 miles takes the fleet from Bali across both the Indian and Atlantic oceans, back to the finish line in Antigua and is known as the Passage Home. It is during this stretch of the rally that the fleet stop in Durban for a couple of days (this is where Hashalom caught up with the Sacksteins) before heading off to Cape Town for a month or so.
Besides being super adventurous, Lenny and Sharon are also ambitious business people. Back in Israel, Lenny owns a property development company and is the chairman of a large candy manufacturer while Sharon runs a non-profit organization called the Israeli Diplomatic Forum that seeks to improve international understanding of Israel and the Middle East. Thanks to internet technology and good management skills, Lenny and Sharon are able to run their businesses whilst traveling.
Rounding South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope through the Agulhas Current, infamous for big seas when the wind blows against the current, this may be the trickiest stage of the rally. Before sailing directly to the Caribbean, the route heads northwest to St. Helena and Ascension Islands. This is where Shalen and her crew will veer off the route and head up to England with a rendezvous at the Canary Islands.
“Sailing around the world has always been a dream,” said Sharon. However, talk is cheap but money buys the whiskey so in 2016 the Sacksteins decided to take the bull by the horns and sign up for the Oyster Yacht Rally. With Sharon on lines and Lenny steering the wheel, the crew of two is blessed to be living the dream.
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The rally closes out in April 2019 with a celebration back in Antigua which Lenny and Sharon will fly in for. The Oyster Yacht Rally is not the end of Lenny and Sharon’s adventures. The couple has plans to rent a house boat for a couple of months and explore the canals of Europe as well as traveling to Italy on a three month Italian cooking and art venture.
IN CONVERSATION
Blowhole on Galapagos New Zealand outdoor sculpture
Bonaire
Our close friends Joe and Vicky on Boisterous, Joe is from Lebanon and was docked next to us.
Crossing the timeline
SHALEN in the Auckland Viaduct marina.
Bread baked mid-ocean
Dorado caught off the yacht
Huge pineapple in Colombia
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COOL CULTURE
Stringing his way through the music
Although he is a Minor; Daniel Cohen is a Major musician By Erin Joffe “I really like the more laid back feel of Jack Johnson’s music. I’m not as interested in today’s music as I prefer to listen to Classic Rock songs such as ACDC, Beatles and The Ultimate Eagles.” 16-year old Daniel Cohen has always enjoyed music from a young age. “Growing up, I loved singing along and harmonizing with my brother Dylan whether it was in the house, car or on holiday. Dylan always brought his guitar along with him and we would inevitably sing together,” Daniel continued, “yet, one of my fondest memories is singing along with the choir and doing duets with Dylan.” Daniel started playing the guitar when he was 11 years-old and was heavily influenced by his older brother. “Dylan had learnt this amazing skill and I wanted to be able to sing and play like him,” Daniel said. Yet Daniel’s musical talents don’t stop at guitar; Daniel also plays bass and the ukulele and is a member of the DUHC choir as well as his school’s choir the ‘Crawford La Lucia Vocal Ensemble’, not forgetting to mention that he plays bass in the Jazz ensemble at Crawford. Like many musicians Daniel enjoys a wide-range of music, from Beethoven - which he loves to listen to for stress relief - all the way to Green Day. “I like the way Billie Joe Armstrong expresses emotions through the music and sings his mind without caring what others think of him,” Daniel said. He also finds picking up an instrument every now and then to play (being that of) a great release as well. Daniel admits that his mom, Helene Cohen is the most inspirational person to him and that it was his father’s - Alan, CD collection that influenced his music passion whilst growing up. “My Dad had a lot of CDs that he would play in the car. Some of my favourites were Jack Johnson and The Ultimate Eagles. These were all great influences for me,” Daniel said. To this day these musicians are amongst his favourite repertoire of artists. Daniel recently took part in the Ethekweni Eisteddfod and was elated when he received gold. Yet not every performance can go as smoothly as the latest competition and when mistakes occur he finds it best to not let it faze him and tries to perform through them so to ensure that he enjoys every moment of the performance. “When taking part in a prep school production for a song that I sang, the electric keyboard that was supposed to accompany me wasn’t working. I didn’t let that stop me from singing the song regardless of not having a backing. Mistakes often happen in performances, but it’s easy to make them almost unnoticeable,” Daniel recalled. He also believes that the best advice for beginners who are nervous is to (remember and) be confident in their ability and to remember that making a mistake is never the end of the world and
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that they must enjoy what they are doing. Every musician knows practice makes perfect and Daniel is no stranger to the time and effort that he puts into his music. “I’ll try to pick up an instrument and play as often as possible. This is usually once a day during the week and I will play for however long I have time for.” Daniel said. Although Daniel is required to compose music for school, which he thoroughly enjoys as he finds it a great way to experiment with music, he does not write his own lyrics. “I have great respect for those who have the skills and creativity to do so,” Daniel admitted.
POLITICAL
Police affidavit points towards Islamic terror in Durban
A
police affidavit in the KwaZulu-Natal mosque attack and multiple-bomb-threat case being heard in Verulam Magistrate’s Court (still in bail application stage) recently provided evidence of a link between the suspects and Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It confirmed the concern voiced recently by the Community Security Organisation (CSO) about the threat and presence of the militant ISIS in South Africa. In his affidavit, Warrant Officer Khwezi Chonco revealed that when he arrested businessman Farhad Hoomer, along with 18 other suspects, in Reservoir Hills in Durban on 5 October, he found “devices” that indicated Hoomer’s support and commitment to ISIS. Hoomer, whom Chonco identified as the leader of the group, was also in possession of a photo of himself wearing an ISIS beanie. He found ISIS propaganda material that incites violent jihad [holy war] and contains instructions on how to carry out home assassinations, manufacture parcel bombs, magnetic car bombs, and a doortrap bomb. According to Chanco’s affidavit, there were also ISIS newsletters and magazines, manuals for making a cellphone detonator, and bomb-making plans and recipes. The affidavit stated that Ahmed Haffejee, the brother of Goolam Haffejee who was released on R100 000 bail, belonged to the same WhatsApp group as Sayfudeen Aslam Del Vecchio and Fatima Patel’s accomplice, Jackson Mussa. The latter two were involved in the abduction, extortion, and murder of Rod and Rachel Saunders earlier this year. The WhatsApp group shared violent images of a beheading, and its name written in Arabic translates as Junjullah which means “Soldiers of G-d”. Junjullah is a Sunni Militant Organisation based in Iran which fights for Sunni rights and encourages the destruction of Shia mosques (the Imam Hussain Mosque in Verulam where the attack took place is a Shia mosque). Preliminary downloads from a device confiscated from Ahmed Haffejee indicate that, like Hoomer, he was also in possession of ISIS magazines and propaganda material. “I am confident that when the matter is set down for trial, considerably more evidence will be obtained. The fact that the charges all relate to furthering the terrorist objectives of ISIS would in my view be extremely serious aggravating circumstances justifying long-term direct imprisonment,” said Chonco. CSO Gauteng director Jevon Greenblatt said the mosque attack earlier this year and the recent spate of bomb scares in Durban were “acts of terrorism”, which is why this is being taken so seriously. Greenblatt believes that radicals are busy testing the South African system, experimenting and training for the next step in a terror campaign. “At best, these acts of terrorism are motivated by extortion as part of a bigger plan to fund the growth of Islam, for example, by buying guns and hosting training camps. At worst, it serves to create an environment of distrust, hatred, fear, and chaos, where radicals can thrive.” Greenblatt however cautioned against getting stuck on the ISIS label and said the focus should rather be on the type of acts being carried out to further the cause of Islam. He believes the aim of the incidents is two-fold. The first part is a financial jihad in which money is stolen and extorted to fund recruitment, training camps and the purchase of materials which are then leads to the second part which is violent jihad.
By Jacqueline Herbst Greenblatt said he was concerned about the South African Jewish community’s vulnerability to attacks from various groups, not only Islamic militants. He pointed to the surfacing of anti-Semitic comments on social media in the wake of the recent Pittsburg shooting, calling for attacks on the community. Regardless, Greenblatt assured the community that the CSO was watching the situation closely, and had taken every precaution to ensure their security. The CSO Durban stated in the November 8, 2018 DUHC newsletter that the community was under a high level of threat with the possible surfacing of ISIS in South Africa and appealed to congregation members to volunteer to serve on the Durban CSO. A concerned community member who wished to remain anonymous voiced her concern to Hashalom: “I just think what is happening in the world is scary. It is scary to me that they (ISIS) have found refuge here in South Africa where we never before had a radicalist Islam threat and now we cannot even go to a place of worship anymore for refuge.” South African Jewish Board of Deputies national chairman and director of the Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre, Mary Kluk said the emergence of radical Islamist sub-groups was a global problem and it would be surprising were it not to surface in South Africa too. “To date we have fortunately not be subjected to anything like the levels of terrorist violence that so many other countries have endured, including on the African continent, and we hope that the current court case will have the effect of nipping possible future attacks in the bud.” She however cautioned against making unqualified statements: “This is a developing case whose details have yet to be thrashed out and clarified in court. Until we know the full story, whatever comments we make, as members of the public whose sole information source is the media, must necessarily be qualified ones.” Taking a more sceptical stance, Jasmine Opperman, the head of the Africa desk at the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium, questioned the strength of the evidence linking the mosque-attack suspects to ISIS. “A concerning factor is that the Hawks and police are now stating that South Africa has crossed a threshold [of] violent attacks by organised international terror groups. But, where is the evidence? The Thulsie [Twins] case has already had the state stumbling in putting evidence on the table. What just does not make sense is that out of ten bomb scares over a short period of time, none exploded. If the house (at which they were arrested) was used as a ‘training camp’, surely one of the bombs would have exploded and killed people. Again, all pointers direct to intense business competition and extortion, a tactic never propagated by Islamic State.” Opperman said the presence of Islamic State loyalists on South African soil could not be denied, but looking at the kidnappers, the indications were that they fitted into a “wannabe” category rather than being actual members. She explained that the wannabe typically has missed out on a life in a caliphate or training camp in Yemen or Somalia and seeks instantaneous recognition, credentials and sometimes redemption. She reiterated, however, that just because a loyalist is untrained doesn’t mean he is not dangerous. At the time of going to print the suspects had already spent 46 days in custody as judgement on the suspects’ bail applications had not yet been made.
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HASHALOM 11
PAST TENSE
PAST TENSE
HASHOLOM - November 1943 - Extracts THE SECOND OF NOVEMBER Those who remember that the Balfour Declaration was contained in a letter dated 2nd November 1917 written by Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour, to Lord Rothschild, will realise that this Editorial contains a review of the Declaration’s significance and the British Government’s consistent failure to live up to its terms. The Editorial concludes: “We must unite as never before, and refuse to be satisfied until we can stand side by side with the other nations of the world as equal allies, and people with a country of our own.” S/SESGT. B. GOLDBERG RECALLS EXPERIENCES UP NORTH I was surprised to find that S/Sergt. (Which I’ve always understood to be an abbreviation for Staff Sergeant) B. Goldberg must have been a Chaplain to the Forces, because whoever heard of a long-serving Jewish Chaplain who was a non-commissioned officer? He was, we are told, one of the first to go “Up North”. One of the basic principles on which he based his religious services which he often expressed in his sermons: “Do not look upon me as your Rabbi, for the Rabbi prays for his congregation, and I do not pray for you; I pray with you, as a soldier among soldiers.” This was actually a very puzzling article, because notwithstanding the reference to sermons and religious services, it appears that S/ Sergt. Goldberg was attached to the Bakery Unit and he came to be called “Goldberg the Breadgibber”. The article is accompanied by a photograph of S/Sgt. Goldberg, shaking hands with Prof. E. E. Tamarat, a Falasha Jew, who was Secretary to Emperor Haile Salassi. In THE WARSAW GHETTO, NEAS gives a summary of the difficulties of living in the Warsaw Ghetto as described in “The New Order of Poland” by Simon Segal, published as one of its study courses by the Research Institute on Peace and Post-War Problems of the American Jewish Committee. I refrain from dealing with everything in the article. If my avid readers are really interested in the topic, I suggest they should study the subject by means of a visit to the Durban Holocaust Centre. IN TOWN AND OUT Congratulated • Rita Abelson and Lieut. Solly Horne, and Joy Wartski and Sidney Jacobs on their recent engagements. • Mr. and Mrs. J. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Max Moshal, and Mr. and Mrs. L Sacks on the recent birth of their sons. • Edgar S. Henochsberg K. C. on his promotion to Lieut.-Colonel. CANTEEN NOTES We are told that in November ONLY 8 225 men had been served, substantially lower than the last few months. That may have been a disappointment at the time, but it represents an average of approximately 270 men each day of October, a remarkable figure. If a 2018 reader of this column thinks that this must have been a very short HASHOLOM, that is because I have omitted everything
12 HASHALOM
December 2018/January 2019
By Pundit
contained in the Reports of the Executive and Council which were to be submitted to the A.G.M. of the Club on 14 December, 1943. Those reports occupied over 5 pages of the issue. HASHALOM – November 1968 – Extracts. This issue contains a REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND HOUSE COMMITTEE. The title seems to indicate that that is one committee, but the report itself shows that there are two. This Report occupies nearly twice the number of pages of the 1943 reports, so exercising considerable self-restraint I have not included here any detail from it. A MOTHER’S IMPRESSIONS AND REACTIONS. The mother was Vivienne Lazarow whose daughter announced, just after matriculating from Durban Girls’ High School, that she wanted to go to a Kibbutz Ulpan in Israel. Once the parents readily agreed, the daughter (who obviously believed in striking while the iron was hot) asked whether if she liked it in Israel and chose to study at the Hebrew University, her parents would agree. The article goes on to tell us of the daughter’s less than enthusiastic early days in Israel, her growing enthusiasm and the author’s experiences on visiting her daughter in Israel, meeting her friends, and spending “three joyous and heartwarming weeks in Israel, smiling incredulously and happily inside”. YURIKA MANN This well-known Israeli artist had recently visited Durban, where she held a most successful exhibition of her oil paintings at the Anglo-Person Gallery. The story is accompanied by a picture of the artist chatting with Walter Eyton, the Israeli Ambassador to France who opened her Paris Exhibition in October 1967. RUTH BERGER INTERPRETS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JEWISH MARRIAGE LAWS AND CUSTOMS. The article starts with the information that: “The Talmud tells us that there were three ways a man might acquire a wife. (1) By giving her an object of value. (2) By giving her a document. (3) By establishing sexual relations with her by mutual consent. This last method was always frowned upon as being the thin end of the wedge of moral deterioration, and in time became unacceptable.” I am a little surprised that the Rabbis of the Talmud did not consider any conduct on the part of the father of the bride as significant to the making of the marriage. My reading of Jewish literature over the years tells me that fathers often organised marriages, sometimes with the intervention of a Shadchan, often without consulting the proposed bride particularly when she was very young. The writer goes on to mention the significance of several elements of the wedding such as CHUPPAH, KETUBAH and SHEVA BRACHOT. But the one I really like is the interpretation of the word KIDDUSHIN (the marriage service) which means, literally, sanctification. So, going through the wedding service is not something mercenary, nor a mere contractual relationship, but something holy. It makes you think, doesn’t it?
BUBKES
BOXING CLEVER
Lauren Shapiro
We have a cupboard at the top of the stairs in which we store empty appliance boxes with the receipts painstakingly taped on, so that we can forget about them until after the warranty has expired and then throw them away. We also keep party decorations, bunting, wrapping paper, ribbons, and a stash of oops-I-totally-forgot-thatwas-today birthday gifts for girls, boys and grownups. But the most exciting items in the cupboard by far are the festival boxes. We have six of these boxes – one for every major religious festival in the Jewish year. Each box is bursting with fun and colourful paraphernalia related (at times somewhat tangentially) to the festival. Some of the contents the kids have brought home from school, some have been gifts, and some have been creatures of my own invention. Others I’ve ordered online on a whim (I may or may not have been under the influence of a glass of dry red at the time). They say a change is as good as a holiday. When it comes to Jewish holidays, sometimes a change enhances them too. The kids love the excitement of bringing down each box at the appointed time and rifling through its contents. It’s like rediscovering old friends. At the end of the chag they reluctantly pack away the accoutrements and start nagging me to open the next box. Here’s what’s in each of our festival boxes at the time of going to print: Yamim Noraim (Rosh Hashanah-Yom Kippur) • Novelty honey pots and spoons • A toy shofar (much quieter than the real thing) • Challah board and cover decorated with symbols of the season • Special card and board games reserved for Yom Kippur to keep the kids occupied for that last stretch of the fast when parental patience wears thin Sukkot (including Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah) • Sukkah decorations – including pretty much every piece of art wwand craft any of my kids ever brought home from pre-school • Fairy lights, cable ties and an extension cord • Empty cases from past years of Arba Minim (four sacred species). The kids go hunting in the garden for things that look similar to palm, myrtle and willow branches, and I give them each a lemon to round off their play set • Israeli flags big and small, paper, plastic and cloth • Plushy Torah toys for the kids to dance with on Simchat Torah Chanukah • Every clay, wood, plastic and recycled-objects chanukiah my kids have made over the years • Chanukah books (among them Hershel and the Hannukah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, which has become mandatory festive reading in my family. My mom still does the best goblin voices) • Dreidels. LOTS of dreidels. • Blue and silver tinsel to twirl down the bannister (stops the kids nagging for a tree) • A Chanukah playlist (this is technically stored on my husband’s phone but it also comes out once a year belting the Maccabeats, Shlock Rock and Michelle Citron at her schmaltzy best) • Dreidel-shaped biscuit cutters • Recipe for latkes, as well as doughnuts, chill bites, samoosas, falafel balls, spring rolls and tempura veggies (for variety) • A two-week detox and diet plan for after the chag
Purim • Numerous masks • A wide array of ra’ashanim (groggers or noise makers) for blotting out the sound of the wicked Haman’s name • Felt-and-rhinestone crowns for dressing up as Queen Esther, King Achashverosh, etc • Purim story and picture books • Purim finger puppets for acting out the story • Gift bags for mishloach manot (gifts of food for friends) Pesach • Various books and children’s Haggadot which we read up to and including seder night • The Prince of Egypt DVD • Seder plate play set my eldest was given as a baby. Only missing 2 items, but we’re hopeful they will turn up during bedikat chametz one of these years… • “Plague packs” containing symbols of the Ten Plagues • Q&A and discussion cards for the seder table • Matzah covers and afikoman bags • A box of imported kneidlach pre-mix labelled “Best before 20/06/2009” that I’ve never had the heart to use and never had the heart to throw away • 2 large swathes of blue fabric for reenacting the splitting of the Red Sea again and again and again (never gets old) • Count-down chart of the Omer (kind of like an advent calendar without the chocolate) Shavuot • Plastic flower garlands to wear for the bikkurim (first fruits) ceremony • Decorative strings of Stars of David made from ice lolly sticks, blue paint and glitter • A “Megillat Rut” (scroll of the story of Ruth), illustrated by my middle son at age 4, wrapped around a dowel rod • Cheesecake recipe • Torah-shaped biscuit cutter (spotting a theme here? It’s amazing what you can find online) • Resources collected from several years of the Chief Rabbi’s Generation Sinai programme • Books about Shavuot, the Torah and Mount Sinai • We also pull the toy Torahs out of the Simchat Torah box What special accessories do you keep for chaggim? Some more ideas • Surf the Net for Yom Tov-themed books, games, puzzles and activity sets. (Seriously, pour a glass of red. It’s a rabbit hole.) • Laminate pictures from old Jewish calendars and put the pics of festivals in the relevant boxes for posters. • Get the kids to make banners, bunting and paper chains to tie into the festival theme, or your colour scheme. I hope I’ve gotten you thinking inside the box and inspired you to enhance your own festive experiences – until next time. Update: Crouching Tiger, FOUND Dragon!
My sincerest thanks to the many genuine communications of concern about my son’s missing dragon after last month’s column.cI am delighted to announce that Razorhookfang was found wedged behind the storage unit in the play room while my other son was searching for a missing marble. Both dragon and owner are delighted to be reunited, but my younger son has still lost his marbles.
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 13
NACHES NEWS
Biz Whizz Kid
Running a business while still at school? Cameron Wulfsohn shows us how it’s done By Lauren Shapiro ‘As a child I was always interested in home decor,’ confides Cameron Wulfsohn, 18. ‘Instead of playing video games, I would watch DIY and craft shows – people thought I was mad!’ By age ten he became very interested in furniture, particularly restoration. ‘I asked my mom if I could use late Bobbie Les’s old cabinet to give it a new lease on life. At first she was hesitant but after a lot of nagging she gave in. I got to work and boy, it was hard sanding that cabinet by hand! Today I have machines that do it in seconds. The end result was magnificent; my mother was completely blown away. After the cabinet, I went on to the coffee table, then the dining table… I think you can see where this is going!’ Cameron’s mother and sister suggested he start a side business. Within seconds of putting his first advertisement on Gumtree.co.za he had four replies. ‘My mom and sister telling everybody they know might also have given it the kick start it needed,’ Cameron chuckles.
Kids, are you listening? ‘If you want to achieve in life you have to make an effort,’ Cameron insists. ‘It’s important for young people to work while they study as it teaches discipline and dedication, but most importantly time management.’ Plus, starting a business at such a young age has given Cameron economic benefits like an extremely good credit rating. Cameron’s advice to other youngsters is to work hard and to start as early as possible. ‘Running a business is not for everybody, but kids today can get good part-time jobs if they make the effort to look for them. One of the biggest problems today is we don’t try hard enough.’
Now he means business
After matriculating from Akiva College this December, Cameron will be furthering his studies at Varsity College with the goal of becoming a Chartered Accountant. He also plans to grow his business, with a focus on manufacturing and selling.
In October 2016 AJ Furniture and Restoration was born. ‘I wanted a unique name that had meaning, so I used the initials of my Hebrew names, Asher Jossef,’ he explains.
If your Bobba’s old table needs a facelift or for more information, contact Cameron on 076 402 7749 or ajfurnitureandrestoration@gmail.com.
The business focuses on restoration, giving customers the chance to reclaim pieces they would have discarded. Cameron thinks its popularity stems from saving both money and the environment by reusing items we already have. ‘It’s a win-win situation: good for your pocket and good for the planet.’
You can also find him on Facebook and Instagram: Facebook: aj.furniture.and.restoration Instagram: aj_furniture_restoration
When Cameron discovered Facebook buy-and-sell groups, he received so many orders that he had rent a bakkie to collect and deliver furniture all over Durban, Umhlanga, Ballito and Amanzimtoti (his sister drove as he was still too young for a driver’s license). ‘I have been very fortunate. One customer in particular has commissioned over 30 pieces of furniture and Baruch Hashem she still keeps bringing me work.’
BEFORE
AFTER
Overcoming challenges In early 2017, Cameron was battling to balance schoolwork, tests and deadlines both at school and in business. He hired Francisco Licoza through a classified ad in the Northglen news to assist with manual labour and basic work. Francisco is now employed full-time in Cameron’s workshop on his mother’s property in Durban north. ‘I go in and check progress with him every day, and phone him after school to see what supplies he needs,’ Cameron explains. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship: ‘I’ve taught him about painting and repairing, and he has taught me about electrics and operating an angle grinder.’ Cameron still manages admin, finances, filing, invoicing, quotes, procuring materials and supplies and customer queries, while Francisco is in charge of more of the hands-on work. The business specializes in painting, staining, varnishing, whitewashing and many other techniques, as well as upholstery, repairs, and manufacturing certain pieces.
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December 2018/January 2019
BEFORE
AFTER BEFORE
AFTER
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Cheryl Unterslak People from the whole of South Africa use their G-d given talents to be able to knit and crochet beautiful gifts for numerous children in Israel whose lives have been affected by acts of terrorism. In the photos you can see a few of the children who received gorgeous gifts from those that took the trouble to make something for the children to give them warmth and happiness. DIVOTE receives blankets for adults and babies, as well as beanies, baby booties and jerseys from people who are both Jewish and non-Jewish. Whenever the recipients of these gifts of love receive them in Israel, I am often told that they feel like they have a grandmother in South Africa who cares, or they are so touched that somebody took the time the make a gift just for them. These gifts are always appreciated and DIVOTE has just packed a large number of gift packets for the children in the South of Israel; every single packet for both boys and girls contains a beanie and a jersey for them to use in the coming winter. The DIVOTE team are also looking forward to delivering blankets to many of our poorer families who need blankets and winter warmth. I want to thank all of our knitters who give a lot of love and warmth to so many children in Israel.
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December 2018 /January 2019
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HASHALOM 15
16 HASHALOM
December 2018/January 2019
DURBAN
By Michelle Nathan
Wheels of Kindness Open Air School
to learners at d 8 wheelchairs te na WIZO do s ha O WIZ ay 23 October, ol. On Wednesd rmed fo ly w ne r Open Air Scho ou gether with to rs be ese em Th . m er e Executiv al handov up did the offici ro free G r O ei IZ th W ed or Juni rs invest young membe w ne . rs te ai na ch io el ss he pa ew to assemble th time and energy
Tyra Nacken, Megan Gering , Dani Nathan, Leora Plen, Dani Burne and Galia Meltz proudly han ded over the colourful wheel chairs to Enzo Shelembe, Mpilo Shange, Andile Mhlongo, Busi Radebe, Masande Shange, Jessica Ragadu - learners that hav e been identified as worthy recipie nts of these wheelchairs. We thoroughly enjoyed the interaction wit h the precious children and endorsed the simple wish to “empow er education through mo bility�.
This year, The Shabbos Project was held on 26/27 October 2018. WIZO once again stood proudly next to The Shabbos Project as a pillar of support for this historic initiative. The SpreadingLight Campaign, encourages Jewish women of all nationalities, ages and backgrounds to spread the light by embracing the magical mitzvah of candle lighting. As part of our SpreadingLight Campaign on Friday 26 October, WIZO Durban hosted the communal candle lighting at the Great Synagogue, Izinga Shul, Chabad & Temple David. SpreadingLight together we joined women around the world, lighting their Shabbat candles; giving tzedakah and saying as special prayer for Israel and the Jewish people around the world.
nesburg
in Johan
On Monday 15 October , The WIZO co-chairs a.k.a the Trio (Laureinne, Michelle & Colleen) attended an interesting and informative national enlarged council meeting in Beyachad, Johannesburg. Over an above our national WIZO business we were priviliged to hear Ambassador Lior Keinan (Israeli December 2018 /January 2019 HASHALOM 19 Ambassador) talk about provocative current affairs.
COMMUNITY NEWS
C H I VA
by Jacqueline Herbst
A CELEBRATION OF PARTNERSHIPS AND SUCCESSES What was initially envisioned as a five year programme has turned into an unprecedented success story, spanning fifteen years and counting. When Dr. Karyn Moshal founded the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) in KwaZulu Natal in 2004, AIDS was still mired in stigma and superstition and was not openly spoken about, especially in the Zulu community. Countless babies were being lost by mother-to-child transferred HIV/AIDS and the situation was dire. “The veil of silence had to be torn if we had any hope of arresting the course of the pandemic”, said HRH Prince Mangosutho Buthelezi speaking as the guest of honor at a celebration hosted by CHIVA on October 22 to celebrate not only 15 years of working in South Africa, but also the prince’s 90th birthday. Buthelezi neutralized the grip of secrecy when he spoke openly at his son’s funeral, admitting that he had died of AIDS. To hear a Zulu man, a traditional leader and politician speak like this was a shock to the people but it opened a necessary conversation. Dr. Moshal said thanks to the work of CHIVA, today people are receiving treatment, few babies are being born with HIV, children with HIV are surviving and becoming adolescents, wards are emptying and out-patient clinics are filling up with healthy children. “Today we see youths coming to the clinic not just for medication but also to hang out.We are approaching the point of preventative work, not just treatment,” said Cato Manor Community Health Centre’s Mathombi Nzimande. Pinetown Clinic’s Happiness Gwavuma said the skills she learned from CHIVA taught her how to disclose young people’s HIV status to them which helps stop the spread of the disease. “In the past young people were not told they were taking medication for HIV/AIDS but for TB and other diseases; all this while remaining sexually active,” said Gwavuma.
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December 2018/January 2019
She said most of the bad things the youth did was because of a lack of knowledge. She added that support groups set up at the clinic particularly assisted where kids got wrong information from their friends and did not want to talk to their parents about sexuality. “Because of the support of CHIVA, more girls who were raped now stay in school, make better choices and attitudes are changing.” CHIVA was formed in 2004 through the benevolence of the Moshal family.This followed the establishment of the “Prince Nelisuzulu Benedict Gift Fund” by the Moshal Family Trust in memory of Buthelezi’s son who had bravely battled HIV/AIDS. When Buthelezi and his wife, Princess Irene, buried another of their children who had lost the fight with AIDS, his resolve was cemented. “I knew I would be a warrior in the cause for the rest of my life,” Prince Buthelezi said. Since then he wore the red ribbon on his lapel every single day so that people could see it and remember their fight. He said the fight had been bolstered by the presence of CHIVA in KZN and for that he was deeply grateful. A major turning point in the fight against HIV/AIDS in KZN and eventually South Africa came with the province wide roll-out of Nevirapine (effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission) to birth clinics, an initiative driven by then KZN Premier, Dr. Lional Mtshali. This eventually led to the Constitutional Court instructing national government to do the same. “Today that intervention underlies the greatest success story of saving new-born babies from a life that would otherwise be abbreviated and difficult,” he said. Over the years the fight against HIV has evolved and adapted, raising the need for new interventions. Dr. Moshal said while few babies are born with HIV, many young people born free of the disease are contracting it in adolescence which presented a new challenge that needs to be tackled.
COMMUNITY NEWS
by Jacqueline Herbst
New roadmap to bring sustainability and financial robustness SAJBD KZN Board president, Jeremy Droyman announced at the 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 16 an exciting new roadmap for the Durban Jewish community intended to create sustainability and financial robustness for the next 35 years. As the old saying goes, if you don’t try anything new, nothing new will happen and indeed, for our communal organisations to become self-funding and able to meet its own ongoing needs, a few changes will have to be implemented based on an accurate understanding of the community. “Implementing change is always going to be difficult, but what I find is that if organisations engage in dialogue and share their views in a structured environment, solutions can be found,” said Doryman. In order to understand the community, the SAJBD KZN Board has conducted a census, the results of which will be submitted to an actuary who is conducting modelling to determine the numbers of people who will be using our communal organisations, in order that these are correctly resourced and sustainable.
would give their full backing.
Over the past 87 years, community donors who believe in what the SAJBD KZN does and who want it to continue have been generously giving donations which are used to cover operating cost. However, the ideal situation would be for communal organisations to be self-funding with sufficient interest from capital to support its own ongoing needs. Droyman pointed out that should an organization not have sufficient capital and not be able to consolidate or restructure it is highly likely that they will eventually cease to exist.
Durban Jewish Club on track to contribute to coffers An announcement was made at the above mentioned AGM that the SAJBD KZN Board members will also act as the Board of the Durban Jewish Club, with Jeremy Droyman as president.
Droyman said with the decline in numbers of the community as a whole, one would intuitively imagine that fewer resources are needed. However, the census data tells a different story. It clearly indicates in the age group 60 years old and above, the community has more than 700 people who are living longer than in the past while bearing in mind Beth Shalom can only accommodate 100 people.
Already completed is a new kosher kitchen, upgraded CSO capability, lighting upgrades, new mobile bars and decorating various rooms. The community can also look forward to security improvements, wooden floor replacements, new garden venues and the releasing of some spaces to become new venues. Completion of these projects is expected in the next three to six months.
“Over the next 20 years we are not going to be shrinking our services, but it fact, needing to expand in order to maintain and improve our services. This will require more, and not less, capital,” explained Droyman. He highlighted that the greatest need in the Durban Jewish community lay in higher levels of social grants to support our most vulnerable and that reorganizing community operations and structures could millions of Rands per year which is a far more sustainable option than relying solely on more donations. He said that although community leaders’ concern about the impact of change was justifiable, he was sure if you were to ask any member of our tightly knit community if by accepting some change we could further extend the life of the community and continue to protect the most vulnerable, they
Having performed exceptionally well, the DJC is able to self-fund a number of renewal projects. With the number of renewal projects under way and more in the pipeline, the DJC is currently restoring its original grandeur of the DJC.
The road map for the DJC is to complete the renovations, significantly improving its operational performance and in the near future becoming a contributor to the community coffers. Droyman said they were also in the process of submitting plans to the eThekwini Municipality for more extensive renovations planned for 2019. After a total term of 30 years as the DJC President that started in 1988, John Moshal has been assigned a new role as Honorary Life President of the Club. His successor, Jeremy Droyman cautioned with a smile on his face that he would certainly not be breaking Moshal’s record.
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 21
COMMUNITY NEWS
Union of Jewish Women
The Shabbat Project 2018
“Stop doing and start being” was the theme of the 2018 Shabbat project. In order to do this one needed to CONNECT and the UJW JCF Challah Bake helped the ladies from our community do just that. The ladies were reminded that the Challah Bake is not really about the challah… it’s about Connecting as Jewish Women of Durban; Connecting with our Jewish Heritage by making challah together, an age old tradition passed down from generation to generation of Jewish women; Connecting with Hashem as we prayed for our families and our friends and for all who are ill and Connecting with The Shabbath… a day of rest, reflection and connections. The event began with an uplifting and memorable Shiur about Emunah (Faith) by Lana Meltzer from Johannesburg. Her advice of strengthening our faith by changing attitudes to everyday situations gave us all much food for thought. We were also so privileged to, once again, have Robyn Smookler lead our Challah Bake. Robyn brought an incredible energy, passion and depth to our Challah Bake, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the 150 ladies and girls present. We all reluctantly floated away after a really meaningful, magical and uplifting evening of Israeli dancing and beautiful singing by Leah Meltzer, Arielle Levitan as well as Galia and Yael Meltz. Kol Hakavod to the UJW Women of Action. Until next year……….
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December 2018/January 2019
COMMUNITY NEWS
Union of Jewish Women
A MAGICAL, MEMORABLE CHALLAH BAKE
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 23
COMMUNITY NEWS
ROCK IN THE RED ZONE
By Michelle Campbell
T
Rock in the Red Zone
Rocket in heart graffiti
he KNZC recently hosted the Durban premiere of the awardwinning documentary Rock in the Red Zone to a very appreciative audience. Directed and produced by Laura Bialis, Rock in the Red Zone is the story of the people of the small Israeli town of Sderot, located on the edge of the Gaza Strip.
In boisterous Moroccan celebrations, they welcome newcomers. In quiet family dinners, they voice their dreams. And in underground bomb shelters, they create music – a unique Sderot sound that has transformed Israeli music by infusing Middle Eastern influences into the popular music scene long dominated by Western resonances.
Laura Bialis grew up in California. She has a Bachelor’s degree in history and a Masters in Fine Arts in Cinema and Film Production. Bialis first heard about the Israeli town of Sderot from a friend who sent her a couple of articles in May 2007, when the city was under nearly constant rocket fire. She read about the thriving music scene, and popular Israeli bands like Teapacks, Knesiyat Hasechel and Sfatayim which had all started out in this desert town, giving Sderot the reputation of “ir hamusica,” the city of music.
Into this intense cauldron of art, sand and bloodshed came Bialis with her camera. Searching for a story about music, she encountered a creative community that captivated her, led her to love and changed the course of her life.
Sderot is a town of blue-collar workers and rock musicians – the children of refugees from North Africa and the Middle East. Despite being bombarded for years by missiles fired from the Gaza Strip and the feeling of being marginalized by Israeli society in general, the people of Sderot keep going.
Rock in the Red Zone demonstrates the power of artistic creation to transcend even the most challenging circumstances. It also reminds us that sometimes in the least expected places, we can find magic.
Appreciative audience at the show
Rocket fired into the town of Sderot
24 HASHALOM
December 2018/January 2019
Bird’s eye view of Sderot
Rock in the Red Zone
COMMUNITY NEWS
T
he learners of the Beit David Hebrew embraced the Shabbat Project as proudly Progressive Jews and created some very original and colourful care boxes. The Beit David congregants made a substantial donation of toiletries which went into the boxes and these will be given as special presents to Durban Jewish Social Services for distribution. Thanks to the generous congregants for their donations and to the children for the love and care they put in to the making of the boxesS
On Tuesday 30 October, Akiva College held their annual PTA fundraiser. This year the PTA organised the comedy show Marriage for Dummies, performed by husband and wife comedy team Aaron Mcllroy and Lisa Bobbert. Over 200 people attended this hysterical and very enlightening show. After the show, Lou Harvey bags that had been painted by the Akiva College students, were auctioned off. There were also spot prizes drawn. A huge Sh’keiach to Carryn Meltz and Tracey Friedman for all their hard work putting together this fantastic evening. Some of the money raised was used to buy new toys for the school.
Lou Harvey bags auctioned
Athene and Craig Saul, winner of a spot prize, with Lisa Bobbert
Toys bought by the PTA
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 25
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Gilad Friedman
The Shabbat Project –“Stop doing, start being”- took place on 26 and 27 October. The UJC had a record crowd attend and an exciting programme. Pre Shabbat programme; welcome drinks and communal candle lighting with WIZO and a ladies shiur with Tracey Friedman. The shul service was exceptionally powerful with the sermon dedicated to the idea of Shabbat. A special Friday night Kiddush Lechaim was followed by a dine-around; each member of the shul was invited out to various houses hosting dinner. Shabbat morning began with pre shul coffee and confectionary. Then there was a wonderful shul service, which was followed by an exceptional Kiddush Bracha. The shiur of the day discussed Pikuach Nefesh on Shabbat saving a life and how to ‘break’ Shabbat or when one is obligated. A communal lunch continued with games and activities all day. Shabbat concluded with a unity Seuda Shlishit and a musical havdalah.
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December 2018/January 2019
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Sylvia Collins
A
few of Beth Shalom residents so enjoyed celebrating Sukkot with Shlomo Wainer and Mike Caminsky at Chabad on 27 September 2018. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Our residents also enjoyed this lovely festival at the Home and were delighted with the wonderful food. Our trained Nursing Staff have all completed their Basic Life support through St John Ambulance which is a wonderful achievement and achieved above 84% pass rate.
The 15th October was Global Hand Washing Day. The staff in all Departments participated enthusiastically and a Hand washing audit was done as well as hand washing skits and songs performed for the residents. Frail care were the over -all winners. Small gifts were handed to each participants. This was so enjoyed by residents, visitors and staff. We are now coming up to celebrate Chanukkah and we wish all the Community Chag Sameach.
We have now eight Representatives for Health and Safety and all completed their exams and all passed with flying colours. So Mazeltov to all the staff who have passed their exams.
Succot at Beth Shalom
Hand Washing Day for the staff at Beth Shalom
Global Hand Washing Day for the staff
The staff at Beth Shalom with delicious cake
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 27
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Cheryl Unterslak
A
ll of the younger Talmud Torah students participated in the Chief Rabbi’s Shabbos project by decorating brocha cards with the wooden cut outs that we sent along with them. The children learnt about the brachot; how to say them as well as when to say them. Each and every one of the children had a lot of fun learning about the brachot. In the photographs you can see some of the children busy with their brocha cards. All of the Talmud Torah students are also busy decorating shoe boxes which will be filled toiletries to give to Jewish Social Services for distribution. It’s always wonderful to see how keen and enthusiastic all the students are to participate in this mitzvah. At Talmud Torah we teach a lot of mitzvah maidel’s and mitzvah menschen and we are so incredibly proud of each and every one of them!
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December 2018/January 2019
On Sunday 21 October, the Young Israel Centre held their first Sunday Breakfast Shmooz. For the first Shmooz, we combined all age groups and had two main focusses. The first was to encourage everyone to take part in the Shabbat Project which took place the following week. The second focus was about Machaneh. Madrichim from each youth movement, Bnei Akiva, Habonim and Netzer, were on hand to answer questions and chill with those going to Machaneh at the end of the year. And of course there was a delicious breakfast served‌.WAFFLES!
Aylon Mizrachi
With over 20 youth attending, this was a highly successful first Breakfast Shmooz and we look forward to our next one. Shabbat Project took place the following week. The Young Israel Centre hosted a delicious Shabbat night meal with 25 people, many of whom were taking part in the Shabbat Project for the first time.
Netzer table
Michal Dogan and Sivana Stout enjoying their waffles
Eli Truyens and Asher Katzer with their waffles
Glenda Naicker www.djc.co.za
Bnei Akiva table
Habonim table
Full group pic
Daniel from Bnei Akiva, Adeno from Habonim and Eden from Netzer
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 29
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Michael Greenbaum
“The Shabbos Project 6”
W
at the Silverton Road Synagogue
ith great anticipation and excitement, the Durban Jewish community and the Durban United Hebrew Congregation eagerly participated in the sixth “Shabbos Project: Keeping it Together”, an initiative started by Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein in 2013 to encourage the South African Jewish community to fully observe the laws and practices of one Shabbat. Over the past 5 years, the Shabbat Project has seen the support of congregations, families and individuals with huge numbers attending shuls, exceeding all expectations. Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein has always expressed his amazement at the support for the project based on hundreds of reports from South African Jews at all levels of religious observance. He said that the energy of “The Shabbos Project” is felt, not just on a communal scale across the country, but on a global scale. Including postings on Facebook, YouTube and emails from Australia, Canada, England and Israel. After the first Shabbos Project, international journalists and Jewish media wanted information about what happened in South Africa. Subsequently, the “Shabbos Project” concept has gone worldwide over the past 6 years with Jews all over the world “keeping it together” with citywide-Shabbat Challah Bakes, Shabbat programs and Havdallah Concerts after Shabbat. For many, this was the first time in their lives they had observed Shabbat in full. The international “Shabbos Project” took place this year on the Shabbat of 26 and 27 October 2018, in 1416 cities, in over 97 countries, bringing together over 1 million Jews worldwide. The Durban Jewish community was no exception and everyone spoke of how they would be observing Shabbat completely for the first time or, at least, improving their Shabbat observance. Throughout South Africa and the world, the project began on the Thursday prior to the Shabbat with countrywide and worldwide group challah-baking in Israel and Jewish communities throughout
ContactNovember us 30 HASHALOM 2018
the world. In Durban, over 200 ladies participated in the Challah Bake at the Umhlanga Jewish Centre under the auspices of the Union of Jewish Women. An uplifting and memorable Shiur on Emunah (Faith) was given by Lana Meltzer from Johannesburg. Shabbat events began on Friday night at the Silverton Road Synagogue with candle-lighting by WIZO members of the “Spreading the Light” Unity Candle. This was followed by the Shabbat evening service. After the service, a lavish and sumptuous Kiddush L’Chaim evening was enjoyed by all. On Shabbat day, the well-attended morning service was followed by a splendid brocha. Before the communal lunch, Rabbi Lebowitz gave an outstanding shiur on Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This was followed by an enjoyable and lively lunch with song and food, including the traditional Shabbat cholent. The DUHC thanks Selma Lurie, Evon and her team for catering the excellent lunch. On Shabbat afternoon before sunset, congregants gathered again at the Silverton Road Synagogue for Mincha and a lively and festive Seudah Shlishit with wonderful food and Shabbat songs in the Sacher Family Hall. After the Seudah and the conclusion of Shabbat, Maariv was followed by a beautiful “campfire” style Havdallah ceremony led by a Rabbi Lebowitz to mark the end of a wonderful Shabbat filled with community warmth and chaverschaft. The DUHC extends thanks to Chairman Maurice Sacher, Mark Werner and Bradley Vinik for sponsoring the Shabbos Project events and to the congregation for their participation in this wonderful initiative. We look forward to next year’s Shabbos Project.
E C H O T MMUN G N I H S I TY I W
HAPPY CHANUKAH Our trip to Israel...
...and memories made with those who stayed at home
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 31
COMMUNITY NEWS
Challah baking
Julie Levy reads to the children
Shabbat Project
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Erryn and Emma
December 2018/January 2019
Rachael helping with preschoolers
COMMUNITY NEWS
ON THE COVER For the final edition of the year, we thought we’d tantalise our readers’ taste buds with a few pictures of delicious Chanukkah food.
CSO Holiday tips We all look forward to that well deserved break at the end of the year. Whilst we all get into a holiday mode we tend to let our guard down and not keep security at the top of our priority list. Many of us travel and leave in a rush and with the rush leave ourselves potentially vulnerable when we have not made plans in advance. Here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe holiday season when travelling and return home to a home as you left it! 1. As tempting as it is to share your holiday with all your friends and family hold back on posting your location and photos on social media until you return from your travels. 2. Test your alarm system before going away to ensure all is in working order. 3. Try get a neighbour or if possible a house sitter to watch over your home whilst away. 4. Get a friend or neighbour to remove post that is visible from the street. 5. Cut back bushes and check your perimeter fences and doors to ensure that if you need to do any maintenance that you have sufficient time to do it before you leave. 6. Ensure that lights come on at night if possible on a time switch or manually if you have someone looking after your property.
SISTERHOOD W I S H I N G YOU A N D YOUR F A M I L Y
HAPPY CHANUKAH We look forward to meeting your individual legal requirements in the coming year. 7th Floor Permanent Building, 343 Anton Lembada Street (Bay Passage entrance) Durban, 4001 PO Box 442, Durban, 400, South Africa Tel +27 31 304 9881 email:info@mfp.co.za www.mfp.co.za Partners: SW Gerland, IG King, JM Murray, K Padayachee CJC Poole, MM Manne, LM Simons, EM van Huyssteen,
Sisterhood of Temple David had great pleasure in shopping for toys to be sent to Israel for traumatized children
EST 1902
Executive Consultant: L Moshal, Assodata EC Lord
EXPERIENC E EXC ELLENCE
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 33
COMMUNITY NEWS
Cooking with Judy and Linda
It’s Chanukah...
Crunchy Lokshen Pudding 250g Ribbon noodles, cooked 250g Cream cheese ½ Cup brown sugar ½ Cup sultanas or raisins (optional) 60g Soft butter
4 Eggs beaten 250ml Sour or thick cream 1¼ Cups milk 1 Teaspoon vanilla
Drain noodles. Place in a casserole dish with the sultanas / raisins. Combine all the other ingredients in a bowl, stirring until smooth and pour over noodles, mixing gently. Spoon topping onto pudding and bake 170degC for 1 hour. Topping: Combine all ingredients 100g Pecans or walnuts, chopped 1 Cup cornflakes, coarsely crushed ¼ Cup melted butter 1 Tablespoon brown sugar 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
Potato Latkes 6 Large potatoes, peeled and placed in water to avoid discolouring 1 Onion, peeled 2 Eggs beaten 2 Tablespoons flour 1 Teaspoon baking powder Oil for frying Grate the potatoes and onions. Squeeze all liquid out of potatoes using a kitchen towel. Once liquid is removed, place all the ingredients including the potatoes in a bowl and mix well. Drop batter into hot oil and fry until golden on both sides. Place latkes on greaseproof paper or kitchen towel to soak up excess oil Sprinkle with a little salt and serve.
Cinnamon Doughnuts 2 Cups flour 4 Tablespoons castor sugar 150ml Lukewarm milk 1 Egg
1 Packet dry yeast 1 Teaspoon salt 100ml Warm water 1 Tablespoon oil plus extra oil for frying
Topping: 175g castor sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons cinnamon Tip the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast, sugar and salt. Make a well in the centre and add the milk, water, egg and oil and mix. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise for 1 hour. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to about 1cm thick. Cut out circles with an 8cm round cutter and then cut holes from the centre, reserving to make balls. Place the rings and balls on an oiled baking tray – and leave to rise for another 45 minutes. Heat the oil in a pan to medium heat and carefully lower as many doughnuts as you can in a single layer. Cook for about 2-3 minutes then turn and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until golden. While the doughnuts are still hot, coat in cinnamon-sugar topping, shaking off any excess. Serve warm or at room temperature.
34 HASHALOM
December 2018/January 2019
e
WITH BEST WISHES TO OUR COMMUNITY
JAKAMaR
her
in ntil
s.
December 2018 /January 2019
HASHALOM 35
DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019
BIRTHS
Mazeltov to: Esther Gershanov on her 90th birthday. Meyerick and Irène Rubin on the birth of 2 grandsons, born to Daniel and Beth in New York and to Jonathan and Louise in London.
WEDDINGS
Mazeltov to: Frank Schneider on the wedding of his daughter Susan to Dror Danzon in Israel.
DEATHS Condolences to: The Maserow and Selikow families on the passing of Anne Wolff. We wish long life to the family of the late Charisse (Bernstein) Hollander.
Date Time
Event
Venue
2 Dec
6pm
Grand opening of Beit David (Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation)
2 Dec
6pm
Consecration of Beit David
DJC Lounge
9 Dec
7pm
Chanukah event
Chabad
19 Dec
Steakhouse night
Chabad
2 Jan
Steakhouse night
Chabad
24 Jan
DHGC event
29 Jan
DHGC event
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