Israeli, Palestinian ambassadors laud ME symposium in CT PAGE 3

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www.sajewishreport.co.za Friday,18 November 2011 / 21 Cheshvan,5772 Volume 15 Number 42
Israeli, Palestinian ambassadors
laud ME symposium in CT
PAGE 3
YITZHAK RABIN - Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated 17 years ago. It sent shockwaves through
the world, especially when it became known that the assassin was a Jewish Israeli. At a memorial
service last Thursday in Johannesburg, the guest speaker was former Israeli minister and member
HIS LEGACY LIVES ON
of the Knesset, Ophir Pines-Paz, seen here with Deputy Israeli Ambassador Yaakov Finkelstein.
SEE PAGES 4 & 8
(PHOTO: JEREMY FELDMAN)
Putting 3 Rs back FREUND: Sarkozy’s Machalniks’ saga Great Park’s FEATURE: Baby
in our schools / 5 open-mike gaff / 9 after 63 years / 4 new mikvah / 6 & Child / 10-11
YOUTH / 16 SPORT / 20 LETTERS / 14 CROSSWORD & BRIDGE / 18 COMMUNITY BUZZ / 6 WHAT’S ON / 18
2 SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 November2011
SSHHAABBBBAATT TTIIMMEESS PARSHA OF THE WEEK
UJW’s co-
conveners,
November 18/ 21 Cheshvan
Bev Cohen
November 19/22 Cheshvan Sharing our goodness
and Elaine
Katz, con-
Chayei Sarah and blessings
gratulate
18:15 19:11 Johannesburg
the lucky
18:03 20:08 Cape Town
zaida, Ray
18:14 19:08 Durban
PARSHAT CHAYEI Meyers.
18:20 19:25 Bloemfontein
(PHOTO-
18:00 19:40 Port Elizabeth SARAH GRAPH BY
18:15 19:28 East London JOFFIE
Rabbi Yoni Lipschitz BERKOWITZ)
Mizrachi Shul
Ecstatic Ray Meyers
TEXAS GOVERNOR Rick Perry, in the Saturday
Published by night debate on CBS, explained his radical new
S A Jewish Report (Pty) Ltd,
approach to American foreign aid, proposing that
PO Box 84650, Greenside, 2034
Tel: [phone] all aid be reduced “to zero” and then re-implement- off to his kin in Texas
Fax: [phone] ed only once the country made a good case for their
Printed by Caxton Ltd aid.
EDITOR -Geoff Sifrin In this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah,
[email protected] Avraham sends his trusted and learned servant
Eliezer to look for a wife for his beloved son Yitzhak. ROBYN SASSEN phe by way of support for the scheduled
COMMERCIAL MANAGER
Eliezer sets out on his journey to find a wife for three-month-long trip: a new set of luggage,
Sue Morris
[email protected] Yitzhak and stops at a well where young eligible THIS YEAR’S celebration of the Union of the flight tickets and assistance with getting
girls come to draw water. Jewish Women’s 80th anniversary, hosted a visas, wheelchair assistance at the airport,
Sub-Editor -Paul Maree
Eliezer sets up a test for possible suitors: “I will very special announcement: the winner of and lots of goodies thrown in.”
Ed Co-ordinator -Sharon Akum
ask for some water, the young girl who says drink the annual Bobba and Zaida of the Year Said Woolf: “We simply fell in love with
[email protected]
and I will give your camels (some), this will be the competition, which went to an overwhelmed Ray, but the process is sensitive and a lot of
Sports Editor - Jack Milner
wife for Yitzhak.” and completely delighted Ray Meyers (84), a people get very disappointed if they do not
[email protected]
Rashi explains that this was not just any test. resident of Sandringham Gardens, who will win. We assess the winning grandparent on
Books Editor -Gwen Podbrey
Eliezer was testing for the character trait, of gemi- be at his grandson’s graduation in Houston age, stage and finances, but ultimately it is a
Arts Editor -Robyn Sassen
lut chesed, acts of loving-kindness. on December 16. committee decision.”
[email protected]
When looking very carefully at this test, we will “The fact remains,” said co-convener of After recovering from the happy shock,
Youth Editor -Alison Goldberg
notice that there are actually two tests and not one. the UJW, Elaine Katz, “in the face of emi- Meyers bubbled: “I knew it was me, because
[email protected]
The first part of the test was to give Eliezer a little gration, many are left behind. The Bobba they put me in the front row, but when they
Cape Town correspondent
water to drink and the second part to give water to and Zaida programme each year has hun- called my name and I had to climb those
Moira Schneider: 021-794-4206
the camels. dreds of applicants who are desperately stairs to get on stage, my knees buckled a
Pretoria correspondent
The Maharal explains that the ultimate chesed is keen to visit their children, their grandchil- bit. I have a granddaughter who is an editor
Diane Wolfson: 082-707-9471
sharing of goodness without having anything lack- dren, their great-grandchildren. for Fox News in Monterrey Bay,” he
Advertising - [phone]
ing. It is giving without any strings attached, giving “With the able assistance of Ingrid Woolf explained. “My grandson is graduating
[email protected]
without the expectation of reciprocation. the social worker associated with Kosher from college in graphic art, at Houston
Britt Landsman: 082-292-9520
True chesed is giving without wanting or expect- Mobile Meals, under the UJW’s auspices, University.”
[email protected]
ing anything in return. This is what Eliezer was the process is conducted on a very serious The reality is that, with two children in
Manuela Bernstein: 082-951-3838
looking for in a wife for Avraham’s son Yitzhak. and professional basis. different continents, it is incumbent on the
[email protected]
When Rivkah offered water to Eliezer she was not “Each applicant is interviewed very care- winner to choose which child to visit.
Freelance Advertising Executives
doing chesed, she was merely responding to fully.” Each winner gets the whole catastro- Meyers also has a daughter in New Zealand.
Marlene Bilewitz: 083-475-0288
[email protected] Eliezer’s request for some water. When Rivkah
offered to give his 10 thirsty camels some water, Mbalula denies disparaging
Adi Lew: 083-407-8034
[email protected] which was not a simple task; she did so on her own
Classified Sales accord.
Charissa Newman She offered, because she wanted to share her remarks about Jews
[email protected] water, her goodness with others and did not expect
Manager: Distribution any reciprocation. This is chesed in its purest form.
Britt Landsman This is the chesed of Avraham’s household.
Design and layout When a country gives foreign aid, the government Minister of Sport and Recreation
Frankie Matthysen ofthe day acts only in the interest ofthe country or Fikile Mbalula, has met SA Jewish
Nicole Cook because ofpublic opinion. Countries do not offer aid Board of Deputies President Zev
Website because they want to share their resources with Krengel and Executive Director
www.sajewishreport.co.za another country. Foreign aid is purely to position Wendy Kahn, to discuss recent report-
Ilan Ossendryver the country; it is all about politics. It’s about what ed comments about power relations
IC-Creations
[email protected] the country can get out ofgiving. This giving is sore- and control in the code of cricket.
ly lacking, it is giving in order to receive. The Board said in a media release
Subscription enquiries
Avusa Publishing (Pty) Ltd Our rabbis teach us that the ultimate chesed is that at the centre of the discussion
Tel: [phone] doing chesed for someone who is unable to repay, were the reported comments on
for example, when we do chesed for someone who is Jewish and Indian people, by the min-
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Howard Feldman (Chairman), Issie Kirsh mentally handicapped or for someone who has ister, at a recent media briefing. The
(Deputy Chairman), Stan Kaplan, passed away. This is the ultimate chesed because president of the Board expressed the
Marlene Bethlehem, Norman Lowenthal, reciprocation is not possible. concerns of the SA Jewish communi-
SA Jewish Board of Deputies President Zev
Bertie Lubner, Benjy Porter, The Torah is teaching us to emulate Hashem, to ty regarding these comments.
Herby Rosenberg, Howard do chesed for others not because we want something The Minister reassured the South Krengel and Executive Director Wendy Kahn,
Sackstein, Jason Valkin, Elton
Bondi, Michael Sieff, Steven (cid:4)) back in return but to do chesed for others just African Jewish community that these Flank Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile
Krawitz and Denese Bloch. because we want to share our goodness and bless- remarks were incorrectly communi- Mbalula (PHOTO: SUPPLIED)
ings from Hashem with others. This is the ultimate cated and that they were not a reflec-
Advertisements and editorial copy from chesed and the chesed which has the power to tion of his beliefs and his intention. He acknowledged the role the Jewish com-
outside sources do not neccessarily reflect change the world. He reiterated his commitment to the values munity played in the Struggle in South Africa
the views of the editors and staff. of non-racialism and tolerance. and the contribution towards SA cricket.
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18 - 25 November2011 SA JEWISH REPORT 3
ME conflict under loop at Parliamentary
resentation of both parties
“from the very outset.
That’s why we’ve had two
portfolio committee meeting follow-up engagements on
this issue.
“Initially we did not
have the Israeli embassy.
MOIRA SCHNEIDER We decided it was impor-
Zackie Achmat
CAPE TOWN tant for them and for oth- Israeli
(Open Shuhada
ers who perhaps shared Ambassador
Street); Mary Kluk
A SYMPOSIUM on the Middle East conflict, the same perspective, to Dov Segev-
hosted by the parliamentary portfolio com- (chairman SAJBD); breathe on the matter.” Steinberg.
mittee on International Relations and Co- and David Jacobson In the light of this, how
operation, on Wednesday at the Cape Town (executive director would he explain the deci-
Lodge, heard a host ofdiverse views, without SAJBD Cape sion to have Jeenah - who
pronouncing on the matter, at the conclusion holds definite views on the
Council), listen to
of the meeting. matter - as the keynote
presentations at the
This forum for debate had been welcomed by speaker? “In South Africa,
symposium on the
both the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors. is it possible to find some-
The symposium’s purpose was to enable the Middle East conflict body who doesn’t have
committee to formulate a response to the con- in Cape Town on strong views on this par-
tinuing conflict and to make a re- Wednesday. (PHOTO: ticular matter?” Magama Palestinian
commendation to Parliament as to what action MOIRA SCHNEIDER) responded. Ambassador
to take in this regard, according to Hargreaves “His role is really to lay Ali Halimeh.
Magama, chairman ofthe committee. such an event to contribute towards a peace- On the contrary, Halimeh said, it would the basis for further
This is the third such engagement facilitat- ful resolution of the conflict. “This is what “help to pursue these negotiations, because engagement by both
ed by the committee on the subject, following we need - to continue to dialogue and discuss we know (that) without negotiations, it’s (sides). He’s not going to
the Palestinian application for full member- our issues. going to be difficult to resolve our problems”. communicate a country’s
ship of the United Nations. “It is the best way of resolving our prob- Approaching the United Nations was a position, nor Parliament’s
Participating were Mary Kluk, chairman of lems,” he told Jewish Report. The fact that means of gaining “more international view.
the South African Jewish Board of Deputies Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud recognition”, he stated. “It is not to delegit- “It’s purely on the basis
(SAJBD); Chris Eden, chairman of Bridges Abbas had applied for membership of the imise the State of Israel or to isolate it.” of his qualifications - he’s
for Peace; Dave Wilken, chairman of the United Nations, did not mean that he had Magama told Jewish Report that the com- a well-known scholar on
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem dropped the idea ofnegotiations with Israel. mittee had endeavoured to ensure a fair rep- the Middle East,” he said. Na’eem Jeenah.
(ICEJ); Ben Levitas, chairman of the South
African Zionist Federation (SAZF) (Cape
Council); Zackie Achmat of Open Shuhada
Street; and representatives of the Egyptian
community of South Africa, the Palestine
Solidarity Committee of South Africa and
Cosatu.
The Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors,
as well as Johann Marx, chief director,
Middle East, in the department of
International Relations and Co-operation,
stated their official positions. Marx said the
South African government “strongly sup-
ports” the Palestinian request for interna-
tional recognition as a state and for full mem-
bership of the United Nations.
“I call on the people and the government of
Israel not to see it as a threat but as a way of
leveling the playing fields,” he said.
The keynote address was delivered by
Na’eem Jeenah, researcher at the Afro-
Middle East Centre. Israeli Ambassador Dov
Segev-Steinberg was positive about the con-
cept of such an event. “Any forum where we
can discuss the political situation in the
Middle East, where we can speak to the
Palestinians, is a good forum.
“This is what Israel is always aiming for –
having direct discussions with our neigh-
bours, the Palestinians. We’ll give our views,
they’ll give their views and this is the way.
“They should listen to us, while we are lis-
tening to them and hopefully they will return
to the negotiation table as quickly as possible.
Unilateral behaviours contradict all agree-
ments that have been signed before with
them,” he said.
Segev-Steinberg added that it was “very
important” that Israel’s friends such as the
Christian Zionist organisations, the SAJBD,
the SAZF and others, were showing their sup-
port for the country at the forum and bring-
ing its cause to public attention.
Palestinian Ambassador Ali Halimeh was
equally hopeful regarding the potential of
4 SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 November2011
Sixty three years on: The
George
Jamieson; Ellie
Machalniks remember...
Isserow (IAF,
mechanical
artisan, radar
unit); Dave
ROBYN SASSEN
Lozowsky and
RECENTLY, the hour-long film documenting Sid “Chick”
the 804 South African volunteers who went Green. (PHOTO:
to fight for Israel’s life in 1948, debuted. ILAN
Spearheaded by co-producer Sharit Krengel, OSSENDRYVER)
and created with the support of the SA
Zionist Federation, the film was made by Hoff, this project has been several years in how they constructed a radar control with
Pulp Films, directed by Etienne Naude and is the making. The producers were poignantly improvised manual equipment, using bicy-
available on DVD through the SAZF. cognisant of the fact that every year that cle pedals and a lawnmower engine.
The audience reflected three generations - passed was another in which essential The film explains how the Israel Defence
the original Machalniks, no longer the strap- Machalnik voices were lost forever. Forces initially constituted the Palmach,
ping young idealistic men they were 63 years Sharit Krengel added: “Our purpose has Irgun and Lehi, diverse ideological posi-
ago, but still filled with the fire of commit- been two-fold: to pay tribute to the 804 who tions; it celebrates the seven South Africans
ment in remembering the roles they played gave of themselves so that Israel is part of killed in 1948.
in Israel’s fight for survival, back then - sup- the cultural inheritance of my generation, “Each journey was long, dangerous and
ported by their children and grandchildren. and for posterity. The Machalniks were secret,” one interviewee adds. “It was sheer
Introducing the event, chairman of the ordinary people who did extraordinary bloody hell,” Isserow pulls no punches. “We
SAZF Avrom Krengel commended the pro- things.” changed from boys into men in hours,” adds
ject’s value. “This was probably the greatest The film is constructed to give an account of Mendel Cohen. “It was like a wild west com-
moment of South African Jewry,” he said, the choices the volunteers faced when they edy,” another Machalnik adds. “We were
commenting on the fact that per capita, rallied to the cause. Using interviews with Sir idiots!” says Hymie Goldblatt. “I was too ter-
The erection of Israel’s first radar set at the South Africa’s 804, was highest in the world. Martin Gilbert, Prof Milton Shain and rified to be scared,” adds Mendel Cohen.
Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, made of Machal, an acronym for “Mitnadvei Chutz Machalniks, in the medics - there were 51 Concurs Michael Manor: “We took chances
L’Aretz” - “volunteers from abroad” - was South African doctors and 37 nurses - because we were young.”
completely improvised equipment, with
supported by 4 700 men and women, Jews infantry, navy and air force - it allows the men Many Machalniks made aliyah. “Ein
the South Africans who made it: Maurice
and non-Jews, from 56 countries. The out- and women themselves to explain what hap- brera” - no option - became the catchphrase.
Ostroff (second from left) and Ellie Isserow
come of this battle for the soul of Israel was pened between May 1948 and October 1949. “It was beyond a miracle,” adds Isserow. “It
(second from right). Photograph from the not predictable. “South African Jews didn’t have assimila- was like a second creation.”
collection of E Isserow. Co-produced by Sharit Krengel and Jason tory pressures,” Shain explains; volunteer • This film supported by the SAZF echoes
nurse, Ruth Stern adds how the need to do a project undertaken by them in 1969, when
something for Israel spread through South they commissioned journalist and Machal-
Africa “like wildfire”. nik Henry Katzew to document this history.
What could it have been, other than the “South Africa’s 800” was completed in 1977,
hot-blooded machismo that spurred these but relegated to archives in manuscript
young men to fight in this rag-tag army, with form. It was only in 1997 that Maurice
the odds steeply stacked against them and Ostroffpicked up a copy ofit at Telfed in Tel
Israel, beleaguered as she was by attacks Aviv and motivated for it to be self-published
from six enemies simultaneously? in a small edition.
Was it religious? Political? Did it have to do • There will be a screening of “804” at the
with duty? The thrill ofcombat? The willing- Rabbi Cyril Harris Community Centre in
Machal crew alongside the wreck of an enemy plane brought down by them, with
ness to share expertise? Was it just emotion- Oaklands on November 20, with guest
South Africans Reuben Narunsky (second from left) and Danny Rosin (second from al? Was it all of the above? speakers, producer Jason Hoff and director
right). Photograph by Israel AFC Industries; from the collection of S Levin. Ellie Isserow and Maurice Ostroffspeak of Etienne Naude [phone].
Remembering Rabin, a
man ahead of his time
DAVID SAKS in line with the realities ofthe day.
While remembered primarily as a
SEVENTEEN YEARS have military leader who later led his
passed since the Jewish world country into a new era of peace
was shocked by the assassination negotiations, his domestic policies
ofIsraeli Prime Minister Yitzhak likewise testified to his vision for a
Rabin (pictured), but despite the just, prosperous Israel.
passage of time, there was still a Much of what he had achieved
sizable presence at last was in closing the socio-economic
Thursday’s Yom Rabin memorial gaps between rich and poor,
function at Beyachad. including promoting the uplift-
Ifthe peace process he took the ment of the Arab-Israeli popula-
lead in initiating has become tion. Pines-Paz believed that had
moribund, Rabin’s vision of a peaceful Rabin been in office today, the social protests
future between Israelis and Palestinians liv- that convulsed Israel earlier this year would
ing side by side in their own states continues not have happened.
to resonate in Israeli society. In understanding that achieving two states
The keynote address was delivered by Ophir for two peoples was the only way to preserve
Pines-Paz, former Israeli minister and mem- Israel as a Jewish democracy living in peace
ber of the Knesset. Messages from the SA with its neighbours, Pines-Paz believed that
Zionist Federation and the State ofIsrael were Rabin was a man ahead of his time.
delivered by SAZF Vice-Chairman Reeva The proof of this, he said, was how one by
Forman and Israe’s Deputy Ambassador one, those who had once opposed him - the
Yaakov Finkelstein, respectively. current prime minister included - had come
The ceremony commenced with the to adopt this very platform. Through this, he
recitation of Yizkor, the lighting of a memo- said, the legacy of that remarkable man
rial candle by Nathanel Gozlan and Ross lived on, and would continue to light a path
Engers, followed by a rendition ofKel Maleh through the darkness in the ongoing quest
Rachamim by Jordan Moshe and the recita- for peace.
tion of kaddish by Rodney Richard. The proceedings concluded with the
Pines-Paz described Rabin as a leader of screening of a recorded message from for-
iron integrity, determination and courage, mer US President Bill Clinton, the singing of
one who always took personal responsibility Shir-La’Shalom by Rodney Richard, accom-
for what happened under his leadership no panied by pianist Evelyn Green, and
matter what the cost. Hatikvah.
He was also a fundamentally pragmatic
man who had the ability to adapt his policies • See editorial on page 6
AROUND BELARUS SYNAGOGUE VANDALISED AGAIN
BABRUYSK - A synagogue in eastern Belarus has been vandalised
THE
for the second time. The windows of the synagogue, in the city of
Babruysk, were smashed early Monday morning, Radio Free Europe
WORLD
reported.
On November 11, the day after commemorations around the world
NEWS IN
for Kristallnacht, a swastika and the words "Death to Jews" was
BRIEF painted on the synagogue's fence.
About 50 people, most ofthem elderly, belong to the synagogue, the
shul’s secretary, Maya Savatseyeva, told Radio Free Europe. (JTA)
18 - 25 November2011 SA JEWISH REPORT 5
Efforts underway to improve
Each teacher needed to know what the
level of achievement was of each of their
learners, what was expected, and princi-
pals needed to understand the problems in
the three Rs in SA schools classrooms. The core of the new strategy
was to ensure schools had appropriate
reading resources, which besides the read-
ers, included building classroom book col-
lections in schools, and from which chil-
ALISON GOLDBERG children through some 20 or more lar) word lists for children to learn, was dren could take home books to read to their
titles of those in the space of a especially important in learning English, parents.
CONSISTENTLYpoor literacy lev- term. There were no complete sets where many words were not phonetically The Gauteng Department of Education
els in primary schools in South of those readers in either English spelt, for example, “blue”. had employed 120 teacher coaches - to be
Africa, as measured by interna- or in any of the African languages Extended writing was being insufficient- increased to 360 - to work with teachers on
tional and national surveys, and in disadvantaged schools, Fleisch ly practised. While middle-class schools a one-on-one basis, and this had had an
despite increased expenditure and said. No publisher had produced put considerable emphasis on homework, enormous impact already.
innovative new policies over the such a set in any of the nine this was not the case in disadvantaged To provide homework and parent sup-
past decade, are being addressed African languages. schools. port, as part of the government’s extended
at last. The key problem is quality Also required was the need for Over the last 18 months, educationalists public works programme, 4 000 homework
of teaching in all 11 official lan- systematic phonic practice, of had realised that the problem of illiteracy assistants had been appointed in Gauteng
guages. which there were a variety ofmod- in South Africa had to be tackled on a num- to visit schools after 13:00 to listen to chil-
Brahm Fleisch (pictured), professor in els, such as Letterland, and where training ber of levels to move from existing practice dren read. The number of grade R classes
the Department of Education Policy at the was deficient. The use of Dolche (irregu- to a simple reading approach. would also be increased in the province.
Wits School of Education and adviser to
the Gauteng Primary Literacy Strategy
(GPLS), gave some cause for optimism last
week on the subject how to improve pri-
mary education. Gauteng is leading the
way, spending R200 to R250 million per
annum on these new measures.
Addressing the Union of Jewish Women,
in terms of the new Curriculum and
Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), one
major change he mentioned was that from
2012, English would begin to be taught
countrywide in many township and rural
schools as a first additional language from
grade 1, in parallel with African languages.
Fleisch, the author ofPrimary Education
in Crisis, says important findings have been
revealed by a number of studies.
The PIRLS Study (2008) of literacy levels
in 55 countries required the testing in
South Africa of 30 000 grade 4 and 5 pupils.
South Africa came last with a score of 302
compared to an average of 500. The
Russian Federation was the highest per-
former.
Where internationally 94 per cent ofchil-
dren reached the minimum level of litera-
cy, in South Africa for example, only 55 per
cent reached it in Afrikaans; 52 per cent in
English; eight per cent in isiZulu; and four
per cent in isiXhosa and Sepedi.
In another study, the SA Consortium for
Measurement of Educational Quality II
and III (SACMEQ), reading and maths tests
were conducted in 2000, 2007 and again in
2011. They showed compared with African
countries with lower GDPs, such as
Tanzania and Kenya, South Africa also
underperforms.
“The score has not changed substantial-
ly between 2000 and 2007 when there was
increased expenditure on education and
the introduction of innovative new poli-
cies,” Fleisch said.
Within South Africa, SACMEQ III in 2007
showed great disparities within the coun-
try itself, such as between Limpopo, which
underperformed the Western Cape. The
test, for grade 6 Limpopo learners, showed
they were struggling to make sense of the
most elementary reading in English.
The application of systematic teaching
methods to disadvantaged schools, points
to the future. South Africa’s illiteracy and
maths problems, according to the coun-
try’s own Annual National Assessment
(ANA) ofthese capacities in grades 1, “con-
firmed everything we knew”. In grade 6 for
instance, as much as 70 per cent oflearners
“are not achieving” required language
standards; in grade 3, the figure is 53 per
cent.
Chief among the reasons is not only
insufficient numbers of skilled teachers,
particularly in the foundation phase (grade
1-3), but the vast majority of teachers are
women over 40, trained in a period when
there was a weak syllabus in the homeland
training colleges, and who acquired their
own reading skills through a collective
reading practice.
Research, Fleisch said, showed that the
main experience of learners in disadvan-
taged schools, which included Department
of Education and Training (DET) and
homeland schools, was via collective read-
ing aloud instruction.
By contrast, learners in middle-class
schools, which included former white,
Indian and Coloured schools, received sys-
tematic reading instruction, which focused
on the development offluency and compre-
hension.
The difference was: middle-class schools
used graded or levelled readers, such as the
Ginn and “Mark and Kath” series, taking
6 SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 November2011
SOCIAL SCENE
COMMUNITY BUZZ
Child prodigy Bortnick LIONEL SLIER
Bortnick has had numerous appearances
on the Jay Leno Show, Oprah Winfrey, 082-444-9832, fax: [phone],
Martha Stewart, Good Morning America [email protected]
and other shows. With stage presence
wows SA audiences
aplenty, he showcased his wide repertoire
of jazz, top-ten chart stoppers, the classics BRANDFORT
and his own compositions - 10 of which will
feature in a film he has just made - as well From Betty Levin:
ALISON GOLDBERG the SA Gold Coin Exchange). He is still to as his amazing ability to make people laugh.
PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER appear in a matinee charity performance Bortnick has a desire to help other chil- “I would like to add my account of the 17
this Sunday at the Lyric, where 300 disad- dren. By performing, inspiring and educat- years that I lived in Brandfort.
CHILD MUSICALprodigy and celebrity, 10- vantaged children will be admitted free. ing, he has helped raise $30million for char- “I was married to Maurice Levin who ran
year-old Ethan Bortnick from Florida, USA, Tickets are available at Computicket. ities around the world. the business, M Levin and Co, together with
pictured here with Chabad Miracle Drive’s Maurice’s brother, Alec, and Abraham
Rabbi Dovid Masinter at a special Miracle Schlome.
Drive performance on Tuesday evening at “Alec and Lily Levin had two sons, Selwyn
the Yamaha Theatre in Sandton, wowed and Michael. Morris and Betty Levin had a
South African audiences both here and at son, Neville and a daughter, Jennifer.
the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in Abraham and Nellie Schlome had two chil-
Johannesburg this past week. dren, Laura and Mark.
Rabbi Masinter, who drove Bortnick’s “M Levin & Co were general dealers and it
visit to South Africa, identified this extraor- was known as ‘The White Shop’. The shop
dinary young pianist, singer and composer, was situated in Voortrekker Street. Across
to inspire parents to identify their chil- the road was the ‘African’ trade shop also
dren’s G-d given talents and share them known as M Levin & Co.
with the world. “Next to the ‘African’ trade shop was a jew-
This is part of Chabad’s four-year-old, ellery business and gift shop known as Alma
non-denominational programme: Grow Jewellers, owned by the same company.
Your Life, also designed to encourage par- “The local bookshop belonged to Mr
ents to spend more with their children. Wilhelmus Verwoerd, the father of Dr
Bortnick’s visit to South Africa was spon- Hendrik Verwoerd who was prime minister
sored by musical instrument manufacturer, of South Africa from 1958 to 1966, when he
Yamaha, and supported by Scoinshop (of was assassinated.
“Wilhelmus Verwoerd who was a
Hollander with a broad Dutch accent, was a
Great Park mikvah welcome
very colourful character. He always wore a
“AS WE approach the centennial year of
bowtie, a smoking jacket and was never with-
our Great Park community, and just after
out his cigar.
celebrating the 11th anniversary of the
addition to shul amenities
“At a Chamber ofCommerce dinner at the
opening of our magnificent new campus,
Commercial Hotel, run by Mr and Mrs
our new mikvah is finally coming to
Kessel, I was seated next to Mr Verwoerd and
fruition,” Rabbi Dovid Hazdan of the Great
I observed that he enjoyed the pickled and
Park Shul said in a media release.
chopped herring.
“Building began just before Rosh
“He whispered to me: ‘Some people are not
Hashanah and the mikvah will hopefully be
eating these delicacies, do you think I could
operational after Pesach.”
have theirs?’ After this I regularly made a
He said the mikvah had been motivated by
point of sending him pickled and chopped
a growing group of young dynamic women
herring for which he was most appreciative.
“who are passionate about this new addition
We became firm friends.
to the Great Park campus”.
“Another interesting character was the
He says the mikvah will have the feel of a
state-president of South Africa, Mr C R
modern spa “and will encourage and inspire
Swart, who presided from 1961 until 1967. He
many more women from the Great Park
owned a farm just outside Brandfort and the
community and beyond, to embrace the
name of the farm was ‘De Aap, die plaas van
experience of the mikvah in an environ-
C R Swart’.
ment that will meet exceptional standards
“We got to know him very well, as he dealt
of aesthetic beauty and comfort.
with us and he would regularly bring in his
“It will also be the only mikvah in the
farm workers. He had a good sense of
broader Oaklands area (of Johannesburg)
humour and one day I said to him: ‘You
that will be in walking distance on Shabbat
should have been an actor,’ to which he
or Yomtov.”
replied: ‘I was an actor and went to
Rabbi Meyer Posen, a world authority on
Hollywood and appeared in two films.’”
mikvaot, is ensuring that the mikvah will
To be continued.
conform to the highest halachic standards
Rabbi Shmuel Simpson; Rabbi Dovid Bedil; Rabbi Sholom Ber Groner; Rabbi Siggy
and specifications. He is working closely
Suchard; Rabbi Meyer Posen; Rabbi Dovid Hazdan; Julian Michaels (architect); with Rabbi Suchard and Rabbi Klein of the • Indeed, C R Swart did appear in silent
Tyrone Zinman (mikvah project director); and Ian Clasen (builder). Johannesburg Beth Din. films in Hollywood.
JOHANNESBURG
Sad farewell to GM
There is a proposal to rename Savoy Park in
the north-eastern suburb of Savoy Estate,
Ingrid Olmesdahl Johannesburg, after the Weinberg family.
The family had a long history in the
“Struggle” to free South Africa from the
shackles of apartheid.
CELESTE EVERITT
For Eli, Violet and daughter, Sheila,
PHOTOGRAPH SUPPLIED
involvement in the Struggle cost them a lot in
terms ofpersonal freedom and police harass-
INGRID OLMESDAHL, general manager at Sandringham
ment. Eli was a professional photographer
Gardens, retired from the Home at the end of October, after
and also an active member ofthe Communist
more than 10 years at the helm.
Party and ofthe trade union movement from
To show their appreciation Sandringham Gardens’ residents
1933 - 1953.
held a surprise farewell tribute tea for Ingrid. International
The Communist Party was one of the
businesswoman Reeva Forman, gave an inspiring motivational
many organisations listed in terms of the
speech and resident Fred Miller, made a beautiful painting for
Sandringham Gardens GM Ingrid Olmesdahl, Chairman Simon Ingrid which was presented to her on behalf of the residents by Suppression of Communism Act (1952). In
1964 Eli was arrested with Bram Fischer and
Chilchik and guest speaker, Reeva Forman. Simon Chilchik, chairman of the resident’s committee.
sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
During the 1976 riots he sought refuge in
ORT SA affords learners Tanzania where he died in July 1981.
As a young girl, Sheila was involved in the
opportunities with top SA firms Struggle as both her parents spent time in
detention. She was a member of the
Johannesburg Democratic Action Commit-
tee, the Black Sash and the Five Freedom
ORT SA is educating learners, main- out Gauteng. The response in their
Forum and was also a member ofthe provin-
ly from the townships on its award stores has been very positive.
cial legislature from 1994 - 2004 in the
winning programme “Geared for A learner who fulfils the quality
new South Africa. She died the same year,
Life”. ORT SA said in a media requirements of Mr Price training,
aged 59.
release that seta requirements could potentially have the opportu-
The Weinbergs had earlier suffered a
entailed the learner to work shadow nity of earning in excess of R2 000
tragedy when their young son died as a result
players in the industry as part of per month during the festive season.
of an illness.
their work readiness programme. These learners have excelled in
Mr Price Clothes Store, is an active participant in the
The Weinbergs lived in High Street,
Mr Price, in their introductory their theoretical study and have now
ORT SA “Geared for Life”programme. Some of the par- Orchards which, it was jokingly said, was the
programme called “The Red Cap been given an opportunity in the
ticipants are: Koketso Chidi; Dineo Hlongwane; Mr Price area where many of the white Struggle com-
Foundation”, embraced this oppor- working world to make a real contri-
tunity to take on 70 of the 360 ORT bution and gain on-the-job experi- Store manager, Shaun Moatsh; Queen Ramatanama; rades and many leftists lived.
SA learners in their stores through- ence. and Kethiwa Shabangu.
18 - 25 November2011 SA JEWISH REPORT 7
8 SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 November2011
OPINION AND ANALYSIS
FORUM FOR DIVERSE VIEWS
Shalom, chaver
SOME HISTORICAL events are so dramatic
that people forever remember exactly where
and when they heard the news, and what
they were doing. Such was the assassination
of US President Jack Kennedy in Dallas,
Texas in 1963. Or the terrorist bombing of
the World Trade Centre in New York on
September 11, 2001. Or in South Africa, the
moment Nelson Mandela was released from
27 years in jail and walked out holding the
hand of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
For Jews, such an event was the assassina-
tion of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
R
17 years ago on November 4, 1995, which was E
V
commemorated at a ceremony last Thursday Y
at Beyachad in Johannesburg. R
D
The narrative goes something like this – N
E
adapted for different times and places: “I S
was driving down Seventh Avenue on my OS
way to a restaurant just before Fourth Street N
and stopped at a red traffic light, when A
L
SABC news carried the first item as: ‘Israeli O: I
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin has been T
gunned down after a peace rally in Tel Aviv. O
H
A man has been arrested.’ I stopped my car P
in shock.”
SAUJS students demonstrators at the District Six venue of the Russell Tribunal.
“It must be an Arab,” was the initial
assumption. Who else could it be? Then
Changing the narrative: Media
came disbelief when it was later revealed
that a Jewish Israeli had shot him – one of
our own. The action of a madman changed
history. The peace song “Shir L’shalom” had
and the Russell Tribunal
been sung at the gathering. A bloodied copy
of it was found on Rabin’s body.
He was the right man at the right time.
Rabin personified the best qualities of a
straight-talking sabra of the old kind who STEVEN GRUZD AND ment. We also emphasised that the com- Apartheid Israel amid ‘kangaroo
successfully made the transition from a mil- CHARISSE ZEIFERT plex Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires court’ claims” (November 7) and The
itary leader - he was Chief of Staff of the constructive, consensual dialogue and New Age “We’re no ‘kangaroo court’”.
IDF - to a political leader at the highest level THE RECENT Russell Tribunal on negotiation to resolve, not one-sided con- Once the other side forced to use the
and became a giant figure in international Palestine (RToP) was a classic example of demnation. phrase, even in denial, half the battle is
affairs. propaganda masquerading as fact. This We used a cartoon kangaroo called won.
The moment US President Bill Clinton - was political theatre at its best, staged to Russell, clad in legal garb, to declare our Many key media opinion-makers
who worked closely with Rabin and Yasser sway views through the use of biased, key message: “No to kangaroo courts, recognised that the Tribunal was con-
Arafat in the search for a peaceful accord selective and emotive information. yes to constructive dialogue”. tested terrain. Although the story
between Israelis and Palestinians - said the It marshalled high-profile activists and Russell the Kangaroo also was active played out mainly in the Cape papers
words in Hebrew: “Shalom, chaver” at peace laureates - and the rarity of a on the social media platforms of for over a week, both sides were usual-
Rabin’s funeral, will never be forgotten. For Holocaust survivor condemning Israel - Facebook and Twitter. This mischievous ly given. Most other media paid the
years those words were carried as bumper to convey its central message that Israel marsupial dismissed the RToP as a frivo- RToP scant attention or chose to ignore
stickers on Israeli cars. equals apartheid. With no legal force and lous kangaroo court. Russell quickly it completely.
What if Rabin had lived? Would his vision untouchable luminaries, it would seek a garnered a sizeable following (according The Business Day editorial on the
of a peaceful settlement in a two-state solu- win in the court of public opinion. to Facebook, more than 41 000 people morning of the “verdict” summed it
tion have come to naught in the maelstrom The RToP presented a formidable chal- read one of his posts at the height of the up: “The Russell Tribunal… should not
of the Middle East? Or would he have forged lenge to Jewish communal structures in campaign). be given undue prominence: This is not
the way to the peace suggested by his South Africa. Although two previous In this interactive environment, an impartial body, but a nongovern-
famous handshake on the White House lawn RToP sessions in 2010 in Barcelona and Russell could rapidly provide informa- mental organisation with an agenda, it
with Arafat, in front of a smiling Clinton? London passed by with barely a blip, this tion, links and comments. He gave the has no legal standing internationally,
The recriminations caused by his assassi- time - with proceedings held in the coun- community a space to express them- and any conclusion reached by the
nation continue to reverberate in Israeli try where apartheid was invented, and selves, mobilise, and make light of the ‘jury’ should be seen in that light.
society even to today. The fact that his killer staged in the District Six Museum that RToP. “The danger in indulging such crude
was an Orthodox Jew still evokes a certain chronicles forced removals - the RToP He also spread the satirical video made attempts to sway public opinion is that
distrust of right-wing religious Israelis was poised to generate considerable pub- by SAUJS on the Russell verdict, posted they tend to alienate people rather
among their secular and leftist countrymen. licity. pictures of students hopping around than promote dialogue. The only
Other Israelis are resentful that the left We tried to walk the narrow tightrope Cape Town in kangaroo suits and acceptable means of achieving a peace-
claims Rabin’s legacy as its own, when many between containment and counter-nar- responded to RToP proponents on ful settlement… is negotiation, but
right-wing Israelis want peace as much and rative. We sought to deprive the RToP of Twitter. demonising Israel merely puts obsta-
endorse the two-state solution. the media oxygen it craved, while point- While a few felt the social media cam- cles in the way of reconciliation
For older South African Jews who were ing out its blatant one-sidedness, expos- paign was obscure, negative or “too little efforts.”
part of the Zionist youth movement genera- ing the “Tribunal” as a “kangaroo too late”, this first foray into cyberspace While a few offensive and venomous
tion which produced the hard-core “chalutz- court”. The media would be a major front holds lessons for future Israel activism pieces did appear, and more may yet
im” who built early Israel - whether they in this battle of ideas, and we needed to in South Africa and beyond. surface, the Russell Tribunal ultimate-
belonged to the left or the right - Rabin also change the story. While initial press and electronic ly failed to deliver what it promised.
represented the egalitarian ethos of that old Given the context, it would have been reports used the judicial imagery, almost Instead it was a small news story of lit-
Israel. Not for him the expensive lifestyle unrealistic to expect the RToP to get no all noted that the Tribunal had been crit- tle interest to the average South
and bling of today’s politicians and celebri- coverage at all. Therefore, Jewish com- icised. Over the course of the week, the African, in light of our own, more com-
ties – a man of the people, among the people. munal organisations felt it vital to “kangaroo court” image moved from the pelling, politics.
He shared this down-to-earth attitude with ensure that another side was heard. periphery to the centre, as seen by head- Steven Gruzd is senior researcher and
one of his most virulent opponents, former We set out to calmly dissect the RToP lines in The Times “Tribunal a ‘kanga- diplomatic liaison and Charisse Zeifert
Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who lived as pre-cooked propaganda, without roo court’” (November 7); the Daily is head of communications at the South
a frugal life all through his years, despite standing or legitimacy to pass judge- Maverick “Russell Tribunal deliberates African Jewish Board of Deputies.
the high office he held.
The memory of that frugality evokes
AROUND THE WORLD
anger in many South Africans today when
they compare it with many of our own
politicians in government living the high NEWS IN BRIEF
life, with their expensive cars, disdainful
blue lights, surrounded by bulky security POLLS SHOW STRONG US SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
officers, luxurious mansions and Rolex
NEW YORK - Two new polls show a A similar figure was reported in a sep- tion and income. Both surveys were
watches.
majority of Americans have favourable arate survey commissioned by the pro- released on November 10.
Ultimately, Rabin was only human. If he
views of Israel. Israel media group The Israel Project. The ADL survey, conducted by
had lived, he might not have maintained the
A survey by the Anti-Defamation That survey found that 60 per cent of Martilla Strategies, polled 1 754 adults in
determined, courageous image we have
League survey, which it commissions respondents believed the United States mid-October and has a margin oferror of
of him. Who knows how he would have
every two years, found that 49 per cent of should favour or strongly favour Israel in plus-minus- 2,8 per cent. The Israel
reacted to our confusing, complex times.
those polled have greater sympathy for its conflict with the Palestinians. Project survey was performed by
Nevertheless, even after all these years, he
Israel than the Palestinians, a slight The figure was even higher - 67 per cent Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and
remains a role model we cherish – and still
increase from the 45 per cent figure - among so-called "opinion elite", a desig- polled 800 registered voters over four
miss.
reported in the previous survey. Only 18 nation based on a respondent's engage- days ending November 2. Its margin of
per cent favoured the Palestinians. ment with foreign policy issues, educa- error is plus-minus 3,5 per cent. (JTA)
18 - 25 November2011 SA JEWISH REPORT 9
OPINION AND ANALYSIS -
FORUM FOR DIVERSE VIEWS
Open microphones
and sealed minds
FOR A brief moment last week, the world
got to peek behind the diplomatic curtains
and catch a glimpse of what the American FUNDAMENTALLY
and French presidents really think of
Israel’s prime minister. FREUND
It was not a pretty sight.
In remarks unintentionally overheard by MICHAEL FREUND
a gaggle ofjournalists at the G20 summit in
Cannes, Nicolas Sarkozy insulted Benjamin
Netanyahu, telling Barack Obama: “I can’t apparently have trouble accepting the fact
stand to see him anymore, he’s a liar.” that Israel has the right to pursue its own
And just how did Obama respond to this interests as it best understands them.
slur against the leader of America’s closest It does not seem to matter to them one
friend and ally in the Middle East? By whit that Netanyahu has offered to
agreeing with Sarkozy, of course. “You’re relaunch direct bilateral talks without pre-
fed up with him, but I have to deal with him conditions, and that it is Palestinian
every day,” Obama moaned. Chairman Mahmoud Abbas who refuses to
The conversation was mistakenly trans- return to the negotiating table or even to
mitted to members of the press after the recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
microphones in the presidential meeting The mere fact that Netanyahu does not
room had been turned on inadvertently. agree to return to the pre-1967 borders with
Mon dieu! minor adjustments, is enough to set them
This bad-mannered blunder made inter- off.
national headlines and proved to be a major Sarkozy and Obama are so fixated on
embarrassment to both Obama and appeasing the Palestinians, and so close-
Sarkozy. minded about what they see as the need to
It is not every day that we get to hear establish a Palestinian state, that they find
what politicians really think without han- dealing with Netanyahu to be a burden.
dlers, spinmeisters and advisers crafting Rather than expressing a measure ofsup-
their choice of words. port for the leader of a fellow democracy,
Interestingly, White House spokesman, the French and American presidents decid-
Jay Carney pointedly did not deny the ed to turn policy disagreements into per-
remarks attributed to Obama, in effect sig- sonal attacks.
nalling that the accounts in the press were They would much rather have a more pli-
accurate. able Israeli counterpart, one willing to toss
Recognising the damage that had been aside Israel’s vital security needs as well as
done, Sarkozy moved quickly to mitigate its historical, moral and religious rights, for
the impact of the affair. Over the weekend, the sake of international acclaim and
he reportedly sent a personal letter to applause.
Netanyahu in which he took a firm stand on But their candour reveals far more about
Iran’s nuclear ambitions and signed it in them than it does regarding the Israeli pre-
his own hand with the words, “with friend- mier. It shows, particularly in Obama’s
ship”. case, that for all the public posturing and
And according to a report in the French talk about standing with Israel, the presi-
newspaper Le Figaro, Sarkozy has tenta- dent is no close friend of the Jewish State.
tively agreed to pay a special visit to the Obama and Sarkozy are both increasing-
Jewish State in January. Like a child ly unpopular at home and face uncertain
caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the prospects at the ballot box next year. When
French leader is now trying to “make nice”. they began their terms ofoffice, they gener-
But these gestures will not obscure the ated high hopes, most of which have disin-
unvarnished truth: the open microphone tegrated into disappointment.
revealed some rather sealed minds. Given their unbridled cynicism and con-
At its root, Sarkozy and Obama’s hostili- temptuous treatment of a close ally, this
ty to Netanyahu has little to do with the lat- should come as no surprise. After all, peo-
ter’s veracity or genuineness, and every- ple know a phony when they see one. Even
thing to do with his entirely justifiable scep- when the microphones are turned off.
ticism regarding the peace process.
By refusing to capitulate to pressure to • The writer is chairman of Shavei Israel
make still more concessions to the (www.shavei.org), which assists lost tribes
Palestinians, Netanyahu has run afoul of and hidden Jewish communities to return to
the French and American presidents, who the Jewish people.
AROUND THE WORLD
NEWS IN BRIEF
CONVICTIONS AGAINST PEER PROTESTERS THROWN OUT
AUCKLAND - A group of anti-Israel Palestinians.
activists who protested against Israeli John Minto, the protest leader, told
tennis star Shahar Peer during a tourna- Fairfax newspapers in New Zealand that
ment in New Zealand, had their convic- the decision was a victory for democracy
tions quashed. and the right to dissent.
At a High Court hearing on November "We have a democracy here, and dis-
11, Justice Paul Heath threw out the sent and the right to public protest is
charges against six activists who had what keeps democracy going,” he said.
been found guilty in Auckland District Play had to be suspended as officials
Court of disorderly behaviour. The debated whether to continue Peer's
activists used megaphones outside the match due to the small but noisy demon-
ASB Tennis Classic in 2010 to protest stration outside the tennis complex.
the Israeli government’s treatment of (JTA)
ORTHODOX RABBI OFFICIATES AT SAME SEX-WEDDING IN DC
WASHINGTON - An Orthodox rabbi, has of same-sex marriage in our home ‘state’
officiated at a same-sex wedding. Steve of Washington, DC,” Bock and Kaplan
Terms & conditions apply
Greenberg, who is openly gay, married wrote in a guide to the ceremony. “At the
Yoni Bock and Ron Kaplan at the 6th & I same time, both of us wanted a ceremony
Synagogue in Washington last week. that would be meaningful halachically
The ceremony was held under a chup- and create a set ofJewish legal obligations
pah and included the breaking of a glass between us."
and the exchanging of rings. The ketubah, It is believed to be the first time that an
or marriage contract, was replaced with a ordained Orthodox rabbi has officiated at a
Shtar Shetufim, or partnership contract. same-sex marriage in the United States.
"We were encouraged by the legislation (JTA)
Baby & Child
10 SA JEWISH REPORT 18 - 25 November 2011
FFeeaattuurree
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