Shedding light on Luxury Living south african

12 Pages·2015·14.13 MB·English

by  P. A. Friedman

May 1 2015 / 12 Iyar 5775
Volume 19 – Number 15
Yom Ha’atzmaut
puls in the south african
crowds in
Johannesburg.
See page 2
Jewish Report
www.sajr.co.za
Israel answers
Nepal’s distress call
Israeli rescue teams immediately heeded the call for assistance after the devastating earthquake in Nepal last weekend. Approximately 2 000 Israelis were
in that country when the 7,8-magnitude quake hit. Several Israeli missions landed in Nepal early in the week to provide medical care, assist search eforts
and distribute humanitarian aid. An IDF delegation arrived on Monday evening to set up a feld hospital. Pictured is another group of aid workers at Ben-
Gurion Airport, ready to receive the 220 Israelis arriving from Nepal. At our going to press, the death toll already stood at 4 600, but is expected to rise to
well over 10 000. Nepal is a popular destination for young Israelis who have just completed their army service and also for Israelis looking for surrogate
mothers, or as it is called, “gestational carriers”. A number of Israeli NGOs work in Nepal in various felds, such as agriculture. By Tuesday only a handful
of Israelis remained unaccounted for. Many visitors to the country are still trapped on Mount Everest, waiting to be airlifted. See page 6.
Spat erupts over Blade visit ‘I love Hitler’, says Wits When Arab Spring turns Visit to Israel provides new Bilateral trade between SA-
SRC president into Arab Winter perspective for Khumalo Israel in SA’s favour
Israel’s refusal to grant a visa to
Higher Education Minister Blade “I love Adolf Hitler for his charisma “One day your enemy could be Andile Khumalo is a young black Business between SA and Israel
Nzimande has caused a political and his organisational skills,” says your partner and another day your businessman who has recently is booming with bilateral trade
furore. SRC’s Dlamini. partner could be your enemy,” returned to SA from a trip to of R21 billion in 2014, and South
says Brigadier-General (res) Udi Israel, where he discussed and Africa is the major benefciary.
Dekel. exchanged ideas.
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2 SA JEWISH REPORT Community 1 – 8 May 2015
Crossing the boundaries of holiness
we read, Kedoshim, we are instructed to “be initial portions detail the numerous types of The calling for mankind to sanctify life
holy”. Our Sages explain: “Sanctify yourself oferings to G-d priests would ofciate at, the starts with respecting boundaries. There are
Parshat Acharei Mot-
with that which is permitted.” An insight by “Doctrine” goes on to detail limitations. Aha- geographic boundaries and ethical bounda-
Kedoshim
Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein obm, the rosh ron’s sons crossed a boundary. Caught up in ries. There are boundaries established by
Rabbi Ilan Raanan yeshiva of Har Etzion who passed away last the spirit of the moment they came too close! religious expectations and appropriate roles
Yeshiva College Shul week, into the perplexing death of the saintly In a narrow sense the “Doctrine of Priests” within relationships.
sons of Aharon the High Priest at the begin- explains the duties of Aharon’s descend- In order to create genuine sanctity, these
Geographic boundaries have been redrawn on ning of the frst part of our double portion, ants. However, in the broader context of our boundaries have to be balanced and care-
the “muddy” (or rather “bloody”!) grounds of Acharei Mot, provides a profound insight into calling, as G-d’s Chosen People, to become fully thought out, both in terms of scope
the lands of the “Arab Winter” and parts of the words of our Sages and perhaps an orien- an international, illuminating beacon as a and extent. From headline news to the way
Central Africa. Not even the Mediterranean tation to the questions posed. “Kingdom of Priests”, the latter half of the we interact with those near and dear, there
Sea is enough of a boundary to keep desper- Te verse that describes their death accord- Book of Leviticus instructs us how to build a is much to learn from the tragic death of
ate migrants from looking for a better life (or ing to most commentators simply provides model moral society for all to emulate. Aharon’s sons, “because they came close to
rather a life!) in Europe. the timeframe of their death “when they came Holiness is central to this as it is all about G-d” and crossed boundaries.
Te murky waters are not merely geograph- close to G-d”. However, the verse could also “sanctifying that which is permitted” -
ic. Are we looking at saviours or extortionists be understood as “because they came close to where “that which is permitted” provides Shabbat Times
who cram hundreds into barely seaworthy ves- G-d”. the parameters of holy life, both in terms Friday 1 May / 12 Iyar
sels? Are we witness to the “average” terrorists While the former interpretation leaves us of scope and extent. In terms of scope there Friday 2nd May / 13 Iyar
fghting for national goals and religious values guessing what their guilt was, the latter is is no area of our lives that should remain Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
or deranged religious fanatics? perplexing: Surely closeness to G-d should give mundane.
Te question of boundaries doesn’t only life not death!? Everything permitted needs to be sancti- 17:20 18:09 Johannesburg
arise (in these instances thankfully) far away. Te narrative of this episode comes at the fied. However, there are also boundaries to 17:48 18:39 Cape Town
It nags us in the closest way: am I my child’s end of those portions of the Book of Leviticus, what extent they should be sanctified. While 17:03 17:54 Durban
17:24 18:14 Bloemfontein
parent or friend? the “Doctrine of Priests”, that provide bounda- Aharon’s sons exemplified the former, they
17:19 18:11 Port Elizabeth
In the second part of the double portion ries as to what priests may not do. After the crossed a boundary in terms of the latter. 17:11 18:02 East London
Yom Ha’atzmaut pulls in the crowds
BENJI SHULMAN

Te day after the Jews had mourned Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day for
the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism, the excitement of Yom
Ha’atzmaut began with the anticipation of the party of the year at the Yeshiva
College campus in Johannesburg. Te main focus was to bring families together
with a meaningful celebration.
Te turnout - some 4 000 - was excellent, with queues stretching all the way
up the road outside the school.
Despite weather concerns, the day was perfect for an outdoor concert. Revel-
lers were treated to a full music and stage production which SAZF Executive
Director Isla Feldman and her staf have become such experts at organising.
On this year’s line-up was Israeli folk singer Yoni Kellerman followed by the
ever popular Gad Elbaz, who took the audience through an array of songs, both
secular and religious, as well as Zionist classics like Hava Nagila.
Tere was also an intense focus on children who were given Israeli fags and
members of the youth movements roamed the crowds advertising their respec-
tive programmes.
Tose looking for fun, could enjoy an obstacle course, parachute bungee jump-
ing, bouncing elastics, a jumping castle, a carousel and even a fully-equipped
mini ambulance.
Being a Jewish event, food was in abundance with pizza, chocolates, candy-
foss, chips, burgers and even free soup. Te energy was high - whether it was
those swaying to the tunes of the performers on stage, or just the convivial
meeting of friends over a hotdog, or the rushing to and from diferent rides. Te
whole family was able to enjoy the spectacle and CSO was there to keep a watch
out for the safety of the revellers.
Once again the South African Jewish community showed its love for Israel
and the centrality that the Jewish state holds in our lives was in evidence.
Seminary for Jewish girls to be launched in Johannesburg
SUZANNE BELLING them an appreciation of holiness, great- girls or January for South Africans). Te the Beth Din.
ness and purity associated with this course is a year long. In addition to Te Roses have three children - Levi Yitzchok,
Filling a void in the South African Jewish com- role. lessons, accommodation, meals Elka Leah Medalie and Menachem, who is study-
munity is a soon-to-be launched seminary for “We will ofer a programme of and a dormitory counsellor, the ing at the Yeshivah Gedolah in Melbourne.
Jewish girls in Johannesburg, the brainchild of intellectual excellence based in seminary will provide a taste of Te team of the seminary has been hand-
Mashi Rose (pictured), who has achieved great Torah, with superior teachers in South Africa, with regular visits to picked from educators in Johannesburg and
success as a rebbetzen (Waverley Shul), an educa- an environment where girls are Cape Town, Durban and organised includes Rabbi Mendel and Mashi Lipskar, Rabbi
tor and a graphologist. cared for on an individual basis. We safaris, including trips up Table Dov Ber and Dini Groner, Rabbi Yossi and Rivky
“We have already had inquiries from Australia, are committed to creating a stimulat- Mountain and to Namaqualand to see Chaikin, Rabbi Yossy and Rochel Goldman, Rabbi
the US and the UK,” said Rebbetzen Rose who ing programme that will inspire and nurture the wild fowers. Levi and Shterni Wineberg, Etti Klein, Rabbi
revealed that there is a growing demand for a process of self-development with Yiddish- Te rebbetzen herself was born in Bank, a Yosef and Sara Chana Kesselman, Mandy Bloch,
Jewish seminaries for women worldwide and Chassidishe values,” she said in an interview small West Rand town, and met her husband Rabbi Reuven and Rishie Finkelstein, Rabbi Ye-
they are even springing up in countries like Italy with Jewish Report. Te approach is based on Rabbi Aharon Rose in Crown Heights when huda and Estee Stern, Rabbi Nataniel and Efrat
and Prague. “I think it is more important for a principles and values from the teachings of the she was at a seminary and he was in yeshiva. Schochet, Temmi Hadar, Sara Bronstein, Rabbi
woman to go to a seminary than for a boy to go Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneer- Rabbi Rose will also play an integral role in the Berel Rodal, Aidel Kazilsky, members of the Ash
to yeshiva because the woman is the foundation sohn, obm, and will include the development of seminary. family, Chaya Chait, Yafa Lieberow, Chanah
of the home.” study skills and broadening personal horizons. Mashi Rose will also ofer graphology as a Rose, Rochie Pink and many more.
Rebbetzen Rose has harnessed a wealth of tal- Premises have not been acquired as yet, but sideline as she herself is well-known grapho-
ent to bring her dream to fruition: a programme Rebbetzen Rose is hoping to fnd something in logist, having studied the subject and been • F or further information about the seminary, call
that “will engrave in the students’ hearts the the Norwood area and intends to open the semi- involved in forensic evaluations, analysing Mashi Rose on 083 234 9893 or email her on
1 – 8 May 2015 News SA JEWISH REPORT 3
Spat erupts over Blade visit
ANT KATZ come out in support of BDS-SA than at the
embassy - basically said that if South Africa
Israel’s refusal last week to issue a visa to did not kick out the ambassador, BDS-SA
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande and their allies would march on the Preto-
(pictured) to visit Palestine has set in motion ria embassy and kick out the ambassador
a growing fracas between South Africa and themselves.
Israel, pro-Palestinian groups and local Zion- Israel’s refusal to issue Nzimande a visa,
ists, and even among SA Jewry itself. said BDS-SA, was an insult to the SA govern-
Nzimande was invited to visit Palestine ment.
by Palestinian Higher Education Minister Hiding behind what they referred to as
Khawla Shaksheer between April 25 and “a grouping of tripartite alliance members,
April 29 as a follow-up visit to promote col- civil society groups, student, youth organi-
laboration in research between the Universi- sations, and academics,” BDS-SA insisted
ty of Johannesburg and educational institu- that Israel grant Nzimande and three other
tions in Palestine. ofcials visas to visit Palestine.
Te national ofces of the SA Jewish Board “Let us be very clear, Minister Blade Nzi-
of Deputies (Board) and the SA Zionist Federa- 31 October – 7 November 2014 Classifi eds mande’s support for the PalWesthinaiatn’s s tOrunggle SA JEWISH REPORT 15
tion (Fed) issued a joint statement on Tuesday T O BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED NOTICE OR ADVERT CONTACT: Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Taondady, bFroidyacy o(Otctt oobfe rI 3s1r)ael is not a perMsonndayl (pNovseim-ber 3) offi ce [phone].
castigating Israel for withholding the visa. email: jrclassifi
4 SA JEWISH REPORT News 1 – 8 May 2015
‘I love Hitler’, says Wits SRC president
ANT KATZ and his capabilities to organise on Tuesday that he was consult- on Tuesday, saying that Dlamini’s
people. We need more leaders of ing with lawyers to decide on “Facebook posts regarding Adolf
Wits Student Representative such calibre. I love Adolf Hitler,” the students’ next move. But, he Hitler and his subsequent com-
Council (SRC) President, Mcebo Dlamini repeated. warned that SAUJS intended tak- ments to our student newspaper
Dlamini, has caused a furore after “I have researched about presi- ing the “harshest action possible”. were forwarded to me over the
posting a Facebook comment last dent [sic] Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini Dlamini, said Pollack, “is not weekend by a number of con-
Saturday regarding the State of Is- said defending his knowledge of a guy we want on the SRC or in cerned staf, students and alumni.
rael and his admiration for Hitler. Hitler. He has read about Hitler our society, he does not represent “I have e-mailed the SRC Presi-
“I love Adolf Hitler,” he wrote, and watched documentaries on South Africans.” dent and asked him to account
and subsequently told campus him. Dlamini further defended Dlamini had a previous run-in for his remarks, but have not yet
newspaper Vuvuzela that he his remarks saying that his love with the Wits administration ear- received a response.”
admired the German leader who of Hitler had “nothing do to [sic] lier this year and was suspended Habib said he personally found
sent millions to death camps with white people”. from his presidency for some Dlamini’s comments “utterly un-
“for his charisma and organisa- He says he fnds it “very absurd time. Last month a complaint acceptable and especially danger-
tional skills”. that people expect me to regard about the SRC was referred to a ous… and violates the fundamen-
Dlamini is now facing a discipli- their enemies as my enemies”. high-level enquiry by Habib - the tal values of Wits University.
nary enquiry by Wits, while Jew- Te same way I love Robert report of which is expected to be “Disturbingly, they valorise a
ish student organisation SAUJS Mugabe, it has nothing to do released later this week. racist autocrat who was responsi-
is calling for the “harshest action with white people.” Pollack says Dlamini is as bad ble for the murder of millions of
possible” against him. Also, Wits Te SRC president also insisted a racist as South Africa had ever people,” said Habib.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Adam Habib that he would “write what I like on seen and that SAUJS was com- Habib has referred Dlamini for
has strongly dissociated himself my Facebook” and was not on the mitted to ensuring Dlamini no investigation to see whether disci-
from Dlamini’s remarks, calling social media platform to “nurse longer leads the University. plinary charges should be brought.
them “racist” and “ofensive”. Jewish people’s feelings. Who told Referring to another racist Habib ends his statement
After a Facebook commenter them (Jews) they deserve special statement by Dlamini that ‘every with the following words: “To all
posted on Dlamini’s timeline: treatment?” he asked. white person has an element of individuals to whom this incident
“Hitler new [sic] they (referring In the comment thread, Dlami- Adolf Hitler’, SAUJS said in a may have caused ofence, I want to
to the Jews) were up to no good”, ni said his post had been reported statement that it was “an utter apologise for the fact that some-
Dlamini replied “I love Adolf to Facebook. He responded: insult to our democratic rainbow one who is deemed a leader in our
HITLER”. “Shame nxaaaaa (expletive de- nation”. community could have made such
Dlamini restated his admira- leted) am not removing it… truth Vice-Chancellor Habib ad- shocking and embarrassing state-
tion of the Nazi leader on Sunday, hurts… face it murderers.” dressed a letter to “Colleagues, ments. His behaviour in no way
telling Vuvuzela: “What I love National chairman of SAUJS, Students, Alumni and Members of speaks to the values of Wits as an
about Hitler is his charisma Natan Pollack, told Jewish Report the Wits University Community” institution.”
When an Arab Spring turns into an Arab Winter
SUZANNE BELLING democratic governments in Arab countries, had Te international community in the region spilled over into
degenerated into an Arab Winter; a military had decided it was better not to Israel, but it was better for Israel
“One day your enemy could be your partner and government took over in Egypt and political get involved too directly in com- to initiate than respond - protec-
another day your partner could be your enemy,” Islam took over in countries such as Libya and bating ISIS because the end-game tion, such as Iron Dome, was
said Brigadier-General (res) Udi Dekel (pictured) Tunisia. rules were unknown. not enough.
during his public address on Tuesday on “Israel Elsewhere the revolution had changed direc- “Tey also decided it was not so For Israel under Prime Min-
in a changing Middle East environment”. It took tion, with an underground “tectonic movement” bad with bad guys killing other bad ister Benjamin Netanyahu, the
place under the auspices of the Israel Centre in emerging in the open with ISIS and Sunni/Shia guys.” destination was still two states
Johannesburg. confict spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Te international strategy for two peoples, but this was
Dekel, a former head of the Strategic Plan- ISIS had a strategy to take over the entire was to establish a coalition to difcult to achieve at present
ning Division in the Planning Directorate of Middle East and establish a big caliphate, taking dismantle ISIS using air attacks, because Israel had no partner.
the General Staf of the Israel Defence Forces Islam back to its golden age. It also exported but without boots on the ground. Every time Israel and the Pal-
and currently director of the Institute for Na- terrorism, such as lone wolf attacks in several Te only country that understood that it could estinians had arrived at fnal negotiations over
tional Security Studies in Israel was head of the countries. achieve greater infuence through boots on the the past 15 years, “the Palestinians had decided
negotiations unit with the Palestinians under ISIS had no rules of the game, no interna- ground was Iran, through its various proxies either to reject the Israeli ofers or to run away
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He said the Arab tional standards and no responsibility towards and Iranian forces. Israel understood that there from the negotiating table”.
Spring, with its ambitions of establishing more civilians, he said. was a new Middle East with new rules. Events Te Palestinians would prefer the interna-
tional community to get Israel to accept the
Palestinian rules of the game, he said.
If permanent status negotiations with the
Palestinians were not on, other transitional
initiatives could be considered by Israel, includ-
ing going back to the 2004 Road Map, building
Palestinian capacity, so that it would not end up
a failed state, but have efective functions and
be stable and accountable.
Tere were now also possible multilateral op-
tions, including the countries of the Arab world,
which could support both Israel and the Pales-
tinians. Creating such a coalition could help deal
with the problems of the Middle East.
“Israel can take some steps to try to shape a
two-state reality by moving forward unilater-
ally,” he said.
Referring to issues relating to the West Bank,
he said: “We cannot solve the problem of indi-
vidual terror, but we can solve the problem of
terror organisations.”
Te international attitude to settlements
could change if Israel declared it would build
only in the established settlement blocs and not
in isolated settlements.
Five years ago Israel and Palestine were
regarded as the most important issue, but today
Israel was not the problem. Israel was creating
connections with local communities in Syria.
“By doing such positive things we can build
more partners for Israel, but this is a long story,”
Dekel said.
1 – 8 May 2015 Opinion & Analysis SA JEWISH REPORT 5
Gay Orthodox Jews - is it an
earthquake in the making?
present its viewpoint at an interfaith panel
TAKING discussion following the film’s screening.
Its most senior official said: “That sort of
ISSUE debate is an ‘American’ thing. Our duty is to
Geof Sifrin educate and teach, not to debate.”
Now, JTA reports, four prominent
It might seem strange to link Nepal’s modern-Orthodox rabbis have done what
catastrophic earthquake this week to ho- Orthodox gays and lesbians say was incon-
mosexuality and its place in Judaism. But ceivable a few years ago: They spoke at a
a surprising revelation emerged from the public conference at Columbia University
tragedy which killed over 3 000 and left two weeks ago on the treatment of gay,
tens of thousands injured and homeless: lesbian and transgender people in Ortho-
Several dozen Israelis trapped in Nepal were dox communities, called “Faith, Desire and
there as part of the process of surrogate Psychotherapy”.
childbirth for homosexual couples. Speakers included Rabbi Shmuel Goldin,
Same-sex couples living in Israel who former president of the Orthodox Rabbini-
want to have a child through a surrogate cal Council of America; Rabbi Mark Dratch,
mother, must go abroad to do it. Nepal is the RCA’s executive vice president; Rabbi
one of the places where this is possible. Shaul Robinson, leader of the Modern-
The motivation for these couples wanting Orthodox Lincoln Square Synagogue in
children is the desire to live a “normal” life. New York; and Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot,
To some, this means belonging to a com- a faculty member at Orthodox rabbinical
munity which accepts who they are, and school Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.
raising a family. Judaism - and other major Others attended as observers, including
religions - has not yet come to terms with Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, the former execu-
the increasing legitimisation of homo- tive vice president of the Orthodox Union.
sexuality and same-sex marriages, which A few years ago Helfgot managed to get
are now legal in many countries including over 100 Orthodox rabbis to sign a declara-
South Africa. tion, calling for inclusion of gays as “full
The more liberal Jewish denominations members” of the Orthodox community.
accept gays and lesbians as full congregants The declaration said that although Jewish
and in some cases even rabbis. But in Or- law forbade gay sex, it “does not prohibit
thodoxy the issue is highly contested. What orientations or feelings of same-sex attrac-
should an Orthodox rabbi do when con- tion, and nothing in the Torah devalues the
fronted with a gay congregant who wants to human beings who struggle with them”.
remain Orthodox and participate in Jewish In response, some 200 Orthodox rabbis
community and ritual, in synagogue and issued a rebuttal - the Torah Declaration -
elsewhere? Including possibly raising a fam- declaring homosexuality an unacceptable
ily or becoming a rabbi. “lifestyle” and describing homosexual incli-
In February 2005 the movie “Trembling nations as “changeable” through conversion
before G-d” came to Johannesburg, telling therapy. Mental health professionals at the
the story of openly gay Orthodox Rabbi conference labelled such therapy psycho-
Steven Greenberg. Predictably, it caused logically dangerous.
confrontation. The Beth Din condemned it The gay issue will remain divisive in
and Jewish schools and other institutions Orthodox Judaism, and more so as de-
were forbidden to screen it. mands increase from gay Jews who want
Greenberg, who accompanied the film to remain Orthodox. Is there any room for
to South Africa, said: “In the past, if you compromise here, or is this a simple matter
were gay, you would either shut up or leave of unambiguous, unchangeable halacha,
Orthodox Judaism.” versus liberal modernity, with no possibil-
For the Beth Din, the issue was clear: ity of a meeting point - as many respected
There could be no compromise on the hala- Orthodox rabbis say?
chic view condemning homosexuality, and Is the participation of the aforemen-
Greenberg’s claim to be an Orthodox rabbi tioned rabbis in this conference the opening
was unacceptable. He was here “under false of a new door for Orthodoxy? What we can
pretences”. be sure of is that the matter will not easily
The Beth Din refused an invitation to be resolved without the ground shaking.
Community #xenolove
Two auspicious milestones at Durban’s Beth Shalom
SYLVIA COLLINS
BETH SHALOM GENERAL MANAGER
Beth Shalom aged home in Durban recently
celebrated two unforgettable occasions when
the home’s oldest resident, Rose Simpson, made
history as she turned 106 on April 13 and two days
later Beth Shalom held its frst bris!
Rose has seen many changes in her lifetime and
is still sprightly and full of optimism. She cel-
ebrated her birthday quietly with the home’s other
residents as well as visiting family members.
Myron Panovka played the piano during tea and
a lovely afternoon was enjoyed by all. In light of the Xenophobic tragedies, the South African Jewry
Beth Shalom’s frst bris for baby Davidson, the
grandson of resident, Alec Vituli, was performed by The youngest is introduced to the oldest. Baby have demonstrated compassion, generosity and care.
Rabbi Anthony Gerson. This joyous occasion was Davidson meets Rose Simpson who recently We thank you.
well attended by family, residents, and committee celebrated her 106th birthday at Beth Shalom.
members of Beth Shalom. are grateful for the generosity of their sponsors
Recent renovations to Beth Shalom are almost who ensure the home is well maintained and
complete; and the home is looking wonderful. remains warm and homely for the residents who
Beth Shalom’s committee, residents and staff love living there.
Photo: Julian Pokroy
6 SA JEWISH REPORT Opinion and Analysis 1 – 8 May 2015
south african
Jewish Report
Hebrew dilemma
runs deep
Last week, South Africa’s Jewish day schools put considerable efort into
their celebrations and commemoration of Israel’s important milestones - Yom
Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Yet Hebrew, considered by many to be the
bedrock of Zionist and Jewish identity, is no longer compulsory, nor a popular
subject choice at most of these schools.
Tis year, a mere six pupils out of a total of 108 matriculants at Herzlia, which
educates 90 per cent of Jewish children in Cape Town, are taking Hebrew. King
David Linksfeld has 68 taking Hebrew out of 161 matriculants; King David
Victory Park has 22 out of a total of 62; while the more religious Yeshiva College
has 22 out of 45.
Te schools point out that they all have a portion of learners who are not Israeli travellers, with their newborn babies from surrogate mothers in Nepal, disembark from an Israeli rescue
pursuing a normal Independent Examination Board matric due to individual plane after it landed at Ben-Gurion Airport.
learning difculties - so the percentages of capable learners choosing Hebrew is
higher than the numbers quoted.
When I was a matriculant at King David Victory Park, only a handful of Nepal quake: Israelis stick
learners did not take Hebrew. Dropping the subject was not an option, unless
you were a newcomer with no Hebrew background or had been diagnosed with
learning chalenges. together, try to calm parents
Today all the schools provide the option of dropping Hebrew either at the end
of grade nine or grade 10. BEN SALES called Kathmandu “an atmosphere of chaos”.
Tis change occurred about eight years ago. At that point pupils had to TEL AVIV “In these missions, you need to understand, and it’s
choose either religious studies or Hebrew for matric. Ten the Department of hard to understand, that you won’t be able to do every-
Education made religious studies optional and so the schools decided they could When the ground began to shake, Inbar Irron was among thing and help everyone,” Strugo, who also treated injured
not enforce Hebrew. a dozen Israelis in Nepal who ran outside the building in Nepal after the 2013 avalanche in Annapurna, told JTA
Also, maths and life orientation were made compulsory and the schools where they had been sitting – and straight into a cloud via satellite phone on Monday night.
decided it was not viable to make Hebrew compulsory as well, as that restricted of dust.When their vision cleared, they saw a devastating “Te dimensions of the tragedy, the dimensions of the
pupils’ subject choices to fve compulsory subjects: two South African languages, scene: Much of the village of Manegau, where they had destruction, are so big that you can’t contain it all.”
maths or maths literacy, life orientation and Hebrew. come to volunteer for four months, had crumbled to the As rescue eforts intensifed on Monday and Tuesday,
Herzlia’s director of education, Geof Cohen, has made a noble efort to revive ground. Miraculously, none of the villagers was hurt. But some Israelis remained stranded far from Kathmandu. As
Hebrew there. He raised R3,5 million two years ago from a UK-based donor to many of their homes had been reduced to rubble. of Tuesday evening, nine Israelis were still unaccounted
employ talented Hebrew educators like Ronnie Gotkin and build an attractive Irron’s group - sent by the Israeli NGO Tevel B’Tzedek, for. Raviv Torati, who was travelling in south Asia after his
Hebrew lab to entice pupils to continue Hebrew. Tere have been no major which organises volunteer trips to Nepal - was there to discharge from the IDF, was in a car on the way to a mu-
changes in the numbers yet, but perhaps this initiative is still getting of the set up a youth group, provide leadership workshops to sic festival when the quake hit, according to his mother,
ground. women in the village, bring Israeli agritech to its farms Orna. Te car survived the tremors and reached the festi-
Some educators blame the falling numbers on the fact that, due to the and computers to its schools. val, which was cancelled, but Raviv was stuck there with a
astronomical cost, pupils no longer go on the three-month ulpan programme in Now that mission is on long-term hold. Te volunteers group of fellow travellers. Four days later they were sleep-
grade 10, which had ofered an intensive period of Hebrew study and a powerful and villagers have pitched plastic tents to weather the ing in tents and living on food prepared for the festival
“let’s love Israel campaign” for impressionable teenagers. rainy nights, and hope their food stockpile will last until while they waited for rescue.
But most pupils are opting for other subjects not because the quality of the road to Kathmandu reopens. Te immediate task, Ir- “I want him to come home already,” Orna told JTA on
Hebrew education has dropped. In fact the schools are using the latest teaching ron says, is to rebuild at least a few buildings and reassure Monday. “I worry so much that if he’ll go to India, there
technologies and trying to recruit top Hebrew educators from around the world. the villagers. could be more earthquakes or weak roads and bridges. I’m
It is likely more about the competitive world young adults face today where “Right now we’re trying to maintain calm and high mo- worried he’ll be on the road and – G-d forbid, I don’t want
they feel pressure to choose subjects they can completely excel in. Getting tivation,” he told JTA via a satellite phone. to say. We’re helpless here.”
a distinction for Hebrew is very difcult if one is not a native speaker and Approximately 2 000 Israelis were in Nepal when a A group of 10 Israelis hiking in Langtang National Park,
university entrance and later the cutthroat job world mean choosing subjects 7,8-magnitude earthquake struck last Saturday, killing 65 kilometres from Kathmandu, found each other after
that enhance one’s chances of later success. more than 4 600 people - and growing - and destroying the quake and worked together to survive. According to
Also, many parents feel their children already have to do Afrikaans, only buildings and roads across the country. By Tuesday, only Elfe Sharabi, one of the hiker’s mothers, the group built a
spoken in South Africa, why master another language which has the same a handful of Israelis remained unaccounted for. But over small shelter out of bamboo to use during the aftershocks
handicap. In fact, parents, often complain that South African Jewish day the weekend, across Nepal, hundreds scrambled for shel- and cleared out a large open space in case a helicopter
schools, unlike some of the other private schools, don’t ofer options such as ter, helped each other, weathered strong aftershocks and needed to land to rescue them.
Mandarin or Spanish, far more important if one is looking to compete in a global waited for evacuation as they scrambled to contact wor- Her daughter, Shani, has a satellite phone, so parents
job market. ried parents. across Israel and the world have been calling Sharabi in
For many Jewish educators, these dwindling statistics are quite depressing On Tuesday, a fight from Nepal carrying some 220 Is- hopes of locating their children who went missing in
and may be a sign of declining observance, or worse yet greater assimilation. raelis landed in Tel Aviv. As Nepal has become a popular Langtang. Together, Elfe and Shani Sharabi helped some
Tey feel that understanding Hebrew is the gateway to Jewish education and a destination for Israelis seeking gestational carriers, all of 40 adult children in Langtang contact their parents.
meaningfully observant way of life. the 26 Israeli babies born there to surrogate mothers were But as her phone number spread across social media,
It is essential to participate in prayer; it creates the option of aliyah for brought back to Israel along with their parents. Elfe Sharabi was deluged with messages from people
Diaspora Jews; it gives all Jews a common language and makes Judaism come Israeli search-and-rescue teams retrieved Israelis from with relatives across Nepal. On Monday afternoon, when
alive. their refuge places and brought them to Kathmandu, she spoke to JTA, Sharabi was attempting to answer 175
Any authentic study of Tanach or Mishnah requires a grasp of the language. where hundreds had taken shelter at the Israeli Embassy WhatsApp messages and 250 e-mails.
At Yeshiva College, managing director Rabbi Leron Bernstein says that most and Chabad House. “What’s good about it is because I have to communicate
learners take Hebrew because Torah learning is a “raison d’être” of the school. “Many of the people who were here on vacation are with so many other people, I don’t have time,” Sharabi
Out of last year’s matric group of 33 Hebrew candidates, an astounding 31 got more traumatised and prefer to leave as fast as possible,” told JTA. “I am usually a major worrier. I don’t have time
distinctions. Nevo Shinaar, another Tevel B’Tzedek worker whose to allow myself to start thinking. I spend so much time
Te rabbis say that the goal of Jewish day school is to create competent and group took refuge in the embassy, wrote to JTA on the trying to calm other people and be positive, I guess it’s
proud Jewish individuals - the more complete your knowledge of the tenets of messaging application WhatsApp. “We’re talking, we’re rubbing of on me, too.”
Judaism, the more proud you will be as a Jew. embracing, we’re helping with all the bureaucracy.” While many Israeli tourists who had travelled to Nepal
When we raise young people who cannot open a bible or pray, we are not Nepal is a popular destination for young Israelis, many in search of a relaxing vacation remained tense days after
giving them a basic competency and so we cannot expect them to be proud. of whom vacation there for weeks or months following the earthquake, Shinaar said Nepalis had remained calm
Perhaps we are, as some rabbis believe, facing a dire situation with Jewish mandatory service in the Israel Defence Forces. and, even amid the death and destruction, are focusing on
education and our schools need to take urgent action or rethink their policies. Several Israeli missions landed in Nepal early in the supporting each other. It’s an outlook that Shinaar and
But I can’t help thinking that if Hebrew was compulsory, we might lose a lot week to provide medical care, assist search eforts and dis- his fellow volunteers, who are in Nepal for a year, hope to
more young people to the benefts of Jewish education because they would tribute humanitarian aid. An IDF delegation arrived on adopt as they begin the work of rebuilding the country.
choose other schools where they had more subject options. Monday night to set up a feld hospital, while staf from “It’s very shocking, but because we work here we ap-
Yes, they are not mastering the beloved language of our people but at least Magen David Adom, a member of the International Com- proach it diferently from most of the Israeli tourists,”
they are part of a community of Jews - building friendships which often last a mittee of the Red Cross, fanned out across Kathmandu’s Shinaar wrote to JTA. “Tese are our communities and
lifetime and still gaining a sturdy knowledge of Jewish tradition and observance. hospitals to care for Israelis and treat the quake’s 11 000 our people who are sufering here. Tere’s a lot more work
It is not the ideal scenario but it is probably a manageable compromise. injured. Dr Raf Strugo, who is heading the MDA team, to do.” (JTA)

– Vanessa Valkin, Editor More news on our website www.sajr.co.za
Photo: JTA
1 – 8 May 2015 Business SA JEWISH REPORT 7
sophistication of the “tech start-up scene”, Given Mkhari, who was just building the
he remarked. MSG Afrika group.
“It was unlike anything I had seen before;” Investec had just acquired a stake in
Israeli technology funders are prepared MSG and wanted Mkhari to fnd a partner
to invest large amounts of money in a few with a fnance background and so, with
Business diferent ventures because the returns on the support of Investec, Khumalo became
just one success will more than make up the third partner. Te two have since
for losses on the less-than-lucky picks. Te bought Investec’s stake, but still have close
by Vanessa Valkin South African tech industry has not yet relationships there.
reached that level of maturity, he believes, For Khumalo, a key to success in business
and is more averse to risk. is being passionate about what one does. “I
Khumalo now intends to fund another have always tried to stay
Visit to Israel provides new young entrepreneur to go on the next SAIF away from businesses
tour to Israel. I don’t feel
Some of the major turning points in his strongly about,”
perspective for Khumalo own business career, says Khumalo, have he says.
been through connections in the South
Andile Khumalo, chief investment ofcer of entrepreneurs under the age of 40, was African Jewish community.
MSG Afrika, the media and communications organised by the South Africa-Israel Forum After fnishing accounting articles at
group he co-owns with business partner and funded by entrepreneurs Jonathan Deloitte, he worked at Investec for two years
Given Mkhari, has recently returned from Beare and Morris Kahn. with the legendary Andy Leith and Stephen
a weeklong trip to Israel that opened his “I did the trip because I wanted to Kosef.
eyes to the country’s remarkable innovation experience the ‘start up nation’, says “It was the steepest learning curve of
as well as the complexities of the political Khumalo in an interview with Jewish my life,” he recalls. A junior analyst in
situation. Report. “My experience of the trip was very investment banking is usually pushed into
He also says that members of the South little to do with the politics, although we the back ofce but that did not happen for
African Jewish community have played a were there on the day of elections and we him. “I was in at the furnace of the deal
seminal role in his business career. did go to the West Bank and through the negotiations.”
MSG Afrika today has interests in checkpoints… if anything we received quite a At Investec, people invested in their jobs
radio (Power FM & Capricorn FM), TV balanced outlook on things.” as if it was their own business, and were well
production (Quizzical Pictures), PR and Te presentations that he and his fellow rewarded for this.
event management (Te Communications travellers were exposed to, made him realise “As a young black person, you are very
Firm), print (Te Quarto Press), and outdoor that although there are a lot of Israel critics suspicious of corporate South Africa,”
(Continental Outdoor Media), and operates in South Africa, when one is “on the ground” says Khumalo. “But I never felt like
in more than 14 African countries. there, ones sees “the fear and intimidation the black guy in the white team...
Khumalo himself hosts a show on Power on both sides”. everyone just put in a lot of efort.”
FM called Power Business, which covers “Te trip opened my eyes to how complex Investec played another key role
international markets, entrepreneurship, the situation over there is,” he remarks. for Khumalo when, having gone out
self-development and investment and hosts While in Israel, Khumalo attended on his own, he attended a screening
CEOs of major companies making the news. an investor conference for start-up of a football match at the bank’s
Te trip to Israel last month which technology businesses who were pitching to Sandton ofces during the 2010 World
included 25 of South Africa’s most promising venture capitalists. He was amazed at the Cup. It was there that he met his partner
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8 SA JEWISH REPORT Letters 1 – 8 May 2015
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