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Ya’acov Shwekey’s visit to Cape Town was a whirlwind of events, celebration, singing and giving, for him and the whole Cape Town Jewish community.
The Night at the City cocktail reception
Cape Town’s International Convention Centre played host to Chabad of the West Coast’s Gala Reception ‘Night at the City’. As Merle Rubin’s exquisite cuisine welcomed the Platinum and Diamond guests, images of Jewish life on the West Coast flashed across plasma screens, lending itself to a night in support for the community.
Chabad Chairman Brian Singer opened proceedings and welcomed Rabbi Mendel Popack, who surprised us all with a message that the Rebbe sent to the first concert that Chabad had organised in Cape Town in 1979.
After communal leaders thanked all the guests, organisers and sponsors who came together to make this dream a reality; guest speaker Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille spoke; and her insightful words, sensitive appreciation, and warm greetings reflected her incredible leadership. She concluded with the hope that the event lived up to the Rebbe’s blessing, and that we should grow with the light and joy of our tradition — Amen.
Following a raffle, Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson shared his gratitude for the role that Chabad is playing in Cape Town. Everyone then joined the other 1000 guests for a night that Cape Town will never forget.
Shwekey in Cape Town with Choni G
Hundreds of people waited patiently for the doors to open for Shwekey in Cape Town at the CTICC. Inside, 1500 seats were filled with excited faces, full of anticipation for the night of the year. Finally, the lights dimmed and the show opened up with producer, conductor and drummer Yochi Briskman and the incredible talent of the seven piece orchestra from Israel, Joburg and the USA. The ‘Shwekey Overture,’ which was played for the first time in South Africa, was an incredible composition. A video presentation of ‘A Journey Through Music’ from Shawn Levin Productions was shown. See it at www.SinaiAcademy.co.za/Shwekey. The opening act was our homegrown talent Choni G! His two original compositions of Sholom Aleichem and Ohavti were a refreshing fusion of tradition and modernity.
Then, with a flash of music, light and sound, the man of the night, Shwekey, appeared to the roaring applause of 10 percent of Cape Town Jewry… With a captivating stage presence and unbelievable vocal talent, Yaakov Shwekey took Cape Town by storm, and the song Moshe Uvnei Yisrael had us all up out of our chairs, with some even crowding the aisles for a quick hora! Despite our securing the CTICC’s best audio visual supplier, the sound took a bit of time to come right. Yaakov’s plea to the sound engineer “Abdul my friend, work with me” was perhaps a recipe for peace in the Middle East! As the night concluded with Vehi She’omda it was arm in arm as we swayed to the music with the knowledge that ‘vihakodosh boruch hu matzilaynu… G-d will save!’ Shwekey gave an encore with a rousing rendition of Rachem that finally brought the curtains down on a night that Cape Town will never forget. Our Platinum and Diamond sponsors then had an opportunity to meet the star at the dessert reception.
Shabbat with Shwekey
Erev Shabbat started bright and early for Yaakov where he visited Astra and Coffee Time, institutions close to his heart; and then on to the true jewels of Cape Town — our community day schools. At Phyllis Jowell, a group of about 30 boys and girls greeted us with Vehi She’omda. At an assembly, Shwekey shared words of inspiration. From there it was on to Herzlia Middle School where an impromptu assembly saw 150 learners listening to his music together.
The Shabbat started at Ohr Somayach where services were led by Choni G with Shwekey singing, and included a delightful sermon by Rabbi Akiva Tatz and Rabbi Jarred Bloch. From there it was onto the President Hotel where Chabad and Ohr Samayach joined forces for a beautiful ‘Unity Night’ and fascinating talks by Chief Rabbi Goldstein and Rabbi Tatz. We spent Shabbat morning at Chabad Sea Point. Reflecting Yaakov’s Sephardi roots and tradition, the Shabbat of Unity closed with a warm Seu’da Shlishit at the Sephardi Shul.
The Saturday night Kumzitz Braai for our main sponsors at the home of Gary and Sharin Nathan was a fitting expression of appreciation to the people who gave generously to make this incredible experience possible.
A community effort
“Rabbi, how did you do it?” That’s the question I heard over and over again, asking about the success of the largest participation for a visiting Jewish performer that Cape Town has ever seen. In truth, the answer is — I didn’t.
It was a combination of so many people, from the logistical side headed up by event coordinator Hirshi Groner, to the communal coordination and publicity where shuls, schools, youth and welfare organisations across Cape Town joined to make this a truly communal event; and of course the sponsors who provided everything necessary to make it happen.
“Yiddishkeit in this city will never be the same” was probably the best reflection that I heard in summing up the weekend, and please G-d it should be the beginning of many great things!
The Shwekey Art Gallery
There’s no other way to describe the breathtaking works of art that photographer Guy Lerner captured of the evening.
Visit www.guylerner.com/2012/Shwekey for more.
By Rabbi Asher Deren
