Subscribe Now

Home Blog Page 3

Marc Sternberg z”l: A champion of Cape Town’s Jewish community

The sudden passing of Marc Sternberg z”l has left a profound sense of loss across Cape Town’s Jewish community – a community to which he gave generously, energetically and, very often, quietly.

Marc’s contribution extended across numerous communal organisations and initiatives. Rabbi Pini Hecht of the Marais Road Shul described him as someone who did not simply talk about what could be done differently or better – he acted. His generosity was consistent, but his contribution was about considerably more than financial support. He gave his time, shared ideas and offered direction, particularly when organisations were navigating difficult periods.

One organisation especially close to him was the Simcha Fund, a communal organisation that helps financially struggling community members celebrate joyous life milestones and occasions (simchas) with dignity. He worked closely with Rabbi Matthew Liebenberg of the Claremont/Wynberg Congregation in the work of the Fund, serving as vice-chairman. He was also its most generous and regular donor for many years. His support helped dozens of children celebrate their bar and bat mitzvahs, enabled couples to have modest weddings, helped Grade 12 pupils attend their Matric Dance with confidence, and assisted families in celebrating a brit milah with dignity. 

Bringing a wealth of business experience and knowledge, Marc was deeply involved with the Fund, and had in fact started working on the financial documentation for the Simcha Fund for 2027 just prior to his passing. 

He also played an important role in the development of Jewish student life in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Rabbi Nissen Goldman recalled that Marc became the first person in Cape Town to commit to a monthly donation towards the establishment of Chabad on Campus – volunteering his support before he had even been asked.

His involvement continued as the programme grew. He sponsored welcome braais and mezuzot for students in Cape Town and Stellenbosch and encouraged Rabbi Goldman to establish a full-time Chabad presence in Stellenbosch. When Rabbi Goldman hesitated, Marc urged him: “Just go for it, the money will come.” Today, more than 150 Jewish students in Stellenbosch have access to Jewish social events, shiurim, Shabbat meals, friendship and support. And, continuing the vision started by Marc, Rabbi Goldman hopes to purchase a permanent property for the Chabad House dedicated to Marc’s life and legacy.   

Marc’s giving reached many more organisations, including the City of Cape Town. One example is his involvement and support of the Cobras Mountain Protection Team, an initiative to provide safety to hikers on Table Mountain. This contribution was recognised by the presence at Marc’s funeral of the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. 

Yet, much of what Marc did went without acknowledgement. Rabbi Goldman recalled Marc enthusiastically showing him a spreadsheet he had devised to allocate his monthly tzedakah across an extensive list of causes. “At his core,” he said, “it’s who he was – a giver.”

But Marc could also be challenging. He had strong views about how things should be done and was unafraid to voice them. Those who worked closely with him experienced his advice, mentorship and sometimes ‘tough love’ – driven by a desire to see people and organisations succeed.

Underlying it all was a strong sense of Jewish identity and communal responsibility. He wanted Jewish life in Cape Town to flourish – and believed in taking responsibility for making that happen.

Marc leaves his wife Tanya, children Zoe, Aaron and Liv, his parents Michael and Leora, his sister Lauren and her family – as well as a community immeasurably enriched by what he gave to it.

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

Court victory affirms limits of protest and harassment

A judgment by the Western Cape High Court has affirmed that the constitutional right to protest does not extend to defamatory, intimidating or unlawful conduct, following a legal challenge brought by Cape Union Mart against the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and its supporters.

The judgment, handed down on 4 September, orders protesters to stop making defamatory statements about Cape Union Mart, its brands and Philip Krawitz, the company’s executive chairperson. For almost three years, the PSC and its supporters have staged protests outside Cape Union Mart stores and made allegations concerning the company’s relationship with Israel and its alleged complicity in the war in Gaza.

The case has attracted particular attention within the Jewish community because of the intersection between political protest, Israel-related activism and the targeting of a Jewish-owned business and its leadership.

Krawitz said the company had gone to court because it believed it was necessary to defend its constitutional rights and those of its employees. While acknowledging that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, he said that protests must remain within the law and be based on fact.

The judgment, he said, vindicated the family business’s decision to seek legal recourse rather than respond to the protests outside the legal framework.

The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) has welcomed the judgment, describing it as an important affirmation that political disagreement cannot justify harassment, intimidation or conduct that unfairly targets individuals or businesses.

The Board said the ruling was particularly significant in the context of Jewish individuals and businesses being targeted because of their identity, religion or beliefs. Constitutional rights to equality, dignity, freedom of religion and security, it stressed, apply to all South Africans.

The case also highlights the distinction between legitimate political protest and conduct that crosses legal boundaries. The court’s order does not remove the right to protest, but places limits on how that right may be exercised.

The judgment comes amid continuing protests at some Cape Union Mart stores and in shopping centres where the company’s outlets are located. Krawitz said the company would engage with landlords and shopping centres regarding the implications of the judgment.

He also paid tribute to Cape Union Mart employees for their handling of the protests, noting that the workforce includes people from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds.

For the Jewish community, the case has broader significance beyond the individual parties involved. It provides an example of the legal avenues available when political activism moves into allegations or conduct that a person or organisation believes is unlawful.

Daniel Bloch, Executive Director of the Cape SAJBD, said the PSC is entitled to seek leave to appeal, as any litigant is. If it does so, he said, Cape Union Mart will continue to defend the matter through the legal process.

“A court order is not optional,” Bloch said. Anyone who knowingly breaches the interdict risks being held in contempt of court, with sanctions potentially including fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment. “Our hope, however, is that the judgment will be respected and that no further enforcement action will be necessary.”

Bloch said the judgment was also a reminder of the role of the judiciary in South Africa. “South Africa’s courts are not swayed by political pressure, public noise or popular sentiment. They decide cases on evidence and law. That is exactly what happened here.”

He encouraged members of the Jewish community who face intimidation or defamatory allegations because of their Jewishness or Zionism not to assume that they must simply accept unlawful conduct.

“We encourage people to document what is happening, including keeping screenshots, messages and other evidence, and to approach the Cape SAJBD for advice,” Bloch said. The Board can explain available avenues of recourse, including through workplaces or other relevant bodies, and advise when legal advice may be appropriate.

“This is one of the reasons the Board exists: to protect the rights, dignity and interests of our community and help people navigate situations where those rights are undermined or at risk.”

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

A Spielberg movie never before seen in Cape Town!

While most people associate the name ‘Spielberg’ with acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, his younger sister Nancy Spielberg is an accomplished documentary producer in her own right.

Her films focus on Jewish and Israeli history, including A Letter to David: The Complete Version. The South African Zionist Federation Cape Council, in conjunction with the Cape Jewish Chronicle, has secured the rights to screen the film for a Cape Town audience.

The film tells the story of David Cunio, who was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks and held hostage in Gaza for 738 days. Through his story, the documentary bears witness to the experience of captivity, its impact on his family, and the human lives behind the events of October 7.

Spielberg’s motivation for producing the film reflects her broader commitment to preserving Jewish stories through film. She sees filmmaking as a means of bearing witness – ensuring personal experiences are documented and remembered rather than lost within a larger political and historical narrative. Her work is also driven by a desire to counter antisemitism while encouraging dialogue, empathy and understanding.

The documentary demonstrates how film can turn an overwhelming historical event into a deeply personal story. Spielberg’s emphasis is on giving individuals a voice, preserving their testimony and helping audiences connect emotionally with Jewish experiences beyond news reports and statistics.

Click here to Register!

SA Zionist Federation – Cape Council – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

Two hours of your time. One community counting on us.

Every day of the year, there are organisations in our community quietly doing extraordinary work. Care for our elderly. Support individuals and families through difficult times. Provide homes, dignity, companionship and connection. Help people through grief and loss. Create opportunities for people with disabilities. And ensure that, when someone in our community needs help, there is somewhere to turn.

On 13, 14 and 15 October, it’s our turn to be there for them.

We Are One, a 3-day, community-wide campaign, seeks to raise R11.5 million for 7 Care Services organisations: Astra, Cape Jewish Seniors, Glendale Home, Highlands House, Jewish Community Services, Nechama and Oranjia Youth Centre.

And reaching that target takes more than donations. It takes people.

We’re asking members of our community to give just 2 hours of their time to join us, pick up the phone and help rally support. No fundraising experience needed. You don’t need to be an expert. Just show up, make some calls and be part of something that matters.

2 hours isn’t much. But when hundreds of people give those hours together, they become a powerful force for impact. That is the spirit of We Are One. A celebration of the unique strength of our Cape Town Jewish community – people coming together to ensure that the organisations providing vital care and support throughout the year can continue their essential work.

They’re there for our community all year. On 13, 14 and 15 October, let’s be there for them.

Your 2 hours can help sustain a year of care. Click below to book your volunteer slot – be part of We Are One.

Book your volunteer slot and be part of We Are One here.

Care Services info@careservices.org.za

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

Save the date: Care Services AGM 2026

12 November 2026
16h30-18h30
Venue will be emailed to you after online registration.

REGISTER HERE

Care Services info@careservices.org.za

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

The fate of Jewish languages today

A fascinating talk at Limmud this year by Sarah Bunin Benor, Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Linguistics at Hebrew University College, focused on the fate of Jewish languages throughout the world. 

While most of the languages are under severe threat or have actually disappeared, traces of some languages survive because they are used in new ways.

Benor explained how, over the past two centuries, migration and major historical events have reshaped the languages spoken by Jewish communities around the world. She also referred to the decision of the newly-created Jewish state of Israel to choose Hebrew as the official language of the country, so marginalising Yiddish and preventing the continuity of the language among Jewish citizens of the country.

Although lost to many of the descendants of East European speakers, Yiddish continues to thrive in Hasidic communities. Other longstanding Jewish languages are increasingly endangered, with Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, Jewish Neo-Aramaic from Iraq and Iran, and Jewish Malayalam from southern India now spoken mainly by older generations – a fact which raises deep concerns about the future of these languages.

Yet these languages are not simply disappearing. Jewish communities are finding new ways to connect with their linguistic heritage through music, food and other cultural traditions, even when the languages themselves are no longer part of daily conversation.

At the same time, Jewish language continues to evolve. New varieties are emerging as Jewish communities adapt the languages of the countries in which they live, including Jewish English, Jewish Latin American Spanish and Jewish Russian. Many young Jewish people are creating a new language that they speak at Jewish youth camps which incorporates Hebrew and Yiddish words.

Together, these shifts tell a broader story of Jewish migration, adaptation and identity – and of the ways language continues to reflect the changing experience of Jewish communities across the world.  

Editor’s comment
Purely coincidentally, just a few days after I heard Sarah Bunin Benor’s talk at Limmud, I came across a very interesting podcast that highlights the issues she spoke about. The podcast relates to an acclaimed book called Chopping Onions on my Heart: On Losing and Preserving Culture (also published under the title, Always Carry Salt: A memoir of preserving language and culture) by British Jewish author, Samantha Ellis. The writer talks about the loss of Iraqi Judeo-Arabic; how culture is preserved through food; identity issues for a 2nd generation émigré; and the horrific laws in Iraq today that prevent any Iraqi Jews from returning to the country. Listen to the podcast here.

International leadership award for Helen Lieberman

By KAREN MILLER

This September, Helen Lieberman received the 2026 Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award, an international recognition of a lifetime of leadership. 

There is something particularly appropriate about the award coming to someone whose idea of leadership has never been about standing at the front of the crowd.

For Helen, leadership has always been about enabling other people to take responsibility for ensuring their own and their communities’ futures.

More than 60 years ago, as a young Capetonian newly graduated, at the height of apartheid and without any awards to her name, Helen went into Langa. There she joined women who were already working to improve their communities. The commitment she made to them formed the beginnings of Ikamva Labantu, the NGO that she founded. It was a model of community work based on a deceptively simple idea: ordinary people can create extraordinary change when they decide to take responsibility for their communities.

That principle has remained at the heart of Helen’s leadership. The Covey award, established in 2019 by the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center at Utah State University’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, recognises leaders who demonstrate character, competence and service-oriented leadership.

Helen herself is quick to move the spotlight elsewhere: “This award may carry my name, but the story has never been about one person.” It belongs, she says, to the women who opened their communities and their lives to her and showed her what could happen when people stepped forward and took responsibility for one another. That instinct, to recognise the people who are often overlooked, is one of the most distinctive features of her leadership.

Today, Ikamva Labantu continues to work in precisely this way. Its Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme trains and supports principals and practitioners in under-resourced communities, strengthening the quality, leadership and sustainability of community-based early learning centres.  Helen has consistently argued that such community leaders should not be regarded as marginal figures. She has particularly highlighted the women running township early childhood centres, insisting that they are not simply ‘volunteers’, but professionals, educators and guardians of the future. They need training, funding, infrastructure and dignity.

It is a philosophy that reaches beyond early childhood development. Ikamva Labantu also supports older people in township communities, reflecting the organisation’s broader commitment to strengthening the people and structures that already exist within communities. Its work also looks to the future, providing safe and stimulating havens for children after school.

“Across Cape Town’s township communities, remarkable people are stepping forward every day,” said Ishrene Davids, Director of Ikamva Labantu. “They are opening early learning centres, supporting neighbours and building stronger communities. Helen’s story reminds us that the future is in our hands.” 

The Covey award is not simply another honour in a long list. It is specifically about principle-centred leadership:  the character, competence and service-oriented principles that shape the way a person leads. In Helen’s case, that makes it an especially fitting recognition, because her particular form of leadership has always been about bringing other people into the work rather than placing herself at its centre.

The visit by representatives and Fellows of the Covey Leadership Center to Ikamva Labantu’s ECD training centre in September therefore had a satisfying symmetry. The people coming to honour an internationally recognised leader met another generation of local changemakers, the principals and practitioners who are quietly building stronger beginnings for children in their own neighbourhoods.

Helen is no stranger to awards. Over the years, her work has been recognised with an impressive array of South African and international honours: the Order of the Disa; an honorary doctorate from the University of Notre Dame; the 2008 Roger Joseph Prize for her humanitarian work through Ikamva Labantu; the 2008 Absa Jewish Achiever Humanitarian Award; and, in 2017, France’s Officier de la Légion d’Honneur.

Each recognised a different aspect of a remarkable contribution to humanitarian work, service to disadvantaged communities and the building of community-based organisations.

The Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award adds something different. It honours not only what Helen Lieberman has achieved, but how she has led: by recognising ability where others might not see it, by giving grassroots leaders the tools and support to develop their own communities, and by understanding that leadership is ultimately about service.

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

Unpacking the 2026 Local Government Elections – Cape SAJBD AGM & Conference

Real talk, real updates, and your chance to engage.
FEATURING A DISCUSSION WITH WAYNE SUSSMAN, South African Political Commentator and Analyst

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2026
17H30 TO 19H30

Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies | http://www.capesajbd.org | Instagram | Facebook

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

Decide the future of your community by exercising your right to vote

https://www.elections.org.za/pw

Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies | http://www.capesajbd.org | Instagram | Facebook

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za

The Glass Island

Blue concrete wall textures for background - Vintage Film Filter

Listen to this review

We are beset with stories of war. Pervasive and shocking, our world seems to revolve around the Middle East, Ukraine, refugees escaping tyranny. How do we find the light of Truth, banish darkness and find morality again?

Sounds very esoteric, doesn’t it? And perhaps it is, but for author Patricia Schonstein these are subjects that drive her. Peace, humanity, caring, respecting animals and our environment are her soul mates. 

The creative arts allow us to speak out, whether through the theatre, painting or writing. The arts are the changemakers, saying the difficult things through words, symbolism and motif. When an author has licence there is no telling where we might travel with them and, in The Glass island, Schonstein’s eighth novel, she uses her considerable creative skills in prose, poetry and art knowledge to probe our inner and outer environments and pose tough questions.  

Using magical realism, and, as the protagonist, her own lived experiences, she crosses genre boundaries, reviving the dead, in conversation with the living, uses past wisdom, mythology, to find new perspectives on social issues. This deeply thought-out journey is at once finely wrought, dazzling, sumptuous, theatrical, surreal, ingenious. It is signature Schonstein. Her creative pen sweeps us across this quilt. Cutting, stitching, adding memory pieces that speak to the narrative. As a poet and curator she has interspersed poems seamlessly, adding another dimension, descriptive realities that are movingly apt.

Characters from her previous books, favourite Long Street venues, decadence, a little magic, banquets of mouth-watering food, the Space Theatre, all have a place shifting across the experience. The glorious theatricality is so rich with description as we ride with her across time and continents to a Venetian-inspired sinking golden city, mysterious, sinister.  Finally to an island of Peace – the Glass Island. Overseen by the mysterious Magistra and the Contemplatives,   it is here that five powerful souls, past and present, gather to ponder ‘ethical decay and the tyranny that drives it…the power of creativity and truth in facing up to tyranny’. In the shadows is the sixth soul, waiting, while war and fascism rage on the mainlands.

But the depth is serious. Schonstein’s concern lies with what is happening in the world today and where the answers might lie. This is her stage; she creates a story that provokes thoughts otherwise not entertained, allowing ideas to emerge. We disappear down portals into a time warp where nothing is impossible. You could be walking through a Frida Kahlo painting or a dreamscape: nothing is quite what it seems. She challenges in a gentle, probing way…what are we doing? How do we treat our fellow man, our animals, the lands we live in? Losses that have affected her, brought her to new realisations, those people who have shaped her thinking. She recalls a conversation with her late friend Katarina underlining her commitment to her craft. 

‘I have an obligation as an author to tackle the dark and irredeemable aspects of human behaviour and my absurd belief that my writings might play a part in ending war and the recurrence of genocide…’ 

Words can be powerful weapons. The feelings that emanate are palpable. 

It is a short novella – only 110 pages – with meticulous referencing on the poets, characters, and art, but the content is weighty. A beautifully crafted book that demands attention, re-reading and discussion. Multifaceted, hybrid, exploring, contemplative, questioning, existential, Schonstein’s metaphorical words are a meditation on our tragically crumbling world.

Patricia Schonstein is an award – winning novelist, poet, children’s book writer, blogger and anthologist. Her work has been endorsed by Nobel Laureates, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and JM Coetzee. She lives in Cape Town.

  • For the current edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, click here.
  • Subscribe to the Cape Jewish Chronicle: R450/year, or R38/month via debit order. Simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za and click here for payment info.
  • The Cape Jewish Chronicle reaches over 6 000 readers monthly across print and digital platforms.
  • To book advertising space or discuss a custom package contact Adéle Gradner Mobile: 083 321 5222 | Office: 021 464 6736 | Email advertising@ctjc.co.za
1234...512Page 3 of 512

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE CAPE JEWISH CHRONICLE

About us

The Cape Jewish Chronicle is a monthly print and digital publication that focuses on the Cape Town Jewish Community. The print edition arrives in most Jewish homes in the city in the first week of every month. The website is updated when the print edition goes to post. A voluntary subscription of R450 per year is requested to help cover costs.

The Chronicle includes local organisational and social news (including family announcements and photographs of simchas), editorial material, commentary on local and international issues and stories of interest. Advertising includes both commercial and classifieds.

If you live in Cape Town and do not receive our print edition, please contact the CJC office: 021 464 6736 (09h00-13h00)

Cape Jewish Chronicle

Important links

Popular categories

© Cape Jewish Chronicle 2026. All rights reserved.