The Melton graduating class of 2009 at Cafe Riteve.

This will be a night to remember, as the Melton 2009 graduating class and their significant ‘Jewish Journey’ partners attended an evening of reflection and acknowledgement in December.

Each year group has its own dynamic and each student ends his or her 2-year commitment to the Melton programme in a different and unique place, which also marks their new beginnings.

Hyman today, holding a poor substitute for the original.

After a recent stay in a hospital near my home in California, I received a questionnaire from the administrator. I responded that I’d been delighted with the courtesies and professionalism of the staff, but I resented the antisemitism. On my second morning there, my breakfast tray contained a curious item: wrapped in cellophane was a round, cold, soggy bread-like substance, ashamed of its own pallor. The menu labelled it a “bagel”. I told the administrator that anyone calling that deeply offensive object a bagel must be a rabid antisemite!

Richard Kommel (left) selling raffle crackers to Rodney Stein

This year’s Race Day launched the 60th Anniversary of Astra Jewish Sheltered Employment Centre (to take place in 2010).

It was undoubtedly the event at which to socialise and be seen. Enthusiastic supporters added sparkle to the wonderful atmosphere. The financial success of the day was achieved through the support of the 240 guests and in particular the generosity of the main sponsors namely Macsteel, ICA Laboratories, President Hotel, Tantalum Capital, Berk Enterprises, Market Toyota, Cane Time and the Camps Bay Consortium.

After a decade of this column, Israel is less secure than when I started writing it — and it is political inertia and a lack of peace — not Iran, Hamas, or Hizbollah — that are the reasons why

After 10 years of being the Cape Jewish Chronicle columnist, the time has come to write my last ever column. All things must come to an end, and what better time to call it a day than on one’s 10th anniversary

As I started to consider how to approach this column, it began to dawn on me just how long a decade is, and in particular when it comes to the Middle- East and associated matters. What a remarkable, eventful and momentous decade it has been — a period that has seen so many highs and so many lows, which started with talks of peace and that has ended during years of uncertainly and conflict.

It has been the ultimate political rollercoaster.

In the age of the individual with differing outlooks, how do we operate as a community?

We live in an age in which individualism has been elevated to a status unknown in earlier times and this presents a challenge to a community whose cultural and religious expression has been largely communal rather than individual.

In Judaism, community is viewed not as an imposition or even as a pragmatic social structure, but as a value which implies solidarity and commitment, and which gives people a sense of belonging and identity. This is embodied in terms such as ‘Klal Yisrael’, and in statements such as ‘Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh or al tifros min hatsibor’.