The Dudu Fisher Concert

The Western Province Zionist Council commenced Israel’s 60th Anniversary celebrations with THE DUDU FISHER CONCERT. This outstanding performer entertained a full house at the BOE Auditorium, with many people disappointed at not being able to get seats.

Adv Jonathan Silke and Moonyeen Castle met with a very high profile Israeli delegation, which included Silvan Shalom — former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ronit Tirosh — Member of the Knesset and Ambassador Levanon — the Israeli Ambassador in Geneva, who were in South Africa for the Inter Parliamentary Union Conference.

Well done, Tamar Lazarus

We congratulated Tamar Lazarus, the recipient of the 2008 Herzl Award, which was presented to her at the WPZC Conference by the chairman of the SAZF, Avrom Krengel. Barney Singer was the proud recipient of the Jerusalem Award, presented to him at a luncheon in his honour by Ze’ev Bielski, chairman of the Jewish Agency and WZO.

“It’s like we’ve gone back in time.” “I feel like in the old days.” “The crowd just kept growing …” “The energy and excitement feels like Yom Tov …”

These were some of the comments heard as the crowd mingled for a Shabbat experience on the steps of the Gardens Shul on Shabbat 7 November.

‘The Glory, The Grandeur, The Gardens’ was the billing for what will definitely go down as one of the most memorable Friday night Shabbat experiences in Cape Town’s history. Highlighting the first anniversary since the launch of the monthly ‘Friday Night Live’ programmes at the Gardens Shul, the occasion was marked by the opening of the historic grand entrance of South Africa’s first synagogue into the Company Gardens.

The evening was truly magical, as a crowd of over 1000 men, women and children packed out the lively services (130 teens at the teen service!) led by Rabbi Osher Feldman, Cantor Ian Camissar and choir and a team of youth leaders. A ‘Sushi and Glenlivet’ brocha was then served in a beautifully decorated, brightly lit marquee in an eruv enclosed area outside the original Grand Front entrance of the Shul, where the crowds enjoyed the excitement of the evening.

Cape Board and WPZC members protest against xenophobia outside St. George’s Cathedral

The spate of xenophobic violence that started in Gauteng spread to Cape Town in the week of 19 May and resulted in almost 20 000 foreign nationals being displaced.

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape Council) co-ordinated refugee relief efforts over a period of months, specifically in relation to what became known as ‘the Caledon Square Group’, as well as efforts directed more generally towards refugee relief in the general Cape Town area.

The Board has an outreach portfolio, chaired by Li Boiskin, and it sent out an appeal amongst the Jewish community for financial aid to allow the Board to carry out relief efforts directed at victims of the xenophobic attacks and violence. A few hundred thousand rand was raised, supplemented by a further substantial contribution from Investec channelled through our National office, and to date almost all the funds have been utilised.

Strolling together through the Bo-Kaap

On Sunday 23 November, in an unusual ‘first’, 35 young university students, Jews and Muslims, spent the day together sharing and learning about their respective cultures in walkabouts and visits to their traditional historical centres.

After meeting at the Slave Lodge, they went together to the Bo-Kaap where they ‘walk-toured’ up to the Awal Mosque and visited the Bo-Kaap Museum, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the neighbourhood. The tour of the Jewish ‘quarter’ began at the Mount Nelson, where they took in the plaque commemorating the first minyan in Cape Town. Then on to the SA Jewish Museum and to the Ponevez Shul in Maynard Street.

In the afternoon they watched and discussed a video of ‘Encounter Point’, and concluded the day sharing a ‘finale supper’ — “Blintzes and curry, samoosas and chopped herring,” laughs one of the organisers, Daniel Mackintosh.

Maccabi Western Province held their first ever Action Day on Sunday 28 September 2008, with over 100 participants and supporters attending the sporting day. Senior and Junior Cricket, as well as open Netball roundrobin tournaments were held.

The level of play was extremely high, with plenty of classic cover drives, sixes, run-outs, goals and even a hat-trick! In fact, the referees even suggested that a few of the teams would be competitive in league play — something that Maccabi Western Province is considering, so please watch this space!