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2007 December

decmber2007_thumbnail This Volume 24, No 11 issue doubles as the last of 2007 and the first of 2008, as we now ‘close shop’ – to resume operations again only in January next year to produce Volume 25, No 1 – the February issue.

Yes, we have never ever actually produced a ‘No 12’, always requiring a good end of year break, and particularly now, following a 52 pager and a record annual number of 452 pages.

The suggestion is that you download this web transmission of the 52 pages (10 Megabytes) and peruse them all at your leisure, noting first the brief boxed editorial on page 3 which highlights all our partners in this enterprise.

You will also have the opportunity to read some of the articles ‘out of column’ as below.

Throwing down the challenge

Jewish Board of Deputies 27/10/07 Gala opening at President Hotel

Individuals could influence public opinion in the “war of legitimacy” being waged against Israel, Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights NGO, said at the gala opening of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape Council) 2007 conference.

The packed gala opening on the Saturday night at the President Hotel was addressed by the dynamic Mr Neuer. His address: ‘Israel at the United Nations: a nation that dwells alone’, outlined the harsh reality of the anti-Israel bias at the UN Human Rights Council. It was hard-hitting, sobering and very well received by the over 300 strong audience, setting the tone for a highly successful and well-attended conference, aptly themed ‘Challenges and Choices’.

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SA Holocaust Foundation to establish centre in Johannesburg

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The Board of Trustees of the South African Holocaust Foundation (formerly known as the Cape Town Holocaust Centre Trust) has appointed a committee to establish a Holocaust centre in Johannesburg.

“Since its inception in August 1999, the Cape Town Holocaust Centre has successfully fulfilled its mission of preserving he memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and teaching about the consequences of unchecked bigotry and discrimination,” said David Susman, chairman of the Board.

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Annapolis here they come?

As the vital behind-the-scenes negotiations between Israel, the Palestinians and the Americans continued over the past weeks in advance of the Annapolis summit, one issue has taken centre stage — the notion of Israel as a ‘Jewish State’. The controversy that the subject has generated, and the fact that it alone may jeopardise whether the talks may yet even take place, speaks volumes about the differences that remain between Israel, and the Palestinians and the Arab world as whole.

This past week Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert publicly declared that the starting point for all negotiations with the Palestinians will be the “recognition of Israel as a state for the Jewish people …

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The Way IC it

Whew! What a year this has been! Absolutely chronic! Virtually every issue has been at least 25% larger than anticipated. And speaking of virtually, we also have the website, cjc.org.za, which needs some attention to upload, so that web-readers can download. Loaded is the name of the game. A dicey situation!

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From SAJBD National Chairman Zev Krengel

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAPE COUNCIL

I begin by congratulating our Cape Council on an outstanding conference, as well as the newly elected committee. In my congratulatory message to the Cape Council for the occasion, I made the point that South African Jewry owes a deep debt of gratitude to the Jewish community of Cape Town. Not only is it our mother community, where organised Jewish life first took root, but to this day it remains a vital hub of Jewish activity that caters for every aspect of Jewish communal life within a superbly organised, disciplined framework that allows for both growth and continuity.
The Cape Council, as the central representative and coordinating body of Cape Jewry, has always been served by people who combined vision, leadership abilities and experience, with a deep commitment to furthering the greater Jewish cause. This proud tradition continues to this day, with leadership of the highest calibre emerging to take up positions of responsibility on the community’s behalf.

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2007 November

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In this edition, heralding our entry into the final ‘furlong’ of 2007, we see that communal activity both within the family and without is energetic and ongoing. Which explains why this November issue, anticipated to be lighter in pages and megabytes, is in fact rather hefty.

Once again then, eschewing suggestions of highlights, we advise readers to peruse the issue yourselves. We are confident you will find much to satisfy your curiosity and interest in terms of what has been happening over the past month or so as well as some of what’s ahead, not to mention the many advertisers you may wish to patronise.

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It is a day of new partnerships

A lunch meeting with Professor Malcolm Hedding, international executive director of the International Christian Embassy based in Jerusalem, is always a ‘must’. Listening to this highly informed, articulate and passionate supporter of the State of Israel and the Jewish people lifts spirits to greater heights than any other protagonist could achieve.
This is one special guy.

And so it was on Tuesday 16 October, when he addressed a cross-section of leadership of the WP Zionist Council, Board of Deputies, Christian Zionist organisations and associate bodies, at the Albow Centre.

In an overview of various areas of interest and concern, Hedding provided insights on a full range of issues affecting the Jewish state at this time, and prospects of what lies ahead. He discussed the SA-Israel ‘axis’, which he said was problematic because of this government’s stance vis-a-vis Iran, and its refusal to support the calls for sanctions against its regime.

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A Board Perspective

Just before Rosh Hashanah the Board was engaged in the latest round of its extended battle against Radio 786 when the Constitutional Court considered the latter’s application to strike down certain provisions of the Independent Communications Authority of SA legislation relating to complaint and adjudication. The aim of the application was to overturn ICASA’s ruling upholding the Board’s complaint against Radio 786 for antisemitic broadcasting.

The Board, as fourth respondent, strenuously argued against the application. Judgment has been reserved and we wait the outcome with interest. I warmly ommend the Board’s legal team, and in particular Mervyn Smith and Ivan Levy, for the outstanding work they continue to do in this important matter, on which hang many crucial issues concerning freedom of expression and the continued illegality of hate speech in South Africa.

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HONOURABLE MENSCHEN

The winning of the 1995 Rugby World Cup by South Africa was a wonderful step in reconciliation. Nelson Mandela will forever be identified with that glorious moment in our rugby history. Here are some quotes attributed to him by Jennifer Crwys Williams in the book edited by her ‘In the words of Nelson Mandela’.

“On the Rugby World Cup, South Africa, 1995 Our whole nation stood behind a sport which was once a symbol of apartheid. When it was 12/12 I almost collapsed. I was absolutely tense. When I left the stadium my nerves were completely shattered. I’m still recovering.”

The last quote was from an interview with the ‘New York Times’ in 1997, while the first quote had the following footnote:

“None more so than Nelson Mandela himself. He appeared at the final wearing captain Francois Pienaar’s No 6 shirt – and brought the entire country along with him, surely one of the most successful efforts at reconciliation in South Africa.”

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