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  south african                                               n   Volume 23 – Number 15   n   3 May 2019   n   28 Nisan 5779

T h e sour c e of qual i t y co n tent, n ews an d insights
                                                                                                      www.sajr.co.za
T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
Art Deco                                     19th century Royal Worcester hand painted
                                                                                    diamond ring                                          moon vases decorated with irises
                                                                                    SOLD R9,000                                                             SOLD R12,000

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  011 789 7422 • 083 675 8468 • 12 Allan Road, Bordeaux, Johannesburg                                        SOLD R8,500

                                                                                                                                                                                                       t
                                south african                                                                                     n   Volume 23 – Number 15              n   3 May 2019                  n   28 Nisan 5779

                            T h e sour c e of qual i t y co n tent, n ews an d insights
                                                                                                                                                                                                       www.sajr.co.za

South African in shul during San Diego shul shooting
TALI FEINBERG                             constant threat of rockets there.    now,” he says. “South Africa is                living in the area expressed their             says, referring to the actions

A
                                            “This is a quiet town, and the     usually 20 years behind the United             shock at the shooting. “I heard the            of the current United States
         ubrey Meyerowitz,                shul is in a quiet lane. There was   States, but in security at shuls and           news when I got home from shul,                administration. “It is a passive or
         originally from                  no security because no one ever      public places, South Africa is 20              and was simply flabbergasted,”                 even active consent to allow them
         Johannesburg, was in the         expected this to happen here,”       years ahead.”                                  says Howard Schachat, originally               to behave in a way they would
Chabad shul of Poway, California,         says Meyerowitz, who had even           He says the America of today                from Cape Town. “I’ve been to                  never have before.
on Saturday when he heard shots           seen children playing in the         is a different place to what it                that shul, and sang in the choir                 “Ten years ago, I would never
ring out. “It was the first aliyah of     reception area of the shul just      was when he arrived 23 years                   for a Barmitzvah there. It’s a                 have expected something like
the Torah, and I heard three shots.       before the shooting.                 ago, and this kind of terrorism is             lovely community. I was in tears               this to happen in San Diego, but
I dropped to the floor                                                                                                                                                              now, with neo-Nazis saying
under the seats, and stayed                                                                                                                                                         ‘Jews will not replace us’
there.
   “The whole thing took           ‘In the face of darkness, spread light’                                                                                                          in Charlottesville, it’s a
                                                                                                                                                                                    different paradigm, and
only about 30 seconds to a                                                                                                                                                          Jews will always be the
minute but I counted about                                                                                                                                                          scapegoat.”
15 shots fired. I heard                                                                                                                                                                Daniel Weiss, also
women screaming and men                                                                                                                                                             originally from Cape Town,
shouting.”                                                                                                                                                                          attends the shul, and his
   He says there were about                                                                                                                                                         children go to Hebrew
70 or 80 people in shul                                                                                                                                                             school there.
– way more than were in                                                                                                                                                                It is a ten minute drive
the Pittsburgh shul when                                                                                                                                                            from where he lives, “and
                                                                                                                                                                             Photo: Ilan Ossendryver
a shooting claimed eleven                                                                                                                                                           this definitely hit too close
lives six months earlier.                                                                                                                                                           to home”, he says. “It’s a
   But, in this instance,                                                                                                                                                           huge shock, but in a way
more deaths were                                                                                                                                                                    it could also be expected,
prevented because the                                                                                                                                                               especially in the US. Until
shooter’s gun jammed, and                                                                                                                                                           the laws change, it has just
he was confronted by a                                                                                                                                                              become too easy to get a
shul member who had been                                                                                                                                                            gun,” Weiss says.
in the military. “As soon                                                                                                                                                              He attended a vigil
as the shooting stopped,                                                                                                                                                            on the night after the
I ran out of an emergency                                                                                                                                                           shooting, along with
exit, so I never saw the                                                                                                                                                            hundreds of other people.
carnage,” says Meyerowitz.                                                                                                                                                          “The eight-year-old girl
   But he knew the woman                                                                                                                                                            who was injured in the
who was killed in the                                                                                                                                                               attack was there. It wasn’t
attack, Lori Gilbert-Kaye.                                                                                                                                                          only a Jewish event, but a
“She was a wonderful,                                                                                                                                                               San Diego event, with an
charitable person, and her        Praying for solidarity and unity at                                                                                                               amazing blend of people,
family was at shul every                                                                                                                                                            the mayor and a senator.”
                                  Chabad House in Johannesburg on
Shabbos.” The rabbi of                                                                                                                                                              He says the turnout
the congregation, Yisroel         Tuesday night, following attacks on                                                                                                               demonstrated that people
Goldstein, lost two fingers       the Chabad of Poway shul                                                                                                                          were deeply affected by the
in the attack, but managed                                                                                                                                                          shooting way beyond the
to keep calm, and even                                                                                                                                                              Jewish community.
finish his sermon before                                                                                                                                                               Claire Ellman, originally
being taken to hospital. An                                                                                                                                                         from Johannesburg, has
Israeli man, Almog Peretz, and his        “The attitude has been ‘no           becoming an everyday occurrence.               watching the rabbi speak after the             known Rabbi Goldstein for 30
eight-year-old niece, Noya Dahan,       one will worry us, we don’t have       It is something he never could                 shooting.”                                     years while working on Jewish
were also injured. They had moved a fight with anyone, and we’re               have imagined when he made San                   “It’s almost like a lid of                   education projects. More recently,
to San Diego from Sderot (on            a welcoming community’. But            Diego his home.                                permission has been opened                     she interacted with him through
the Gaza border) to escape the          obviously that will have to change        Other South African expats                  for white supremacists,” he
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Continued on page 5>>

     IF YOU DON’T VOTE YOU CAN’T KVETCH
     This year’s Great Debates saw leaders from several political parties discuss issues
     pertinent to the community.
     Now’s your chance to cast your vote and make your voice heard.                                                                                                  #MakeUsCount
T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
2 SA JEWISH REPORT                                                                                                                                                                  si
                                                                                                                                                                                          n Br
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                                                                                                                                                                                                              rld                                       3 – 10 May 2019
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                                                                                                         its suburbs. The CDC pinned the                                                                           Terrorism Bureau on Thursday,

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    Appliance Repairs on Site

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                                                                                                         resurgence on the unvaccinated,                                                                            four days after a terror attack
                                            Canadian anti-Semitism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           r i e f • • Wo r l
                           ,                                                                             and those who brought back                                                                                 at eight churches and hotels in
                  a shers                   Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada rose to a                   measles from other countries.                                                                              three cities in Sri Lanka that

                                                                                                                                                                in B
              ishw           toves

                                                                                                                                                                     ws
                                            record high for the third consecutive year,                     Prominent rabbis in New York                                                                           killed at least 359 people and

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        ge Machi
                                            according to an annual audit by B’nai Brith                  have called on their followers to                                                                      injured hundreds. It called on
                                                                                                                                                                                d
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                                                                                                                                                                                          ••W         rief

     id     g
                                            Canada released on Monday.                                   vaccinate their children.                                                                          Israelis already in Sri Lanka to leave
   Fr shin                                    The audit showed 2 041 anti-Semitic                                                                                                                      as soon as possible, and for those planning
       a          s & more
    W ble Dryer                                                                                          French philosopher afraid
                                            incidents recorded last year in Canada –                                                                                                                   trips to cancel or delay those plans.
                                            16.5% more than the 1 752 incidents in
   Tum                    Call Jason        2017.                                                        to appear in public                                                                           Buenos Aires honours
   082 401 8239 / 076 210 6532                “This represents the third straight record-                Alain Finkielkraut, a Jewish philosopher
                                            breaking year for anti-Semitism in Canada,                   and one of France’s foremost thinkers,                                                        Olympic swimmer
     FREE QUOTATIONS                        reflecting a ‘new normal’ regarding the                      said far-left protests against him meant he                                                   Argentinean Olympic swimmer Damian
                                            landscape of anti-Semitism here,” said Ran                   could no longer show his face on the street.                                                  Blaum, who started his career at a Jewish
                                            Ukashi, the director of B’nai Brith Canada’s                   Finkielkraut made the remark in                                                             sports club in Buenos Aires, was honoured
                                            League for Human Rights.                                     response to recent protests against him at                                                    by the Buenos Aires City Parliament as
                                              Eighty percent of the incidents came                       the Sciences Po university in Paris, where                                                    an “outstanding sports personality” in
                                            from online platforms such as Facebook,                      he spoke at a symposium on Europe’s                                                           recognition of his career.
                                            Instagram, and YouTube.                                      future.                                                                                          The Jewish athlete in February 2018 set
                                                                                                           The demonstrators wrote, “We cannot                                                         a new record for swimming from Uruguay
                                            US measles outbreak                                          accept Finkielkraut’s ‘modern Europe’
                                                                                                         and his islamophobic, racist, sexist and
                                                                                                                                                                                                       to Argentina, crossing the Rio de la Plata
                                                                                                                                                                                                       river in 9 hours, 6 minutes, a distance of
                                            tops 700                                                     homophobic rhetoric.” Commenting on                                                           about 26 miles (41.8km).
                                            The measles outbreak in the United States,                   the protesters, Finkielkraut said, “You are
                                                                                                                                                                                                       • All briefs supplied by JTA
                                            especially prevalent among haredi orthodox                   the fascists. You are the 1930s. You are the
                                            Jews, has topped 700 cases – the most in                     anti-Semites.”
                                                              one year since the Center
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Shabbat times this week
                                                              for Disease Control (CDC)
                                                              declared the disease
                                                                                                         Israel issues Sri Lanka                                                                         Starts                                 Ends

                                                              eliminated in the US in                    travel warning                                                                                  17:19
                                                                                                                                                                                                         17:46
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18:08
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18:38
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Johannesburg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Cape Town
                                                              2000.                                      Israel recently issued a travel warning of a
                                                                                                                                                                                                         17:02                                  17:52     Durban
                                                                 The record outbreak of                  “high and concrete (terror) threat” in Sri
                                                                                                                                                                                                         17:22                                  18:12     Bloemfontein
                                                              704 cases reported last                    Lanka.
                                                              week by the CDC includes                     The warning was issued by the Israel
                                                                                                                                                                                                         17:17                                  18:09     Port Elizabeth
                                                              400 cases in New York and                  National Security Council’s Counter-                                                            17:09                                  18:01     East London

                                                               Torah Thought

                                                               Moral is normal
                                                             I
                                                                 f anyone was bent on convincing us that                      Man-made laws are forever being                                                             Ultimately, morality
                                                                 Torah was old-fashioned, this would be a                  amended to suit changing times and                                                          cannot be decided
                                                                 good Parsha to prove it. Leviticus, Chapter               circumstances. When a new super-highway                                                     by referendum. We
                                                              18, contains the Bible’s Immorality Act. Our                 is built, traffic officials may decide that it is                                           desperately need
                                                              moral code, the forbidden relationships, who                 safe to raise the speed limit. Should there                                                 a higher authority             Rabbi Yossy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Goldman
                                                              may marry whom and who may not – all                         be a fuel shortage, these same officials may                                                to guide us in the        Sydenham Shul
                                                              come from this week’s reading.                               decide to lower the speed limit in order to                                                 often confusing
                                                                 We read this same chapter every year                      conserve the energy supply.                                                                 dilemmas of life. In Egypt and Canaan, lots
                                                              on Yom Kippur afternoon. And every year                         But G-d’s laws are constant, consistent                                                  of degenerate behaviour was acceptable,
                                                              in every shul around the world someone                       and eternal. Divine legislation governs                                                     even popular. In this week’s Torah reading,
                                                              asks the very same question. “Why on                         moral issues. Values, ethics, right and                                                     G-d tells His people that He expects us to
                                                              Yom Kippur, Rabbi? Was there no other                        wrong, these are eternal, never-changing                                                    march to a different beat. We are called
                                                              section of the Torah to choose besides the                   issues. Humankind has been confronting                                                      upon to be a holy nation, distinctively
                                                              one about illicit sex? Is this an appropriate                these problems since time immemorial.                                                       different in this, the most challenging test
                                                              choice to read in shul on the holiest day of                 From cavemen to Attila the Hun to nuclear                                                   of our morality. It doesn’t matter what is
                                                              the year?”                                                   superpowers, the essential issues really                                                    legal or trendy in Egypt, Canaan, America,
                                                                 Fair question. So the Rabbis explain                      have not changed very much. Questions                                                       or Scandinavia. We have our own moral
                                                              that this is, in fact, the ultimate test of our              of moral principle, good and evil, have                                                     guide, our own book of books which
                                                              holiness. The most challenging arena of                      been there from the very beginning. These                                                   requires no editing or revised editions for

  VEHICLES WANTED
                                                              human conduct, the one that really tests                     questions are timeless.                                                                     the new age.
                                                              the mettle of our morality, is not how we                       So we read that adultery was forbidden                                                      When the Torah teaches us to be holy
                                                              behave in synagogue but how we behave                        in Moses’ day, and it still is in ours. So is                                               and distinctive, it is reminding us to be
                                                              in our bedrooms. To conduct ourselves                        incest. But it wouldn’t shock me at all if                                                  normal, not average. Average can be rather
                                                              appropriately in public is far easier than to                the same forces motivating for new sexual                                                   mediocre. Just be normal, and retain your
                                                              be morally consistent in our intimate lives.                 freedoms soon began campaigning for                                                         Jewish uniqueness. It may not be easy. It
                                                                 Old-fashioned? You bet. In a world of                     incestuous relationships to become legal.                                                   may not always be politically correct either.
                                                              ever-changing, relative morality where                       Shocking? Why? If it’s all about consenting                                                 You probably will not win any popularity
                                                              absolutely anything and everything goes,                     adults, why deny siblings? Given the                                                        contests. But you will be faithful to the
                                                              the Torah does, indeed, seem rather                          slippery slope of our moral mountains,                                                      eternal truths of life. And in the long run,
                                                              antiquated.                                                  nothing is unthinkable any more.                                                            you will be right. And happy.

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T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
3 – 10 May 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                                  SA JEWISH REPORT 3

Hearing from the parties prior to elections
The SA Jewish Report attempted to interview all the leaders of the main parties running for election. In this edition, we secured interviews with the African Christian Democratic
Party (page 11), African National Congress (on this page), Congress of the People (page 10), Economic Freedom Fighters (page 9), Freedom Front Plus (page 10), Inkatha Freedom
Party (page 4), and United Democratic Movement (page 10). Leaders of the Democratic Alliance, and the Capitalist Party of South Africa were interviewed in previous editions.

Embassy downgrade not yet considered by cabinet, says Ramaphosa
TALI FEINBERG                                                     of the past decade, we stand ready to seize                       slumped more in the past 12 years than any                           weight to enterprise and supplier development.

P
                                                                  these opportunities. For this, we need policy                     other nation that is not at war, but the president                      “Understanding that small businesses struggle
        resident Cyril Ramaphosa revealed in a                    certainty and consistency, clean and effective                    insists we have begun to turn things around.                         to access markets, we are setting aside more
        pre-election interview with the SA Jewish                 government, and a vibrant and innovative                          “We achieved a five-year high in foreign direct                      government-procurement opportunities for
        Report that the decision to downgrade                     business community. Most importantly, we need                     investment in the past year, reaching R70.7                          SMMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises].
South Africa’s embassy in Tel Aviv had “not been                  young, skilled South Africans who are motivated                   billion in 2018, up from R26.8 billion in 2017.                      We are encouraged by efforts from the private
considered yet by cabinet”.                                       to make a difference.                                             Through commissions of inquiry into state                            sector to do more to source goods and services
   “Once the cabinet has fully engaged and                          “Young people need to see an economy                            capture, SARS [the South African Revenue                             from small and emerging businesses.
come out with a view on this matter, it will                      that has doubled in size since the advent of                      Service], and the Public Investment Corporation,                        Since taking office, the president has spoken
be communicated to the public. In other                           democracy, that has created an extra seven                        we are uncovering details of the wrongdoing                          many times about his vision for South Africa,
words, we remain seized with the modalities                       million jobs since 1994, and they need to ask                     of the past few years, and taking measures to                        but what is he doing to ensure that this is carried
of downgrading the South African embassy in                       themselves what they can do to make our                           address them.                                                        out – with or without him? “It is essential
Israel, and this matter has not been finalised,”                  economy grow even faster and create even more                        “We have made changes at the NPA, at SARS,                        that we build strong institutions that uphold
he said.                                                          jobs.                                                             in the police service, and in state security. We                     our constitution, promote the rule of law, and
   This is direct contradiction to recent                           “It is for this reason that we are focusing effort              are strengthening those institutions responsible                     advance the interests of South Africans,” he
comments by the Minister of International                         and resources on improving access to quality                      for investigating and prosecuting corruption.                        said. “Just as these institutions need to be free
Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu,                                                                                                                                                                      from undue influence by any individual or
who said that the downgrade had already                                                                                                                                                                         group, they should not be reliant on any
                                                   President Cyril Ramaphosa
begun.                                                                                                                                                                                                          one individual. That is why I have spent
   “South Africa is playing a constructive role                                                                                                                                                                 much of the past year working to rebuild
in the Middle East,” the president continued,                                                                                                                                                                   public institutions and mend relations
“and we use every opportunity that avails                                                                                                                                                                       between government, business, labour,
itself to engage with all states in this region,                                                                                                                                                                and communities.”
including the Palestinians and Israelis. We                                                                                                                                                                        Asked how he will keep extremists like
continue to host high-level talks and receive                                                                                                                                                                   the EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters] at
numerous delegations from Israel and                                                                                                                                                                            bay, the president responded, “South Africa
Palestine. We hope to intensify this in the                                                                                                                                                                     is a strong and robust democracy. Without
future.”                                                                                                                                                                                                        a popular mandate, no organisation
   Asked if he still welcomed foreign direct                                                                                                                                                                    – extremist or not – will be able to
investment by Israel, the president said,                                                                                                                                                                       exercise influence over the policies and
“South Africa welcomes investment in our                                                                                                                                                                        programmes of the state.”
economy from any investor that respects our                                                                                                                                                                        In December 2018, the ANC
laws and supports the development of our                                                                                                                                                                        parliamentary caucus signed a co-operation
economy.”                                                                                                                                                                                                       agreement with Hamas. The SA Jewish
   Turning to his own government ahead of                                                                                                                                                                       Report asked the president how the ANC
next week’s elections, he assured the Jewish                                                                                                                                                                    could align itself with such an organisation.
community that he continued to root out                                                                                                                                                                         Ramaphosa responded that the agreement
corruption. “Those who have been accused                                                                                                                                                                        was still being considered by the ANC as
of corrupt practices must be held to account          education – from early childhood to university                                We are rebuilding state institutions, and have                       it had not been seen by all its structures. “I am
in terms of the law, without fear, favour, or         – and why we have prioritised getting youth                                   put capable boards in place to drive turnaround                      certain that it does not call for all the things you
prejudice. That is why we are establishing an         into employment. Therein lies the future of the                               strategies at state-owned enterprises. Through                       mention, because this would be against our own
investigating directorate in the NPA [National        country.”                                                                     these and other efforts, we are working to                           constitution and beliefs as a nation.”
Prosecuting Authority] and have established a            Regarding our massive crime problem,                                       rebuild confidence among investors, business                            Asked what he could say to our community
special SIU [Special Investigation Unit] tribunal     Ramaphosa said, “Building an inclusive economy                                people, and the South African public.”                               to convince it not to abandon South Africa,
to fast track the recovery of funds lost to the       and dramatically reducing unemployment are                                       The president said one of the greatest                            he responded, “We are not in denial about
state from corruption.                                essential to our efforts to overcome crime. As                                impediments to the growth of small business                          the huge challenges we still face, nor about
   “I have no doubt that the law-enforcement          we undertake this work, we are also improving                                 was the continued dominance in some markets                          the severe impact that state capture and
agencies will act against those implicated in         policing by, among other things, moving                                       of established players. “Through interventions                       corruption has had on our economy, public
criminal activity, but must do so through due         resources to station level, where the fight against                           like the new Competition Amendment Act, we                           institutions, and general levels of trust within
legal process. If we want to build strong, durable    crime is most effective.                                                      aim to tackle monopolistic and anti-competitive                      society.
institutions, we must guard against arbitrary            He said the police service was building                                    practices, and create space for new entrants into                       But, “We have the opportunity to turn this
actions by those in power,” he said.                  better relations with communities, and “we are                                the economy.                                                         around. We have shown in the short space of
   As described in this issue of the SA Jewish        strengthening our capacity to tackle gangsterism                                 “We are significantly expanding support                           a year that – as government, business, labour,
Report (see page 8), many young people are            and organised crime. We have taken steps over                                 for small businesses through our business-                           and other social partners – we are determined
considering leaving South Africa. Discussing why the past year to clean up the police service and                                   incubation programme, opening up incubators                          to make a clear break with corruption,
they should stay, the president said, “Despite        other law enforcement agencies so that they                                   in townships and rural areas, where there is                         patronage, policy incoherence, and economic
its challenges, despite its history, South Africa     are focused on the task of promoting safety and                               a great demand for assistance. Through the                           mismanagement. We are not merely saying
has abundant opportunities. Now, as we make           security.”                                                                    revisions we made to the BEE [black economic                         we are on a path of renewal. Our actions
a firm break with the difficulties and mistakes          South Africa’s economic performance has                                    empowerment] codes, we have given additional                         prove it.”

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T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
4 SA JEWISH REPORT                                                                                                                                                                              3 – 10 May 2019

Poway shooting exposes the fractured state of communal discourse
                                          influences drove him to murder and         Jewish hatred, except to go to the
                                          terror.                                    thesaurus? They’re a “scourge”, a
                  OPINION                    What we don’t hesitate to do in         “disease”, a “poison”, a “pathology”.
                                          the absence of hard information:              But that formula has changed, like

                                                                                                                                  Photo: David McNew/Getty Images
                                          draw our own conclusions; lay blame;       just about everything else, certainly
                  Andrew Silow-
                  Carroll – JTA           wedge the shooter’s scant bio into         in the past three years, and perhaps

H
                                          the political frameworks that we’ve        over a decade and more.
         ere’s what we know about         already erected.                              Jews can no longer agree on how
         the shooter who took the            The “react” story has long been         to regard anti-Semitism. The left
         life of a worshipper at a San    a staple of ethnic journalism. After       focuses on a far right energised by
Diego area Chabad and wounded             a big global or national event,            the rise of nationalist populism and
three others: he was a white, 19-year-    you round up the reactions of, in          politicians whose own nativist views
old college student who grew up in        our case, Jewish organisations.            sound awfully familiar to historians
an Orthodox Presbyterian church,          Rarely are these condemnations or          of hate. The right sees anti-Israelism
and he may or may not have tried          celebrations surprising or even very       as the “new anti-Semitism”, and                                                                               People embrace
to set fire to a nearby mosque last       interesting. Sympathy at natural           regards as the biggest threat those                                                                               outside the
month, perhaps inspired by the            calamities, outrage at man-made            whose support for the Palestinians                                                                              Congregation
terrorist attacks at two mosques in       ones, thumbs up or thumbs down             quickly devolves into classic anti-                                                                                   Chabad
                                                                                                                                                                                                     synagogue in
Christchurch, New Zealand.                when the story is political, depending     Jewish “tropes”. Centrists are
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Poway, California
  What we didn’t know: why he             on your ideology.                          criticised for trying to straddle the
targeted a synagogue; why he wanted          As to anti-Semitism reactions,          line because failing to take sides
Jews to die; what combination             how many ways can an organisation          means they are weak on [insert your             The dynamic was on display in           of political commentary and into Der
of personal madness and outside           express its dismay at acts of anti-        enemy here].                                 the hours after the shooting at the        Sturmer territory.
                                                                                                                                  Poway Chabad. The Anti-Defamation             Unlike Bend the Arc, however, the

Buthelezi proud to tell truth about Israel
TALI FEINBERG                                                  mediator for peace.”
                                                                                                                                  League (ADL), long the community’s
                                                                                                                                  compass on anti-anti-Semitism,
                                                                                                                                  avoided the blame game.
                                                                                                                                                                             Friends of the Wiesenthal Center
                                                                                                                                                                             statement did not point fingers at
                                                                                                                                                                             the American president or mention
                                                                  He has visited Israel a number of times and formed close           “It’s heartbreaking to see yet          the actual Nazis who marched at
“The reason the Jewish community should vote for the           bonds with its leaders, from Shimon Peres to Ariel Sharon          another tragedy on Shabbat, on             Charlottesville or ran as Republicans
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is the same reason any South       to Benjamin Netanyahu. “So, when people denigrate me               the last day of Passover, exactly          in last year’s midterms. Instead it
African should vote for the IFP: we are trustworthy. We        for supporting Israel, I pity their ignorance. As far as my        six months after the shooting              condemned college students and
have a proven track record of leadership integrity and         politics is concerned, I have always supported a two-state         at the Tree of Life synagogue in           professors who support the boycott
clean governance. There is nothing our country needs           solution. I made this clear again in September 2015 when           Pittsburgh,” which claimed 11 lives,       of Israel, and leftist political leaders
more,” says Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, speaking to the       I visited Israel at the kind invitation of the South African       the ADL wrote on Saturday.                 like the British Labour Party’s
SA Jewish Report ahead of the national elections.              Friends of Israel, together with several senior political             But the ADL also didn’t look to         Jeremy Corbyn and Republican Ilhan
   “This is the most contested election South Africa has       leaders,” he says.                                                 include the Poway shooting into            Omar, “who have been accused of
faced. There are 48 options                                                                      “It is counter-productive        some sort of grab bag of anti-Jewish       promoting anti-Semitism and of
on the ballot paper. But only                                                                 for South Africa to escalate        threats on the left and the right,         trying to create a wedge between
one option is right for South                                                                 tensions by taking sides.           which has become the safe way to           their countries and the State of
Africa. The IFP understands                                                                   Having experienced our own          talk about anti-Semitism. Instead it       Israel”. It also singled out the United
that our nation’s future is                                                                   history, we must surely be          compared the shooting only to the          Nations for its “baffling” anti-Israel
indivisible. There will be no                                                                 champions of dialogue and           recent attacks carried out by white,       resolutions.
justice for one community                                                                     negotiation. We should be           male lone wolves – Christchurch,              There was still another approach,
while another still suffers. We                                                               encouraging both sides to           Pittsburgh – and to the far-right hate     which was to find the commonalities
either swim together, or sink                                                                 continue in dialogue so that a      fest at Charlottesville.                   among the various brands of
together,” he says.                                                                           two-state solution can become          Others saw in Poway a reflection        contemporary anti-Semitism.
   As he pointed out at                                                                       a reality.                          of their worst fears and bêtes noires.        “The anti-Semitic intersection of
the Jewish community’s                                                                           “We saw here in our own          For a left-wing group like Bend the        white nationalism, anti-Zionism,
celebration of his 90th                                                                       country that intractable            Arc: Jewish Action, the blame lay          and Islamic Jew-hatred is to render
birthday last year, he has a                                                                  problems could not be resolved      squarely on the White House and its        the Jews isolated and powerless,”
long history with Jews in                                                                     with violence and armed             current occupant.                          tweeted Einat Wilf, who served in
South Africa. When he was                                                                     conflict.”                             “Although it may be hard to             the Israeli Knesset as a member
a student at the University                                                                      Buthelezi says he is proud to    accept, the fact that we witnessed         of the Labor and Independence
of Fort Hare, he became a                                                          Prince     tell the truth about Israel and     yet another act of white nationalist       parties. “Each feeds off the others
member of the National Union                                     Mangosuthu Buthelezi         his friendship with the Jewish      violence is sadly not ‘hard to believe’,   as evidence that Jews have no
of South African Students.                                                                    community. “Israel is the only      as President Trump said in response        allies, and therefore could be
“A number of our leaders were Jewish. As I became more         country in the Middle East that allows freedom of religion,        to the shooting,” Bend the Arc said.       bullied, maligned, injured, and
and more involved in the liberation struggle, I met and        freedom of expression, press freedom, and gender equality.         “Not when the President and his            killed, with no consequences.”
befriended many more Jewish leaders who were working              Rather than cutting ties, South Africa needs to engage          allies have helped mainstream white           Unsurprisingly, this common
toward the same goals of political franchise, equality, and    with Israel, he says. “The best way to learn is to engage.         nationalism in American politics.”         cause approach is rarely the way
social justice in South Africa.                                When we engage, meaningful change becomes possible.                   Compare that to the Friends             of Twitter, where the left-right
   “I was impressed by their sense of patriotism and           The biggest test of true leadership is being able to do or         of the Simon Wiesenthal Center             divide is often on full display.
responsibility. The cause of justice and freedom was so        say a difficult thing, as long as it is the right thing to do or   for Holocaust Studies, a Canadian          Either modern anti-Semitism
naturally their own cause, even when this was not their        say. To be out of step with a battalion is the greatest test of    affiliate of the Los Angeles-based         is Trump’s fault, or the Boycott
fight. Duty, faith, and the knowledge of truth led them to     leadership.”                                                       Simon Wiesenthal Center.                   Israel movement is the greatest
make it their fight.”                                             Even in the midst of social crises, he believes education          The Friends group was fast out          danger facing the Jews. That
   His Jewish compatriots included Helen Suzman and her        must continue. “Education must be prioritised. No matter           of the gate with a statement saying        New York Times cartoon was the
husband, Dr Mosie Suzman, “who opened the doors of             what the political circumstances, whether we are fighting          that, “anti-Semitism and hate at           result of vicious anti-Zionism
their home to us when we were in Johannesburg during           for freedom, or fighting for a democracy that overcomes            large continues to increase year to        gone mainstream or part of the
those [apartheid] days. So did Clive and Irene Menell.” He     inequality, education remains at the heart of our fight.           year as nationalist white supremacist      coarsening of the public discourse
was also close to Professor Phillip Tobias.                       “Let us teach our children the truth. Let us speak to           groups expand globally”, but               led by the “alt-right”.
   “Arnold Zulman and his beautiful wife, Rosemary, have       the next generation. Let us equip them to look beyond              expanded the camera view to include           For many there appears to be
nurtured our friendship for the past 50 years of my life.      hashtags and populist slogans, beyond propaganda,                  “extreme leftists [who] unfairly and       a fear that if the focus turns to
We went to shul with them, and attended their children’s       and reductionist arguments. Let us give them a solid               hypocritically defame Israel and           one side of the political spectrum,
Barmitzvahs. Mr Zulman sometimes received calls from           foundation by teaching them what has come before.                  radical Islamists [who] push an anti-      we’ll go soft on the anti-Semitism
anonymous white voices in the dead of the night saying,        And then, let us support them as they begin to build the           Zionist agenda”.                           coming from the other side.
‘We know that you have Buthelezi in your home.’ He was         future,” he says.                                                     It also included in its statement          The historian Deborah Lipstadt
unfazed by this kind of intimidation.                             Buthelezi will be stepping down as party leader after the       a condemnation of what normally            notes this politicisation of anti-
   “The simple fact is that most of the white South Africans   elections. “I will continue as president of the IFP until our      would have been the most                   anti-Semitism in her new book,
who were at the forefront of our liberation struggle were      national elective conference, where a new leadership will          outrageous anti-Semitic act of 28          Antisemitism: Here and Now.
Jewish. All the white South Africans who were arrested         be elected. Our structures have unanimously nominated              April 2019: a cartoon that appeared           “Don’t see anti-Semitism
with Nelson Mandela were Jews,” he says. “Maybe the            Secretary General Mayor Velenkosini Hlabisa to stand for           in the New York Times international        only on the other side of the
fact that the Jewish people have endured persecution for       election. I myself will not stand.”                                edition depicting Israeli Prime            political transom from which
centuries made them the kind of compassionate people              Buthelezi is grieving the loss of his beloved wife,             Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as             you are located,” she warned in
that most of them are.”                                        Princess Irene, who passed away in March after a long              a guide dog (a guide dachshund,            an interview with the Jewish
   Buthelezi says he disagrees with the decision taken by      illness. After the elections, he intends to spend time with        actually), leading a blind Trump. The      Telegraphic Agency. “If you’re only
the African National Congress to downgrade South Africa’s      his grandchildren and stay involved in serving the country         dog’s collar has a Star of David, and      seeing it on the opposite side of the
Embassy in Israel. “It is short-sighted and regressive.        in one way or another. “I have done this for more than 60          Trump is wearing a black yarmulke,         transom, you’re instrumentalising
Moreover, it stands in opposition to our country’s role as a   years. It is part of who I am.”                                    pushing the cartoon out of the realm       this for political purposes.”
T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
3 – 10 May 2019                                                                                                                                                                 SA JEWISH REPORT 5

EFF turns Easter message
into anti-Israel diatribe
JORDAN MOSHE                                and his Jewish roots just like they

B
                                            try to separate Jewish roots from
        lending a religious message         Israel.”
        with a political one, the             Also expressing outrage is the
        Economic Freedom Fighters           African Christian Democratic
(EFF) recently suggested that Jesus         Party (ACDP) leader, Reverend
was a Palestinian. Wishing South            Kenneth Meshoe, who said that
Africans well over Easter, the party        there was absolutely no place for
descended into political criticism of       such use of religious figures in the
Israel and blatant anti-Semitism.           wilful distortion of history. In a
   Wishing the public a “happy and          responding statement, he said, “The
revolutionary Easter weekend” is            ACDP condemns the unacceptable
how the message issued on 18 April          habit of the EFF of releasing
by EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni               statements during Easter and
Quinton Ndlozi began. The party             Passover alleging that Jesus Christ
then went on to caution people to           was a Palestinian.
travel safely and drink responsibly.          “I appeal to […] the leadership of
   Mentioning the last supper,              the EFF to respect our faith, and
the statement reminded readers              stop spreading lies about Jesus
to be mindful of the needy, and             Christ. All honest South Africans
to “prioritise the poor and less            and people around the world know
privileged as the best embodiment           that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Christ today”.
   Immediately thereafter, the
                                            of Judea, not Palestine. When Jesus
                                            was born, the word Palestine was
                                                                                    South African in shul during San Diego shul shooting
religious message turned political.         not even coined. The EFF’s political    >>Continued from page 1
Reminding readers that Palestine is         goal of trying to undermine the            the Friendship Circle programme she runs out of his      structured, facilitated groups to learn how hate breeds
“the birth and death place of Jesus         state of Israel is rejected with the    shul. She also knew Gilbert-Kaye – “she worked on many      hate and love and understanding breeds love.”
Christ”, the EFF urged solidarity           contempt it deserves.”                  tzedakah projects including the Friendship Circle”.           Cheryl Horn, originally from Cape Town, says she knew
with the people of modern-day                 The South African Jewish Board           Ellman said when she first heard of the shooting, she    Rabbi Goldstein, and was horrified and shocked. “Today
Palestine, whom it said, “represent         of Deputies (SAJBD) said that           was shocked. “We had been at another shul for Shabbat       and yesterday there were police cars outside our shul, and
the suffering, permanently                  Ndlozi’s invocation of the viciously    morning, last day Pesach and                                                             when I dropped off the kids at
crucified, disfigured, and humiliated       anti-Semitic “Christ-killer”            Yizkor with our kids and four                                                            Hebrew day school this morning,
naked body of Christ hanging on             imagery to defame the Jewish            grandkids. We left near the end,                                                         there were cop cars there too.”
the summit for all shame”.                  state was deplorable, if predictable.   and a police car pulled up at the                                                           Daniela Peiser Levi, who lived
   This state of affairs is attributed      According to Associate Director         very secure entrance to our shul                                                         in Cape Town for a number
to Israel, described as being               David Saks, this slander against        and asked the guard to step up to                                                        of years, knew Gilbert-Kaye
guilty of “racial discrimination,           the Jewish people is historically       the van. We thought it was a bit                                                         through friends and her
colonisation and apartheid”. The            one of the most pernicious,             strange, but didn’t think much                                                           husband had gone to the Chabad
EFF asked the public not only               inciting anti-Jewish bigotry and        of it until we got home and a                                                            shul several times.
to pray for the oppressed, but              frequently even acts of murderous       friend called to tell me what had                                                           She says people “are on one
“participate in the international           violence against Jewish                 happened. I learnt that Lori had                                                         hand feeling scared, like me. On
isolation of the apartheid state            communities everywhere.                 been murdered only later that                                                            the other hand, it does unite
of Israel until they recognise                “Likening the alleged crimes          afternoon.”                                                                              the community, and there is
Palestinian rights to equality and          by Israel today with what Jews             She says she never imagined                                                           a beauty in how everyone is
return of their land”.                      were supposedly guilty of twenty        this could happen there, “but        Rabbi Yisroel                                       coming together to remember
   The party’s appropriation of             centuries ago has the obviously         we are South Africans and are in Goldstein and                                           Lori and those that were injured
a religious figure for political            intended effect of portraying Jews      Israel a lot, and we see the rise of Lori Gilbert-Kaye                                   and to stand strong against hate.
ends and its suggestion that                as being cruel and evil by nature,”     anti-Semitism all over the world                                                            “We will continue to go to shul
Jesus was a Palestinian has been            he says. “Whereas all mainstream        and the dysfunctional individuals                                                        as always, but there is definitely
widely condemned. According to              Christian movements have now            who have access to guns in this                                                          a heightened sense of security
Benji Shulman, the director of              distanced themselves from such          country. Every week, it’s another                                                        at the shuls, the schools, and
public policy at the South African          venomous ideologies, the EFF            shooting. We had one of our                                                              community events. A friend of
Zionist Federation (SAZF), this             appears to be quite comfortable to      mosques burnt just last week by                                                          ours is organising the logistics of
appropriation is something the EFF          fall back on the crudest medieval-      an unknown arsonist. There’s a combination of hate and      the funeral, which is expected to have a large turnout.”
does frequently, even in the face of        era rhetoric and imagery in order       violence being accepted values, having access to guns,        Her first reaction when she heard of the shooting was
obvious historical truths.                  to demonise not only Israel but the     and the now more open acceptance of being anti-Jew and      fear, “as it hit really close to home. Poway is within the
   “Jesus was a Jew from Judea,”            Jewish people as a whole.               anti-Muslim.”                                               San Diego Jewish community, and we are all connected. It
says Shulman. “Unfortunately, a               “The SAJBD rejects it with the           To the South African Jewish community, she says,         could have been any one of us. It just takes one person to
statement like this smacks of classic       contempt it deserves, and all           “Never be complacent! Keep your eyes open. Continue         create a horror. My reaction was to let those I love know
Christian anti-Semitism, because            decent-minded South Africans will       with the great work of your CSO [Community Security         how much they meant to me, and to give my kids extra
they are trying to separate Jesus           surely do likewise.”                    Organisation]. Kids need to meet with other faiths in       hugs and kisses. I want to keep them safe.”

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T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
6 SA JEWISH REPORT                                                                                                                                                                                 3 – 10 May 2019

 Jewish Report                                                                            Are Israel’s missing in action coming home?
      south african

                                                                                          O
   The source of quality content, news and insights
                                                                                                     n 18 October 2011, after 1 941 days in Hamas
Use your vote wisely, but VOTE                                                                       captivity, missing Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
                                                                                                     was returned to Israel. The moment the first                   DATELINE:

T
                                                                                          pictures of Shalit – whom Hamas had refused even Red
        his coming Wednesday is election day, and the run up to this momentous            Cross access – crackled onto a big television monitor, a
                                                                                                                                                                    MIDDLE EAST
        day is confusing and frustrating for many of us. Just who do we vote for,         silence descended upon the waiting crowd.
        and what impact will our vote have on our future in South Africa?                    I was one of dozens of journalists in a press tent in                  Paula Slier
   I certainly don’t have all the answers, nor am I about to tell you which way to        Tel Nof Air Force Base. Tears glistened in even the most              But here’s the problem. Moscow needs the help – or at
vote. I don’t believe in that kind of journalism, and I do believe this is a hugely       hardened reporters’ eyes.                                          least consent – of Damascus to find Israeli MIAs and the
personal decision.                                                                           I was reminded of Shalit’s homecoming this week                 Syrian army, which is formally at war with Israel, cannot
   Despite this, I have had debates and discussion with friends. These focused on         as Israeli officials released two Syrian prisoners as a            publicly admit it is involved in such operations. Hence,
two things: whether voting for small parties is worthwhile, and whether it is wise        “goodwill gesture” after an Israeli soldier was returned to it vehemently denied it aided in the search and recovery
to vote for the man and not the party. As heated as these discussions became, I           Israel at the beginning of last month.                             operation for Baumel’s remains.
still don’t have the answers.                                                                American-born Zachary Baumel went missing in 1982.                 Israeli officials, too, have said that there was no
   So, as the newspaper for the South African Jewish community, we did the                A tank commander, he was believed to be killed in the              prisoner exchange with Syria over the return of his
only thing we could to help: we asked the parties the questions you would want            Battle of Sultan Yacoub during the first week of the First         body. But the release of two prisoners held in Israeli
answered. That way, we hoped, you will have a few arrows in your decision-making          Lebanon War in June 1982.                                          jails – whether viewed as a goodwill gesture or not –
quiver.                                                                                      For 37 years, his exact fate and that of two other              was approved by the Israeli attorney general without
   When trying to contact the leaders of the parties, the Democratic Alliance was         soldiers missing from the same battle, Yehuda Katz                 government consent, and signed off by President Reuven
the first to respond. Its leader, Mmusi Maimane, was eager to meet us and he              and Zvi Feldman, has been unknown. Largely believed                Rivlin. The prisoners have since been sent to Syria.
did so before Pesach, which is why we ran the interview with him in our Pesach            to have been killed, there was also speculation that                  However, Russian officials have made comments
edition. We also had a very easy time getting hold of the African Christian               they’d been held by Palestinian organisations in Syria.            contrary to those by both the Israelis and Syrians.
Democratic Party leader, our old friend Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, who is always            Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had considered               Putin confirmed that, “Russian Army soldiers found
kind and available to us. He is a real                                                    announcing their deaths, in the end it never did.                  the body [of Baumel] in co-ordination with the Syrian
friend to our community and Israel. In                                                       Army intelligence suggests the unit belonging to the            military” and his special envoy to Syria, Alexander
parliament, he is ever ready to take on our                                               three was ambushed by Syrian forces while advancing                Lavrentiev, stressed that the operation went ahead only
fight, and that of the Jewish state.                                                      to capture positions in eastern Lebanon ahead of an                because it was deemed to be in Damascus’s interests.
   Another old friend of the community,                                                   anticipated ceasefire. Twenty one soldiers were killed                “This action was not unilateral,” Lavrentiev said. “Israel
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, was also                                                     and more than 30 injured. A few tanks and prisoners                made a decision… to release some of the Syrian citizens
keen to respond to our questions. He, too,                                                (including the bodies of fallen soldiers) were taken to            who are in Israeli jails. This was an act of interest for the
has strong bonds – that go way back – with                                                Syria. Afterwards the tanks were displayed in Damascus             Syrian side. We will not do anything that is contrary to
us. I do hope these last after he retires                                                 and one was even sent to Moscow and shown there years Syria’s interests, but only things that serve them.”
following the elections.                                                                  later. It was eventually handed over to Israel.                       At a ceremony held in Moscow, the Russian defence
   We contacted the presidency to request                                                    There are currently four other IDF soldiers who are             ministry presented Israel with Baumel’s jumpsuit and
an interview with Cyril Ramaphosa, and                                                    missing-in-action (MIA) in addition to two others, both            military boots in an Israeli-flag-covered coffin. His
he agreed to respond to our questions.                                                    confirmed killed in Gaza in 2014, but whose bodies have            remains were found in the territory of the Yarmouk
   We also approached Economic Freedom                                                    not yet been returned to Israel.                                   refugee camp near Damascus, and were identified at the
Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema,                                                         For Jerusalem, the importance of bringing home                  Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir and by the
Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota, and General Bantu Holomisa of               MIAs is part of the fabric of a society where every family         IDF’s chief rabbi.
the United Democratic Movement (UDM). We even spoke to the Freedom Front                  sends its sons and daughters to fight. When those                     Netanyahu told Putin, “Two years ago I asked you to
Plus.                                                                                     soldiers go missing, the trauma is a national one. The             help us find the bodies of missing Israeli soldiers, and
   Our intrepid team was hard at work, not taking “no” for an answer.                     return of Baumel after nearly
   It was the responses we got that were eye opening, especially from the EFF.            four decades, like the return of
   The EFF, first and foremost, insists that it is happy to be supported by anyone,       Shalit, was a reminder of how
as long as they don’t support Israel. It goes on to intimate that Israelis are “against   deeply ingrained this value is.
humanity”. The party claims that Israel is killing children and babies, and forcing          However, Baumel’s father,
Palestinians into the mountains without food or water. (See page 9.)                      Yonah, who passed away ten
   These lies floored me, but more than that, it astonishes me that someone               years ago, and his mother,
in a position of power in a political party can espouse these and other horrific          Miriam, who is in her eighties,
allegations as truth.                                                                     repeatedly accused the IDF
   EFF elections spokesperson Veronica Mente went on to say that we needed to             of not doing enough to
be open to paying better salaries… Clearly, we have the money! You know, all Jews         retrieve their son. They always
are supposedly rich just like Shakespeare’s Shylock!                                      remained convinced he was
   Somebody in our community needs to take this up and ensure that those in               alive.
the EFF – who don’t have to like us or the Jewish state – know the facts about the           When the Syrian war
Middle East. It’s simply unacceptable that the party can spew this hate, based on         broke out in March 2011, the
pure misinformation. This is exacerbated in the statement the party put out as an         chaos that ensued created an
Easter greeting. (See page 5.)                                                            expectation in Jerusalem that
   However, even General Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the UDM, has an                    there could be opportunities
exaggerated view of Israel’s might. (See page 10.)                                        for Israeli MIAs in Syria to be
   I can’t say I’m surprised that people have warped views about the Israeli-             found. After Russia entered the
Palestinian situation. I, too, read all the ugly anti-Israel opinion pieces and fake      war in September 2015, that
news out there, both in the mainstream and on social media.                               expectation grew.                  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcoming Israel Defense Forces soldier
   However, I believe it is incumbent on political leaders to do their own research          Moscow is in a unique           Gilad Shalit at Tel Nof after his release from Hamas captivity
and find out the facts before they spew hate speech to those who would do them            position. It maintains good relations with Jerusalem and         you responded in the affirmative. I want to thank you,
no harm.                                                                                  Damascus while controlling the skies of Syria.                   my friend, for what you have done.”
   Even the perceptions about the South African Jewish community and Jews in                 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken              The irony is that the USSR, which existed when
general make for concerning reading in our articles on political parties.                 special care to cultivate ties with Russian President            Baumel was killed and captured, condemned the
   The potential danger of these skewed views of Jews and Israel is so clearly            Vladimir Putin. He has met him 16 times, and is one of           activities of Israel at the time. Today it’s a somewhat
evident in the second attack by a gunman on a shul in the United States. This             the most frequent heads of state to travel to Moscow.            different Russia operating in Syria that helped to retrieve
time, almost six months to the day after the Pittsburgh attack, a 19-year-old             Two years ago, he requested help in searching for Israeli        his body.
opened fire in Chabad of Poway in San Diego. Senseless hate and divisiveness does         MIAs.                                                               But Moscow has many interests – often conflicting –
not benefit anyone, neither does the verbal spread of hatred.                                Russians are particularly sensitive to this. Every            to balance. First and foremost, it is focused on stabilising
   Our hearts go out to all those affected by this killing. I ask and pray that we use    year, thousands of Russian volunteers search for                 the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and
this as a lesson to bring people together, and not push people apart. Words hurt!         Soviet soldiers who fell during World War II defending           co-operates with Iran and Hezbollah. At the same time,
Hatred kills! Enough!                                                                     their homeland from the Nazis. Russians are also                 Putin has said on various occasions that the security of
   More than anything, I ask that we all go into our polling booths with our              grateful for the honour Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust           Israel is one of his main priorities in the Middle East,
consciences and – having read what the parties have to say – we vote.                     Remembrance Centre, pays to Soviet soldiers killed by            and that Israel’s right to protect its national security is
   No matter how confusing and frustrating the elections may seem, not voting             the Nazis. There are plans underway to open a memorial           unquestionable.
is far worse. As the South African Jewish Board of Deputies is saying in its              in Jerusalem for the defenders of Leningrad during                  Just how this will work out regarding the recovery of
campaign, you can complain only if you have voted.                                        World War II, which Putin plans to attend.                       more Israeli MIAs remains to be seen. There are rumours
   Use that vote, it is all you have in trying to improve this country for yourselves        In September last year, the Russian defence ministry          that the body of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen has been
and all who live in it.                                                                   confirmed that Russian forces in Syria were involved in a        found in Syria, but these have been denied by Moscow
                                                                                          special search operation for Israeli MIAs in the country.        and Jerusalem. Nonetheless, a senior Israeli diplomatic
Shabbat Shalom!                                                                           It said Russian soldiers had come under fire from Islamic        official says Moscow is continuing to search for the
Peta Krost Maunder                                                                        State militants while searching an area with co-ordinates        remains of the other two IDF soldiers who went missing
Editor                                                                                    provided by Israel. Although one Russian officer was             in the same battle as Baumel. Israelis will continue to
                                                                                          wounded, the operation continued.                                hope and pray.
T south african The source of quality content, news and insights - SA Jewish Report
3 – 10 May 2019                                                                                                                                                                                                      SA JEWISH REPORT 7

A step too far, and a paper-thin apology
B
       y now, you have most likely read                            if the so-called Jewish symbols of the Star                            about Jews leading a lame, blinded America.        INNER VOICE
       about the cartoon that the New York                         of David and the yarmulke were removed is                              Whereas he is fully entitled to choose to see
       Times published last week. It depicted                      an interesting question. Then, it might have                           it this way, I believe he is mistaken, as most     Howard Feldman
a Dachshund with the face of Israeli Prime                         relied on the defence that it was a comment                            readers will fail to make the distinction. As
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a                             on Israel and not on Jews. Unfortunately, the                          was the case in Germany with the depiction          as a journalist for some years, the one thing he
blue dog’s collar and a dangling Star of David                     clumsiness of the caricature left it very little                       of Churchill being led.                             knew for certain was that a newspaper would
necklace – in case one was not clear as to                         wiggle room, and it had little option but to                              In the course of my public activity and as a     not respond well by being lambasted and
the religious nature of the animal. The dog’s                      admit defeat.                                                          commentator on these types of issues, I am          accused of anti-Semitism. He urged readers
leash, also an Israeli blue, was held by a rather                     In essence, the publication went a step too                         often concerned by our reaction. These events       to engage (in this case) with the New York
rotund Donald Trump, who wore sunglasses                           far. Especially since on the same day that it                          validate our fear and anxiety in the sense that     Times, but not spew hatred and accusation.
for the visually impaired, and seemed to                           decided to acknowledge that the cartoon was                            they “prove” what we have been saying all           Correspondence in that vein would just
have had a yarmulke placed on his head. The                        anti-Semitic, a 19-year-old walked into a shul                         along. So, in the case of the New York Times,       entrench negative or anti-Semitic feelings. And
Jewish dog was clearly leading the “Judised”                       outside San Diego with the express intention                           which has been accused of being no friend to        whereas I am not certain that I am comfortable
president.                                                         of killing as many Jews as possible. Its timing                        Jews or Israel, the publication of the cartoon      with victim blaming, the adult part of my brain
  The work was hardly original. A similar                          couldn’t have been worse.                                              is vindication and proof of what we have            does hear what he is saying.
cartoon appeared in Germany in the 1920s.                             Worth interrogating is the reaction to                              been feeling all along. It’s confirmation bias        What is clear is that anti-Semitism has
Only then it was Winston Churchill being led                       this. Whereas almost everyone condemned                                in that no matter how many other “balanced”         become mainstream. The lines are vague, and
by a haredi looking Jew.                                           it, there were a few I came across who failed                          articles might have been published, this one        we can expect to see more of it as the limits
  It took two days for the New York Times                          to be offended by it. One Jewish social-                               corroborates our thesis.                            are tested. The “artist” at the New York Times
to acknowledge that the publication was in                         media user (who often expresses disdain                                   This is not to suggest that this cartoon was     produced a piece that fell on the wrong side
poor judgement, and that it contained anti-                        for Trump and Netanyahu) saw it more as                                not racist, and it is not to suggest that the       of acceptability. For now. And so, the paper
Semitic tropes. It took another day for it to                      a comment about the personalities and the                              New York Times doesn’t engage in anti-Israel        apologised. This time.
apologise. Whether it would have done so                           characters being depicted than as a metaphor                           rhetoric on an ongoing basis, but we do need          It all reminds me of American Supreme
                                                                                                                                          to temper our response.                             Court Justice Potter Stewart, who when asked
 New York Times – ‘cesspool of hostility’                                                                                                    In conversation on this issue with David
                                                                                                                                          Harris of the Clarion Project (an organisation
                                                                                                                                                                                              to define the threshold test for obscenity,
                                                                                                                                                                                              simply responded that although it was not
RON KAMPEAS – JTA                                        mostly hid from their readers the Holocaust of                                   that monitors global terror), he expressed that     easy to do, “I know it when I see it.”
                                                         the Jewish people has today made its pages a

T
       he Israeli ambassador to the United States        safe space for those who hate the Jewish state.
       has linked the New York Times to the “Jew-        Through biased coverage, slanderous columns,
       hatred of growing parts of the intellectual       and anti-Semitic cartoons, its editors shamefully
class”.                                                  choose week after week to cast the Jewish state
   Ron Dermer was speaking on Monday in                  as a force for evil.”
the US Capitol at the annual Holocaust Days of
Remembrance organised by the US Holocaust
                                                            Over the weekend, the Times apologised
                                                         for including in its international print edition a
                                                                                                                                                                           Marketing/Brand Manager
Memorial Museum.                                         cartoon depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
   It was an unusually political attack on a              PhoNetanyahu as a guide dog wearing a Star of                                            The IUA/UCF are looking for a dynamic and experienced
day and at an event organised by an                           to: David collar and leading a yarmulke-clad
                                                                                                                                                     marketing / brand manager to join their new team.
                                                                            Ale

institution that generally focuses                                     President Donald Trump.
                                                                               xW

on the historical meaning of the                                            The cartoon led to intense
                                                                                                                                                           This is a full day position based in Johannesburg.
                                                                                 ong

Holocaust.                                                                 criticism of the newspaper,
                                                                                     /G
                                                                                   etty Images

   Dermer listed recent lethal                                             including by some of its op-
attacks against Jews, including                                            ed page columnists who are                                       Requirements:
Saturday’s deadly shooting at                                              consistently pro-Israel. Among                                   • A degree in Marketing/PR or similar field
the Chabad of Poway, a suburb               Israeli ambassador            them    is Bret Stephens, who wrote a                             • Minimum 5 years’ marketing and communication experience

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           designbandits.co.za/300419
of San Diego.                               Ron Dermer                  column     about the cartoon excoriating                            • Good understanding of the Jewish community
   He attributed the California                                       his newspaper for “an astonishing act                                 • Campaign/event management
attack, which killed one congregant and                          of ignorance of anti-Semitism”, coming                                     • Digital media and marketing
injured three, and the October massacre at a             from a news outlet “that is otherwise hyper-                                       • Experience in working with a CRM platform (Salesforce)
Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 worshippers,         alert to nearly every conceivable expression
to white supremacists. But Dermer added that “we of prejudice, from mansplaining to racial
have also seen anti-Semitism increasingly poison         microaggressions to transphobia”. Stephens said                                                    Short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
minds in the political classes of what once proudly the paper should apologise to Netanyahu.                                                                        Please send CVs to iuaucf@beyachad.co.za
called itself the West”.                                    However, Stephens, a former editor in chief
   Describing what he termed “the Jew-hatred of          of the Jerusalem Post, added, “I have now been
growing parts of the intellectual class”, Dermer         with the Times for two years and I’m certain that
referred to anti-Semitism plaguing Britain’s Labour the charge that the institution is in any way anti-
Party and rising anti-Israel activity on campuses.       Semitic is a calumny.”
   “We have also seen one of the world’s most               Dermer in his Holocaust remembrance speech
prestigious newspapers become a cesspool of              also alluded to a recent controversy surrounding
hostility towards Israel that goes well beyond           freshman Democrat, Representative Ilhan Omar,
any legitimate criticism of a fellow, imperfect          who has been accused of invoking anti-Semitic
democracy,” Dermer said.                                 slanders in some of her statements critical of
   “The same New York Times that a century ago           Israel. She has apologised for some, but not all.

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