We are pleased to announce that the Chanukah 2015 issue of Jewish Afirs has appeared.
The Jewish Lithuanian legacy comprises a substantial part of this issue. Amidst the inevitable reflections on a community that did not die a natural death but was deliberately destroyed, in part with the connivance of the local population, it is encouraging to feature an example of modern-day Lithuania formally recognising one of its Jewish citizens who achieved renown after emigrating. This is related by Kathy Munroe in her article Herman Kallenbach: Lithuania Remembers a Forgotten Son, on the life of a pioneering Johannesburg architect and human rights activist who played a significant part in the early career of M K Gandhi. Memories of the Lithuanian shtetlach, as well as efforts currently underway to educate and commemorate their legacy, are dealt with by Veronica Belling in There was Once a Home. Memories of the Lithuanian shtetls in the Afrikaner Idishe Tsaytung, 1952-4 and In Remembering Birzh by Bennie Rabinowitz, Gwynne Schrire and Veronica Belling. A reprinted chapter from the memoirs of the late Alec Natas is a droll recounting of a Chanukah episode from his Lithuanian childhood, while a recently discovered letter from a Holocaust survivor in Kovno unsparing records the complicity of non-Jewish Lithuanians in assisting the Germans in the murder of their Jewish neighbours (as well as the looting of their property).
The most comprehensive account of the landmark Greyshirts libel trial, held in Grahamstown in 1934, appears in Hadassa Ben-Ittos acclaimed book The Lie That Wouldnt Die: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (2005). In this issue, with Judge Ben-Ittos kind permission, we publish the first of a three-part feature reprinting the relevant chapter recounting how the SAJBD assisted Port Elizabeths Reverend Abraham Levy in bringing a criminal libel charge against local pro-Nazi activists who had lsely accused him of authoring a document whose contents were based on the antisemitic conspiracy theories of The Protocols.
David A Sher, who has previously written on aspects of Jewish religious and communal life in SA, focuses on the life of the eminent 19th Century religious leader Nathan Marcus Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire. To mark the centenary of the mous Gallipoli Campaign in World War I, an operation that involved and impacted on the Jewish people in significant ways, there is Gwynne Schrires Dardanelles, Dried Flowers and a Dried Leaf: Who was J Rabinowitz Drechsler? In the contemporary SA Jewish art field, Ute Ben Yosef again brings to bear her insight and expertise in Keeper of the Hearth: The Art of Gwen van Embden.
Eugenie Freeds short story Honey Cake is set in pre-war Cape Town. It movingly describes the parallel struggles of a child seeking to break through the veil of secrecy imposed by her mily to learn more about her origins and of a young Lithuanian-Jewish woman to overcome the challenges of a loveless marriage and difficulties of adapting to a still foreign land to forge her own destiny.
Original poetry is contributed by Charlotte Cohen, Mo Skikne and Gabriella Hyman.
Wishing all our readers a safe and restful end of year break and everything of the best for 2016.
View the full issue here : Saks
Editor
Dear Subscriber
Amidst the many hot-button issues confronting South Africa today is the need to confront anew the prevalence of racism and related intolerance within significant sectors of the population. The problem has been exacerbated by the ease with which racist insults, slurs and incitement to hatred and even violence can now be disseminated, thanks to the Social Media and other online platforms. 2016 commenced with a bitterly acrimonious and prolonged controversy of certain racially offensive comments published by individuals on their private Facebook accounts, and currently a series of r-reaching government initiatives, including new or tightened up legislation, are underway to address the problem.
All this lends an additional dimension of relevance to the latest, Pesach 2016, issue of Jewish Afirs. The dominating theme of this issue is antisemitism in pre-war and wartime South Africa, with a complementary examination (by veteran JA contributor and editorial board member Dr Gabriel Sivan) of what was taking place in that regard in the United Kingdom during the same period. Review essays of Milton Shains acclaimed new study A Perfect Storm: Antisemitism in South Africa, 1930-1948, by Tony Leon and the Editor respectively, show how the books themes and subject matter elucidate not only an important, and troubling, period of the South African past, but have considerable bearing on some of the key problems and dilemmas confronting eh country in our own times. The second part of Hadassa Ben-Ittos chapter on the Greyshirt Libel Trial of 1934, while dealing with the events it recounts solely in historical terms, nevertheless also has obvious resonance with our own times, where antisemitic conspiracy theories , thanks to electronic communications, are as ubiquitous as ever.
in their respective reviews of Jan Smuts: Unafraid of Greatness and Rodney Mazinters new historical novel By a Mighty Hand, Ralph Zulman and David Scher cover much of the same ground as the above articles and provide additional insights into the subjects they cover.
Elsewhere, David Shers Synagogal Weddings from a Halachic Standpoint (which inspired this issues front-cover image) delves into the question of whether weddings should, as a matter of law (or, at least, as a preference) be held in the open or whether the wide-spread practice of holding them in synagogues is acceptable. As indicated by the title, Cecil Blooms Where are the women Yiddish writers?
Examines the relative paucity of fictional writing by Jewish women in that language. Gwynne Schrires Cape Town woman nominates Righteous Gentiles tells of the wartime experiences of Cape Towns Lina Kantor (nee Amato) and her successful efforts in later life to have those non-Jews who helped her survive the Holocaust when she was still a girl living on Rhodos officially honoured by Yad Vashem.
Naomi Musikers obituary for her late husband, Reuben Musiker, identifies some of the achievements of this esteemed and much loved scholar, author and academic. Original poetry is contributed by Abigail Bagraim, Charlotte Cohen and Mo Skikne.
On behalf of the Jewish Afirs editorial board, I wish everyone a Chag Pesach Kasher vSameach.
David Saks
Editor
View the Jewish Afirs Pesach 2016 edition here.
MINISTER DAVIES PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE BERTIE LUBNER
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has paid tribute to the late Bertie Lubner. Minister Davies says he learned of the death of Bertie Lubner today, with great sadness.
Bertie played a significant role in the industrialization of this country through the companies that he founded and ran with distinction. He was also a strong advocate for human rights and an active philanthropist, adds Minister Davies.
He says Bertie was the founding ther of the Manucturing Circle which collaborated with the Department to support the manucturing sector in the recent period.
Bertie was a tireless advocate of the role that manucturing should play in economic development, job creation and the fight against inequality and poverty. His numerous contributions to this effort will be sorely missed. On behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry I extend my heartfelt condolences to his mily and many friends and associates, adds Minister Davies.
Issued by: The Department of Trade and Industry
comments
It is with profound sadness that the Field Band Foundation marks the death earlier today of its co-founder and Honorary Life President, Mr. Bertie Lubner.
From our very beginnings in 1997, Bertie has been an active and involved supporter of the Foundations outreach to more than 40 000 children of disadvantage across South Africa. Through this time, he personified active citizenship, humane caring for people less privileged, consistent optimism in positive outcomes, and diligence in helping to direct the Foundations growth. His was the most emphatic example of tenacity in the ce of every kind of challenge, and with this came telling examples of inspiring courage, right to the last.
Bertie Lubner never tired of being delighted by Field Bands and was always supportive of this endeavor to the common good. He urged us on, refused any options of retreat, and never stopped enjoying the magic that he helped to create with young dancers and musicians. He was, in the idiom, a mensch.
In February this year, and despite his worsening health, Bertie insisted on attending the Field Band Foundations national championships in Soweto with his ever-supportive wife, Hillary. Not only did they stay for the entire four-hour event, but Bertie was on the field as much as possible close and personal with participants, as was his style. Here was a man who took great pleasure in being immersed in the music and movement of youngsters who were grabbing lifes opportunities in the best ways possible.
He was delighted at the surprise rendition of Happy Birthday played in his honour by the band he was most long associated with the founding PFG Londulusha Field Band of Springs. And, with that chuckling, twinkling, grin that was a trademark, he had a surprise in return: Ha! Lets play it again!
Thats our Bertie.
And for him we will play again and again, in an expansion of horizons of opportunity for young people right across South Africa. We honour his memory as we do.
Rest in peace, dear Bertie a true son of our soil.
Issued by the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Nicky du Plessis, Field Band Foundation, Johannesburg, 18 April 2016.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies extends its condolences to the mily and friends of Bertie Lubner who sadly passed away this morning. Bertie was an extraordinary man, contributing to many worthy causes. His vision and leadership were responsible for the creation and development of some of South Africas leading NGOs including Afrika Tikkun, []
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Reports of violence, intimidation, and hate-speech directed against Lesbians, Jews and Whites during the protests at Wits University yesterday are distressing. While the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is sensitive to the myriad of serious issues cing students in this country, it is never acceptable to target minority groups and inflame hatred. According []
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The SAJBD condemns the horrendous terrorist atrocities that took place in Brussels today. We express our sincerest condolences to the people of Belgium and particularly the milies of the victims. We join with the international community in expressing our commitment to eradicating the scourge of terrorism wherever it suces.
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The SAJBD joined the Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese commemorating Human Rights Day in Sharpeville. The event remembered the horrific loss of life in Sharpeville, but also focused on the important anti-racism campaign. Witnesses shared their harrowing tales of the 21st of March 1960. SAJBD Chairman Shaun Zagnoev delivered a message on behalf of our community. []
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King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College leadership participated in the Greek National Day Celebration
King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College leadership participated in the Greek National Day Celebrations and takeonracism event at Saheti School.
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Celebrating Greek National Day with the Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese communities, where the message of social cohesion and anti-racism was reinforced in the lead up to Human Rights Day.
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The SAJBDs mission is to work for the betterment of human relations between Jews and all other peoples of South Africa, based on mutual respect, understanding and goodwill, and to protect the civil liberties of South African Jews. It is committed to a South Africa where everyone will enjoy freedom from the evils of prejudice, intolerance and discrimination.