The Gush Etzion abductions and SA Jewry

MARY KLUK

The Gush Etzion abductions and SA Jewry

Across the country, our community came in their thousands to show solidarity with Israel and lend their voices to these calls. In addition to the anxiety we feel for the youths and their families, the abduction by suspected terrorists has created a very dangerous situation that could easily lead to an upsurge in renewed violence in the West Bank.

I can only hope and pray that by the time this column appears in print, the situation will have been resolved. In the meantime, the Board has written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convey our community’s support and sympathy to the Israeli people during this difficult time.

Our letter noted that what has given an additional sense of immediacy to this crisis is the close connection that South African Jewry has with Mekor Chaim, where many young members of our community have studied over the years., and continue to attend.

Sinai Indaba

One of the most moving displays of solidarity took place at the opening of the Sinai Indaba on Saturday evening, where some 4 500 participants joined in reciting Tehillim on behalf of those whose lives are now in such great danger.

Despite the concern over the situation in Israel, the long weekend of learning was, as ever, enthralling and inspiring. Once again, the speakers were of the highest calibre, the events were efficiently and professionally run and attendances in all three centres were gratifyingly high.

In all, it demonstrated the strength of our community’s Jewish commitment and testifies to the foresight of Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and everyone else involved in introducing this very special happening on our communal calendar.  

Jewish Board Talk on Chai FM

Every Friday between 12:00 and 13:00, Charisse Zeifert hosts Jewish Board Talk, an interview programme where local and international experts provide insight on a wide array of topical subjects. Recent guests on the show have spoken on such issues as SA Jews in the theatre, Jews in football, archaeological discoveries in Israel, trends in global anti-Semitism, Ethiopian Jewry, the threat posed by Islamic extremism in Africa and the politics of being a young, liberal Jewish South African.

The show is one of the vehicles through which the SAJBD communicates with its constituency and keeps its members abreast both of its own work and of what is happening more generally in the community and further afield.

It provides an engaging window into the diversity and creativity of South African Jewry, and I encourage you all to participate in the conversation. Gautengers can tune in on 101.9 ChaiFM while out-of-towners can listen in via audio streaming at http://chaifm.ndstream.net/.

• Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM every Friday 12:00 – 13:00. This week she will be speaking to Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft on Jews in Zimbabwe and in the country communities, artist Natalie Knight and Professor Hussein Solomon on jihad in South Africa.