Adam and Gideon of blessed memory

Rabbi Ben Isaacson Johannesburg ​

However, I must take issue with the publicity accorded those who like and support Mr Shaked of Beit Emanuel and his BDS colleagues, including its president (whom I worked with in the Struggle, G-d forgive me) while claiming to be “Zionists”. Such individuals belong in the garbage of Jewish history.

The Reform movement, to which I once belonged, had in this country, a number of leaders and rabbis who were farbrente supporters of the Zionist movement and Israel. In my time there was the Chief Minister, Arthur Saul Super of blessed memory, followed by the rabbi of Temple Emanuel and my close friend, Dickie Lampert.

Most of all, there was the founder and builder of Reform in South Africa, Rabbi M C Weiler, whose memory I revere. Incidentally, for most of those who don’t know, he was the first Jew, let alone rabbi, to establish a school, in Alexandra, for black children.

More than that, he was the essential Zionist and at the end of his career in the rabbinate, made aliyah and raised his family in Israel. MC’s sons, Adam and Gideon, had their education in Israel. After school, like all Israeli youth, they were called up to serve in Israel’s army, Zahal. During the 1970 War of Attrition with Egypt,

Adam was killed while serving as a tanks company commander near the Suez Canal. In 1973, the Yom Kippur War broke out. In the fighting on the Golan Heights, Gideon, serving as a tank instructor, lost his life in combat. I knew both these Giborei Yisrael, and saw Gideon while serving myself in an artillery unit during the war. I remember them every year on Yom Hazikaron.

Anyone who attends a conference of the anti-Israel ANC, of which I was once a devoted member, and when asked to say a prayer, blasts a tirade of hate against Israel, and indeed any Jews who support BDS have placed themselves outside the ranks of our community.

The Beit Emanuel congregation, and Reform movement as a whole, should remember MC Weiler and his hero sons, whose memory is insulted by the likes of Shaked and his ilk.