Voices
Information to help you weather the crisis
We applaud President Cyril Ramaphosa for his decisive action on Monday night in announcing a three-week lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The steps outlined in his address are of critical importance to giving our country a realistic prospect of dealing with the extremely serious situation that we, along with the rest of the world, find ourselves in. As a community, we need to be disciplined and responsible at all times in abiding by these measures so that they achieve the required outcomes.
SHAUN ZAGNOEV
For detailed advice and information on COVID-19 including directives for the lockdown, I urge everyone to make full use of the COVID-19 Jewish Community Platform that we have set up, and which can be accessed either on Facebook or by consulting the menu on our website (www.sajbd.org).
This platform has been a valuable resource in helping our community weather the crisis, and indeed, it’s increasingly being used by other communities as well. It provides regular updates and communal guidelines on a wide range of issues and a hotline, “Ask the Prof”, an interactive forum for people to put their questions to Professor Barry Schoub and receive expert information and guidance. Regular podcasts by Schoub continue to be uploaded.
Following the president’s speech, several questions have arisen specific to our community, especially regarding kashrut and Pesach. Schoub has identified a number of major adjustments that will have to be made on seder night to minimise the possible spreading of the virus and the infection of loved ones, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community and the country at large. These can be found on the platform. Should anyone have Jewish-related issues they would like clarification on, or in the event of experiencing or becoming aware of any instances of anti-Semitism, email sajbd@sajbd.org.
These are very stressful and uncertain times for all of us, and we can expect things to get worse before they get better. Painful sacrifices will need to be made, not least in having to forego the social interaction with loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fellow congregants that we have always taken for granted. That being acknowledged, I’m confident that our community is sufficiently united, organised, adequately resourced, and resilient to weather the present crisis. I can further assure all community members that the board will be there for them throughout this trying period, and that we will do whatever we can to advise, inform, or otherwise assist.
- Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.