Jewish students write in peace.

MARY KLUK

This was one of the very positive outcomes of the extensive negotiations conducted between ourselves and that university, through which we have hopefully arrived at a permanent arrangement to resolve all cases of exams that fall on Yomtovim in the future.

In the first instance, I would like to thank the two universities for their willingness to go the extra mile in ensuring that observant Jewish students who have no other alternative, can still write their papers. Thanks also to Rosh Beth Din Rabbi Moshe Kurtstag for his involvement in helping ensure that the integrity of the exams process was respected and to our professional staff for following the process through and assisting with all the complex arrangements that came along with it.

Having just celebrated Shavuot, the festival marking the giving of the Torah, it is appropriate that this year’s Sinai Indaba will be taking place this weekend, commencing in Johannesburg and thereafter going on to Cape Town and thereafter Durban. Wherever it is taking place, I urge all members of our community to take advantage of this unique opportunity for learning and growing in their Judaism.

Inaugurated four years ago, the Sinai Indaba was an immediate success and quickly established itself as one of the most keenly anticipated events on our community’s calendar. I congratulate Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein on spearheading this remarkable initiative, which has done so much to foster interest in traditional Jewish life and learning, while also bringing so broad a spectrum of our community together.

The Durban event will be taking place in conjunction with the dedication of the new Jewish centre in Umhlanga on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. The establishment of this magnificent new facility represents a true beacon of confidence in the future of Jewish life in South Africa.

Faced with the challenge of reducing numbers and changing demographics, the Durban United Hebrew Congregation and other farsighted community leaders wholeheartedly backed the creation of a vibrant new Jewish facility in the Umhlanga area.

Today, there is a thriving Jewish day school, a shul and a Kollel, and we are seeing Jewish life beginning to blossom. Having been much involved with that project from its inception, I am particularly looking forward to what promises to be a most joyous occasion for Durban Jewry.

Like the Sinai Indaba, the new centre represents the devotion of our unique Jewish community in South Africa to celebrating its Jewish heritage and the commitment of its members to continually building upon what has been achieved for today’s and for future generations.

* Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM every Friday 12:00 – 13:00. This week, Charisse will be talking to veteran theatre personality Daphne Kuhn on Jews in the arts and to Cape Town writer and academic Rebecca Hodes on the perks and politics of being a young Jewish South African today.