Modern Jewish holiday season upon us

ANT KATZ

The first of the three, Yom Hashoah, is hosted in South Africa by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies in various centres around the country. The first of the three, Yom Hashoah.

The Board will be “hosting the annual Yom Hashoah ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday May 5 at the West Park Cemetery at 12:30,” says communications head Charisse Zeifert. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein will be in attendance at West Park.  

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“Ceremonies will be held throughout the country,” says Zeifert, who promised to send the information on that to Jewish Report as soon as possible. No booking is required, but for more information the public can call the Board at (011) 645-2583.

RIGHT: Israeli aerial combat aircraft at a display last year

Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut are the purview of the SA Zionist Federation.

IN JOHANNESBURG:

• Yom Hazikaron will be on the evening of Tuesday May 10 at Yeshiva College, starting at 18:30. Guest speaker Rafi Herbst, senior member of MDA and an IDF reserve major, will talk on how his life has been inspired by his late uncle, Shlomo Mordechai z”l, an SA expat who was born and brought up in Port Elizabeth.
• Yom Ha’atzmaut will be on the evening of Wednesday May 11 at the Huddle Park Golf Course. The doors open at 17:00. This is a family event, says national executive director of the SA Zionist Federation Nicci Raz. “Bring the kids for an amazing night of carnival and fanfare.” They will have something for everyone, she says, including: the Tiny-tots Zone; the Adventure Rides; a Maccabi Sports Zone; and more. There will also be live performance stage area, delicious foods (street-party style) and a night shuk
• The YH16 party, which has become a regular event for young adults 18 to 35, is expected to be an awesome after-party in a closed off area with world-class DJs.

All booking for the Johannesburg events can be done via The SAZF offices at (011) 595-6699 and tickets will also be available at the door.

IN CAPE TOWN:

• Yom Ha’atzmaut will be celebrated on one night only – Wednesday May 11 with a special performance of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” featuring the Jaman Israeli Trio and Weizmann Primary School. The gates open at 17:00 and the cost is R30 for aduls, R10 for children, while kids under three get in for free. They will also host local bands, a shuk, have kiddies rides, a photo-booth, glitter tattoos and stalls galore. Shuk and stall bookings are still open.

For bookings contact Yvette at: (021) 464-6714 or on wpzc1@ctjc.co.za or SAZF Cape Council Executive Director Julie Berman at (021) 464-6726 or on wpzc@ctjc.co.za 

IN DURBAN:

• Yom Hazikaron Tuesday May 10 at the Durban Jewish Centre at 18:30. A Tribute to Israel’s Fallen
• Yom Ha’atzmaut will be on Wednesday May 11, also at the Durban Jewish Centre at 18:30, where they will hold “A Celebration of Israel’s Independence”.

The KwaZulu-Natal Zionist Federation is the host and enquiries or bookings for Durban should be directed to Robyn Bradley at (031) 335-4451 or on hashalom@djc.co.za or visit www.hashalom.co.za 

ABOVE and BELOW – Durban’s event posters

ABOVE and BELOW – Cape Town’s event posters