Mystery of grave dug up in Robertson

TALI FEINBERG

A contact in Robertson reported this grave invasion to Country Communities Department (CCD) Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, who reported it to the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies on 20 May.

“There were no signs of anti-Semitism per se. The diggers didn’t get very far into the grave, they dug only about three foot (0.9m) down. The grave was repaired immediately,” said Silberhaft.

However, he said, “It is a custom of Satanists to dig out body parts, and it is known that they look for ‘the Jewish head’. In some African countries where Jews are buried, we pour concrete over the grave so that this can’t happen. But in Robertson, the digging went in from the foot.”

The grave belonged to someone with the surname “Zacks”, but Silberhaft said the grave hadn’t been asked about or visited in many years indicating that there was no family to inform about the incident.

The Cape board paid for the repairs, which was completed last week, as it holds the trust of Robertson Hebrew Congregation. Board Director Stuart Diamond said the board was working with the local council to prevent other cases from happening.

Silberhaft said the department was also working on the issue of unmarked graves of Jews in some African countries where other people were being buried on top of them. This was another reason to put down a concrete slab on top of a Jewish grave, he said.

“This ‘inter-burying’ is an ongoing issue that the CCD and African Jewish Congress are dealing with,” he said.

“Cemeteries are becoming places of antisocial behaviour, where drugs and alcohol are consumed,” added Diamond. “This often goes hand in hand with destruction and vandalism. For example, in Worcester recently, a plaque was smashed off a wall at the Jewish cemetery. The Cape Board is also dealing with that issue.

“We are working closely with municipalities, and even in a country community setting, we have eyes and ears,” said Diamond. “We are also starting a new anti-Semitism hotline, where community members can report acts of vandalism, hate speech, graffiti, anti-Semitism, theft, or destruction. We are keeping an eye out, building positive relationships, and working for our community.”