Our local heroes

When I heard that ZAKA South Africa was heading to Turkey on a search and rescue mission, I was overcome with pride. I had a sense that as small as we are as a community, we do large things. As few resources as we may have, we always find enough to share. We also have big hearts and are always there to help others, even when those in need are almost 10 500km away from us.

While our government and politicians are deeply involved in their own infighting and hopefully trying to sort out local problems, they aren’t sending any rescue missions to Turkey. Other countries, like Israel, are sending people and resources to help save lives following the earthquake on 6 February.

At the time of publication, the death toll from the earthquake in Turkey was about 36 000 with tens of thousands of people injured and maimed. In Syria, about 5 800 people died from the same 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude quakes and more than 2 000 aftershocks. And the number of fatalities keep climbing as rescue operations comb through the devastated area.

The Israel Defense Forces sent more than 450 people to help, the second largest group sent from any country. In South Africa, it seemed like the only organisation that was sending a team was the incredible humanitarian group, Gift of the Givers, which sent at least 25 specialised people.

But then, there was an announcement on 9 February that ZAKA SA was sending a search and rescue delegation to Turkey to assist with the horrific aftermath of the earthquakes.

These volunteers literally dropped everything they were dealing with in their work and personal lives to go and help (read the story on page 1). Kol hakavod to them!

A little further into our newspaper, on page 3, you can read about one of Johannesburg’s most wanted criminals being put behind bars because of our own CAP working closely with the South African Police Service. Once again, understanding the extent of the intelligence gathering and knowledge bank that is CAP makes me feel safer on our Johannesburg streets and in our homes.

In this same edition, we have an opinion piece from Rozanne Sack (page 7), who speaks about the dangers facing our children from sexual predators and paedophiles. Sack is one of the two founders of Koleinu SA, a community organisation that helps victims of abuse. Once again, while reading what she has to say is truly frightening, it’s such a relief to know that we have the likes of Sack, Rebbetzin Wendy Hendler, and Koleinu SA there for us.

The support, education, and guidance they provide is truly astonishing. All because they want to ensure that predators are stopped before they can harm any more people. They do whatever they can to bring such monsters to justice and empower the survivors of abuse.

I’m so grateful for the fact that our community has a Koleinu SA on our side.

Also in this edition, we write about how the family of the late Shaun Lipshitz, a Community Security Organisation stalwart who was killed protecting his family in a house robbery, is raising funds for the organisation he helped build.

The money raised in his name will be used to buy training equipment to teach kids and community members to protect themselves.

There are so many things people can do with money, but in our community, there’s a selflessness or communal generosity that knows no bounds.

While I honour the Lipshitz family for what it’s doing, it doesn’t shock me that it has put communal needs before its own. Such is our community!

It’s no secret that our community does its fair share of moaning and, without doubt, we have lots to complain about. I can write lists and lists for you of all the things we can legitimately whinge about. However, on the flipside, there are such powerful reasons to be proud and hold our heads up high.

I know I’ve said this before, but it warrants repeating until such a time as we recognise what we have here: we’re so lucky to be a part of this community!

I don’t know what other Jewish communities are like around the world, and so I cannot categorically say that there are no others as phenomenal as ours. However, look around us and see what we have within our community.

Look at the fact that from this little community, we make such a big difference on so many fronts. Imagine, we sent a team to Turkey to help those in need after the quake. How many other communities are doing that?

And while our aliya figures show that members of our community are heading to Israel in numbers, we need to be cognisant of what we leave behind when we do this. It’s a lot.

In Israel, you may not have to pay for security, medical aid, schooling, and many other huge expenses. However, you won’t have Hatzolah around if you need it, or CAP figuring out who the worst criminals are and helping to put them behind bars. You won’t have a Chevrah Kadisha in case you fall on hard times. You also don’t have the community you grew up with, which will stand by you no matter what.

Yes, these are just a few of the gifts we give ourselves in this community. These are just some of the incredible offerings we so often take for granted.

Far be it for me to tell people they shouldn’t make aliya. I couldn’t do that. I love Israel. I also wouldn’t stop someone moving to a place where they will be able to improve their lives and careers. Behatzlachah to those who do!

All I’m saying is, look at what we have here, and measure it against all our complaints and problems. Can I suggest that what we have far outweighs the problems? I believe it does, and I’m so grateful for that.

So, thank you to all our incredible communal organisations and to our community. Here’s to building on what we have to make it even better.

Shabbat Shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor