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Showing us at our best
ChaiFM broadcast the first episode of Jewish Board Talk (JBT) on 13 March 2012, a one-hour Jewish-interest talk show initially hosted by Steven Gruzd and subsequently by South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Communications Head Charisse Zeifert. The show’s purpose was to highlight the interesting, innovative work that Jewish individuals and organisations were doing, as well as the work of the board. That opening show reflected the range and diversity for which it would become renowned, with topics including the Mitzvah School and the matric classes it runs for pupils from Alexandra; Jewish life along the Garden Route; and on how Israel Apartheid Week was playing out on university campuses.
SHAUN ZAGNOEV
More than eight years since that inaugural broadcast, JBT is still going strong, showcasing on a weekly basis the amazingly diverse range of activities in which members of our community are involved. These span creative new business ventures to social outreach, arts and culture, and the moving personal stories of individuals from all backgrounds who are finding ways to make their unique mark. Just a selection of some of those interviewed over the past month bears this out: Elli Kriel on kosher catering in Dubai; Steve Zagey and Helene Itzkin from ORT JET on their business rescue programme; former beauty queen and convert to Judaism Ilana Skolnik-Kazarnovsky; Arthur Goldstuck on best practice for online meetings; and Elona Steinfeld on Jewish life in the South African country communities.
JBT is also an important platform for the Board to bring to wider notice its core work to safeguard Jewish civil rights and combat antisemitism. Most recently, Associate Director David Saks spoke about the emerging phenomenon of Jewish history denialism aimed at denying the links, historical or otherwise, between modern-day Jews and the land of Israel. Prior to that, Rev Canon Peter Houston from Durban was interviewed on the persistence of theologically-based antisemitic thinking within much of mainstream Christianity to this day. In addition to those involved in Holocaust commemoration and education, Zeifert has brought in experts to speak on other genocides, most recently Nothiwana Dlodlo on the massacres perpetrated in Matabeleland during the 1980s.
COVID-19 and the community’s response has naturally been a dominant theme on the show over the past four months. Many of those interviewed have spoken about the inspiring and heartwarming work they are doing to combat hunger and deprivation in the wider society, with guests over the past few weeks including Galit Cohen on Ripples for Change; Lisa Lowenthal and Anthea Henderson on the Twilight Community Centre; Clive Motlake Mashishi on assisting the Joburg CANs; and Yakima Waner and partners on the Harvest Project. Apart from the human-interest angle, such personal stories help to record and acknowledge what the Jewish community is doing to allay hardship in our society, and perhaps will inspire others to come on board themselves. Podcasts of programmes dealing with projects specifically funded by the SAJBD can be downloaded on https://www.chaifm.com/jewish-board-talk/
- Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.