Cape Jewish Chronicle

The year has flown by, and with 2012 looming on the horizon, it is a time to wonder what the future might bring.

This issue of the Chronicle looks to answer this question from a number of different perspectives. Political analyst, author and ‘futurist’ Daniel Silke begins the discussion on page 8 by painting a picture of the world in the decades to come. By looking at the impact of current and future trends, he gives us a glimpse into the challenges and possibilities that the future may hold. As the Chinese saying goes, we certainly live in interesting times!

Another item that demonstrates this is the art exhibition Westend at the Museum on the Seam in Israel. The collection looks at the increasing challenges and fears facing the Western world – including terrorism, demographic changes and the ‘clash of civilizations’ – and how it can overcome these. Read more about the exhibition on page 8.

If the future belongs to those who plan for it today, then confronting the challenges in our community can help us plan a better tomorrow. The SA Jewish Board of Deputies Cape Council’s recent conference did this and so much more, as it broached the topic of the Jewish community in apartheid and the new South Africa. By openly and honestly examining the past, this continued discussion can only improve the future of this community and this country.

This combined December/January issue is also packed with community events, from the 10th anniversary YAD Golf Day to the Highlands House art exhibition, the Union of Jewish Women Voices from Africa event to the Matric 2012 Valedictory. All this demonstrates that the community is thriving, and will continue to do so well into the future!

Wishing you all a Channukah Sameach!

Mervyn Smith

Community stalwart Mervyn Smith shares his thoughts on the past, present and future of the South African Jewish community and beyond.

“It was the best of times” says Mervyn Smith on his time as South African Jewish Board of Deputies chairman in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Heading up the organisation during the dying days of apartheid and the transition to democracy was a fascinating era, with both challenging and powerful moments and interactions.

It was also in this period that South Africa became the focus of world Jewry, who saw the situation as ‘cataclysmic’ and looked to ‘save’ South African Jewry from impending catastrophe. This “misunderstood” perspective of South Africa meant that as SAJBD chairman, Mervyn interacted with a wide variety of local and international personalities. As the peaceful transition took place, there were many ‘wonderful times’ — and meetings with Mandela on a number of occasions!

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Gilad Shalit salutes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The release of Gilad Shalit on 18 October, in exchange for some 1,027 Palestinian prisoners was greeted by his family, Israelis and Jews from all over the world with much jubilation and relief.

The deal came at a somewhat precarious time for Israeli society, gripped by economic polarisation and political divergences. Despite an overwhelming majority who voted in favour of the exchange, it was also a day of mourning for the families of victims who lost their lives at the hands of the hundreds of now emancipated Palestinian prisoners — many of them convicted murderers serving life sentences.

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Saturday 5 November was a truly great evening for our West Coast shul and for Progressive Judaism in Cape Town.

Ian Staniland, Rabbi Greg Alexander, Colin Meilech and Dean Sandler.

A huge crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the new shul building, where Rabbi Greg Alexander began the evening with a D’var Torah. This was followed by addresses from Temple Israel president Roy Fine, chairman of Temple Israel West Coast Alvin Kushner, and vicechairman Temple Israel West Coast Dean Sandler.

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The Union of Jewish Women recently held an event entitled ‘Voices from Africa’ at the Moyo restaurant on the Spier wine estate.

For the past few years the focus of the Women’s Resource Centre has been outreach programmes at Pollsmoor Women’s Prison, teacher support at Vrygrond informal settlement and more recently a therapeutic support group for refugee women from across Africa at the Salt River Community Centre.

The aim of the event was to create more awareness about refugee women’s struggles and achievements, and to shine a light on their courageous spirit.

The morning was introduced by Estelle Neethling, author of Loss, Hope and Healing, followed by moving testimonies by Adolphine Mulanga and Mary Tal. Epiphanie Mukasano read some of her inspiring poetry and Jonathan Nkala performed a riveting, thought-provoking play. ‘Voices from Africa’ was an inspiring and meaningful morning!

The Women’s Resource Centre will once again be presenting an eight week Life Skills Course early in the new year. For details contact the office on 021 4349555.

Final year medical student Simon Mendelsohn was recently awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Student Leader Award at the University of Cape Town.

UCT Vice chancellor Max Price presents Simon Mendelsohn with the award.

Simon is the 2011 president of SHAWCO (the Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation). In addition to a superior academic record, invitations to and awards from a clutch of conferences, and his work with SHAWCO, Simon is also a member of the organising committee for the 2012 People’s Health Movement’s People’s Health Assembly, and started the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Inter-Societies Forum. And somehow he’s made time for the Mountain and Ski Club, the UCT Surgical Society, the Faculty of Health Sciences Student Mentoring Programme, and the UCT Ballroom Dancing Society.

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