Cape Jewish Chronicle

This February issue covers two months of activity, there having been no communication with readers since the beginning of December. And, naturally, during the past eight or so weeks much has happened within the community, beginning with Channukah and with many a memorable event taking place, as ever, during the ‘festive season’.

Engagements and weddings always play a significant part in raising spirits and bringing joy at this time of year.

Unfortunately, this month does not reflect much evidence of them, specifically the latter, the reason being that the happy couples tend to take their time in selecting their photographs – probably because they prefer to spend such time far more enjoyably on their respective honeymoons. But there has been much else to cover in this 40 page issue.
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After the Jewish Board of Deputies’ victory in 2006, Radio 786 launched a series of new applications to prevent the implementation of the sanctions imposed on it by ICASA. These sanctions included being ordered to desist from the broadcasting of hate speech and in general from “the advocacy of hatred against the Jewish people, including the impairment of their dignity”. Radio 786 was further directed to publicise the ruling as well as its full judgment and Sanction Order through the medium of its news broadcasts, website and inhouse news letter and magazine.

The new attacks included a review application to the Cape High Court and an application to the High Court, Johannesburg, to declare all the regulations under which the broadcasting was controlled in South Africa to be invalid. This was a massive onslaught on the legislation and this case was defended by the Minister of Tele-communications and by ICASA. The Board decided to join in as well, although, of course, it had not framed the regulations, but it felt it needed to protect all the years of effort it had put into the matter and to protect in particular the victory it had had at the hearing.
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Walking into the Shul at 45 William Street, Obs-Mowbray one senses and experiences in real time, the timeless, rich simplicity of the architecture dating back 80 years to 1927, when the building was designed.

It is a sanctuary in time; like nothing has changed. Yet this is contrasted by the vibrant community still enjoying its sacred atmosphere.

Everyone is very contemporary, friendly and in touch with all that is our new, modern world. The familiarity of the unassuming village atmosphere, the superb acoustics and the spaciousness makes one feel at home yet elevated — relaxed yet excited to be here.
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On Tuesday 13 November Cyril Jaffe turned 92, a celebration that he enjoyed with a group of his ‘old’ friends.

So happens, such get-togethers have been going on for several years, but never on a Tuesday! Cyril and his pals have been gathering in his home for tea and cake every Friday morning — the Friday Club — most of whose members are today in their late 80s and early 90s.
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Sid Kiel, a notable member of the ‘Friday Club’ passed away in July last year aged 91.

Sid was born in Vrede, Orange Free State. When he was 7 years old, his father died and his mother took him and his sister Diana to Cape Town to live with his Uncle Morrie. He entered SACS in Standard 3, where he shone academically and enjoyed an illustrious career in the fields of leadership and sport — cricket, rugby and athletics. He became head boy twice before matriculating in 1935.
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Wulf H. Utian, MB BCh, PhD, former South African and internationally renowned Cleveland physician, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in Medicine from the University of Cape Town on 10 December, the tenth time this degree has been awarded in over 100 years of the University’s history.

This most senior doctorate in the Faculty of Health Sciences is awarded for substantial original and scholarly contributions in one or more medical fields, on the basis of original published work which must be of international standing and regarded as seminal to medical progress.
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