Cape Jewish Chronicle

This is what we have always termed the ‘Yom’ issue. It is also the 271st Cape Jewish Chronicle that we have brought out in hard copy since we began the paper in 1984. Quite amazing!

This online edition is quite young yet, and while initially it required just a few megabytes to download, this has increased somewhat over the years. So please do allow time for the lengthier process.

Following our normal annual cycle – encompassing commemoration and celebration this issue covers Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha-atzmaut – being somewhat after the fact for Yom Hashoah, but that is due to its not making the May deadline.
(more…)

The Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town is about to embark on a new Oral History Project, building on an earlier project which was carried out nearly thirty years ago.

At that time the focus was on life histories of elderly Jewish men and women who had grown up in South Africa or at least came to South Africa as children. About 300 interviews were conducted in the early 1980s by a team of interviewers.

These valuable memoirs were transcribed and archived. Subsequently the interviews have been used by scholars in the reconstruction of the South African Jewish past.

According to Professor Milton Shain, director of the Kaplan Centre, the new project will focus on Jewish leaders. The emphasis will be on the ways in which Jewish leaders entered into communal life, the burning issues they dealt with and the changing priorities. Interviews will be led by Lauren Snitcher.
(more…)

Standard bearer SAJEX Captain Howard Shagom stands in front of the 1500 Capetonians who turned out to commemorate Yom Ha Shoah this year.

As Owen Futeran, Board of Deputies (Cape Council) chairman, reminded the 1500-strong crowd at Pinelands Cemetery on Yom Hashoah Vehagevurah, there is, in Judaism, a sacred duty to remember the souls of the departed. According to British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, the act of remembering is one of our most important halachic responses to tragedy and to live in a way so that those who died “al kiddush Hashem” live with us and carry us forward.
(more…)