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News

  • Fake news – a powerful weapon

    Deliberate misinformation powered by social media has shown itself to be the most effective weapon of war and a powerful tool in the dissemination of what has become known as “fake news”.

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  • Death of Judge Ramon Leon leads to media storm

    The death of Judge Ramon Leon, father of former DA leader Tony Leon, has led to a storm of misinformation about his legacy – after it was incorrectly claimed that he played a role in the hanging of a well-known and loved anti-apartheid activist.

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  • Israel 70th revelry at Huddle Park

    It was a festive atmosphere at Huddle Park on Wednesday evening, as the Johannesburg Jewish community gathered to celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary of its independence. ​

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  • When politics turns populist, the smell of blood is in the air

    Drama is nothing new for Julius Malema. Already making waves in 2013, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters appeared that year – in the form of a large puppet of a baby – in satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys’ show, Adapt or Fly. Uys caricatured politicians who have governed South Africa from DF Malan onwards, showing most – excluding Nelson Mandela – as horrid. He transformed himself into the characters’ features, such as PW Botha’s gesticulating finger and scowl, and John Vorster’s thick eyebrows and sinister coldness, and held “Malema” in his arms. That infant is grown up now, and some of Uys’ predictions about Malema have come true.

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  • ‘Life goes on’ for Jeff Shull

    Discredited Stan & Pete owner Jeff Shull this week said “life goes on” after he was forced to shut down his kosher catering business under a cloud of controversy six weeks ago.

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  • Farewell to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

    Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, known as the Mother of the Nation, died at the Netcare Milpark Hospital at the age of 81 last week. The struggle stalwart, affectionately referred to as Mam’ Winnie, was born on September 26 1936 in the village of Mbongweni, Bizana, in the Transkei (now the Eastern Cape). Despite the restrictions imposed by the apartheid regime, she studied at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work in Johannesburg, qualifying in 1955.

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SA News

Israel News

    • Innovations2

    Taking you through some of Israel’s firsts

    Apr 19, 2018 Go comment!
    1952 High-school dropout Stef Wertheimer sets up a small metal shop and tool-making company in the backyard of his home in Nahariya. His company, ISCAR, is today one of the world’s largest manufacturers of carbide industrial cutting tools used by carmakers like Ford and General Motors, employing 6 000 people in branches in 50 countries.
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    • KibbutzDegania

    Why kibbutzim are thriving again

    Apr 19, 2018 Go comment!
    If there was ever a quintessential symbol of the Jewish State’s founding pioneers, it is the kibbutz – a phenomenon found only in Israel, and as intrinsic to the fabric of society as the Israeli flag.
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    • JTAnetanyahuKotel2 2

    Bibi defends controversial Kotel decision

    Jun 29, 2017 1 Comment
    Netanyahu says he didn’t betray anyone by effectively cancelling a historic agreement to provide a non-Orthodox space at the Kotel, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, and caving to the interests of his Haredi Orthodox coalition partners.
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    • BenitaLevin

    Being schooled in a new school system

    Jun 08, 2017 Go comment!
    “Knowledge is Light” was our school motto when I was a child in Durban. The importance of education was made clear to us from as far back as I can remember. It wasn’t taken for granted. A good education was a privilege.
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    • Facebook swollows Whattsapp

    Israel’s ‘Facebook bill’ could hamper free speech

    Mar 09, 2017 2 Comments
    Israel’s Knesset last week passed the first reading of the Criminally Offensive Content from the Internet bill - dubbed the “Facebook bill”.
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    • 14-Chirp new HOME

    Join the conversations, have your say

    Feb 22, 2017 1 Comment
    JR Online users are having their say, as usual. While the website's peak day saw well over 12,000 users, it can also have as many as 300-plus comments posted on a busy day. Many are on older stories users have serendipitously happened along. Some are friendly greetings and exchanges, but often they descend into Chirp-fests – where users with differing views enjoy a good old argy-bargy on an issue. We list this week’s latest hotspots, and point users to a few of the Chirps posted this week - on well-commented stories long gone by…
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Our Whacky Jewish World

World News

    • paula_slier

    The repercussion of America bombarding Syria?

    Apr 19, 2018 Go comment!
    Last Saturday morning, the world woke up to news that America had bombed Syria. For a few hours, we were all reporting around-the-clock with the inevitable question: Would Russia respond?
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    • peace

    Peace is possible in the hands of the people

    Apr 19, 2018 Go comment!
    Politicians have the difficult task of sorting out the intricacies of the Middle East conflict and, hopefully, achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The reality on the ground is that ordinary people have found ways to connect with each other and show that peace is, in many ways, already happening.
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Video of the Day 

VISIT OUR VIDEO ARCHIVE

LET OUR PEOPLE GO!
Chief Rabbi reiterates his call of a year ago for Jacob Zuma to stand down in this Pesach Video, likening the SA saga of today to our flight from Egypt 3329 years ago. “With that freedom comes a voice” he says. He will be marching in Pretoria on Friday.  

Religious News

    • ParshaRabbiPink

    Try to be sensitive to the pain of others

    Apr 19, 2018 Go comment!
    In this week’s double parshah, Tazria and Metzora, we read about “tzaarat”. Tzaarat was a spiritual punishment for slanderous talk – not leprosy, but leprosy is the closest known disease that mirrors it – that would afflict the house, clothes or the body in biblical times. Having tzaarat would render a person “tamei”, or biblically impure.
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    • TorahThoughtRabbiJuliaMargolis

    We need to bring balance to our lives

    Apr 12, 2018 Go comment!
    Sometimes change comes upon us without warning. At other times we are warned beforehand by instinct, but we often don’t take heed. If we are to succeed in our endeavours, we would do well to pay close attention to that inner voice.
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    • Rabbi Ari Kievman

    The great matza debate

    Mar 29, 2018 Go comment!
    For the past few weeks, Jews have been busy with all their Pesach shopping. I’ve noticed the price tags on the assorted Pesach goods, of local and overseas origin. The economic factor certainly carries weight when deciding what is a Yom Tov “necessity”.
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    • ChiefRabbi

    Putting family first

    Mar 29, 2018 Go comment!
    What is the key to the strength of our South African Jewish community? In life it is impossible to focus on everything. We need clarity of vision. Where should we focus our efforts? Let’s go back to the moment of the birth of our people to find the answers to these questions.
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