Extraordinary times, extraordinary measures

The human spirit is incredible, and it doesn’t take much for so-called ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Granted, being stuck in a country at war when you have responsibilities and obligations back home is a fairly unusual situation. Perhaps not so unusual for diaspora Jews though.

But when a tiny 67-year-old grandmother and her accountant husband felt the pressure to get home, they did something they would never normally do. They took their lives into their own hands, and crossed the border out of Israel, which was being bombarded by hundreds of ballistic missiles, into Jordan. From there, they had to get flights out to other countries before they could fly home. It was hair-raising for these people who are definitely not risktakers.

But war does that to people, as we have learnt through the bravery of the hostages who have survived to tell their unimaginable stories.

Read about our first responders, and their astounding bravery in setting aside the dangers of ballistic missiles to save lives. (See page 5.) They responded to at least 31 ballistic missile impact zones in populated civilian areas in Israel. During the 12 days of war, 28 people were killed by Iranian missiles, and 3 238 injured and evacuated to hospitals. Iran launched about 550 ballistic missiles and about 1 000 drones at Israel. It was horrendous, and so frightening for everyone in Israel.

It’s astonishing in light of the Iranian might and impact, how few civilians died. What a relief it is knowing that safe rooms and bomb shelters actually save lives. Seeing buildings and neighbourhoods decimated, and knowing that most people made it out alive is mindblowing.

This war has also shown the incredible resilience of our people. How they are able to make light of having to spend so many hours so often in those stuffy, small, safe spaces. (See page 8.)

Now that this war is over and the skies have reopened, I hope the war in Gaza follows suit. It’s truly enough! The morning after the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was agreed upon, seven Israeli soldiers – not one of whom was older than 21 – were killed in Gaza when their armoured vehicle was blown up by an explosive device.

When will it end? It’s enough! How much more must people take? There has been too much suffering! Too much loss! Too much anxiety and fear!

Coming home to South Africa, this war has clearly increased antisemitism. It’s shocking how antisemites now use the term “Zionist” – which in their vocabulary is a swear word for someone like us whom they despise – when in fact they mean “Jew”. For example, someone on social media was going on about the “Zionists”, who they claim were buying out Cape Town. The fact is, they had no idea whether there was a sentimental connection between those particular people they were referring to and Israel, other than the fact that they were Jewish. But for them, a Jew is a Zionist, and vice versa.

As for antisemitism, I don’t believe it gets much worse than the horrific threats to Philip Krawitz and his family’s lives. Krawitz is a top businessman and extraordinary philanthropist. He is known to be respected and admired by his employees, many of whom are Muslim. He is an exemplary employer who treats his 3 000 staff members with respect, or so I hear from reliable sources.

However, Krawitz is Jewish, and has never tried to hide this fact. Why on earth would he or should he? But, because he’s Jewish and a leader in business, he has been the butt of the worst kind of antisemitic bullying and intimidation that I have seen. These haters have made up the most ridiculous lies about Krawitz for no reason other than that he is a Jew.

Do any one of those people protesting outside his retail outlets actually know what his political standpoint is, whether in South Africa or Israel?

Have they ever asked him, or done any research on the man? Do they know how he feels about Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war?

Not a chance. It’s easy to threaten, denigrate and defame someone – why would they need to ask him anything?

I feel sickened by the disgusting treatment of this man I admire, and who has the admiration of so many in this country. He is a man who is personally responsible for the livelihoods of many South Africans. He is someone who takes that responsibility seriously. He wants to grow the economy of this country, and ensure that all people have jobs. And in truth, the only philanthropy he is involved in is specifically for South Africa and South Africans.

And so, instead of encouraging this, why not take a stand against this man because he is a Jew, and call him whatever you want because you think you can and will get away with it?

Well, not so fast! I’m pleased that Krawitz isn’t taking this lying down and is taking them on for threats and defamation. I’m glad he is going to haul these people over the coals, and make sure they and so many others realise that it’s not okay to do this to anyone. Antisemitism is unacceptable on any level, and too many of our haters think they can get away with it. Also, they need to be clear that just using the term “Zionist” doesn’t make it acceptable.

I know how tough it is to witness this ongoing onslaught on Israel and Jews, but we need to be clear that though Israel or particular Israelis aren’t always right in everything they do, it’s definitely not a country that is genocidal or evil. I would only hope that the rest of the world saw Israel as a country like any other, that they set the same standards for the Jewish state as they do for any other country, and treat it as such.

Shabbat shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor