News and Articles

ANC considers SA embassy downgrade in Israel

Jul 06, 2017 1 Comment

There was heated debate over the possible downgrading or closure of the South African embassy in Israel at the ANC Policy Conference at Nasrec this week. No decision was taken, however, and the ANC has five months in which to investigate this and make a recommendation to the ANC’s elective conference in December.
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If someone wants to do something good - embrace it

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

The story of Bilam presents a glaring question to us about Hashem’s attitude towards us and the decisions we make.
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Losing friends and creating controversy in four easy minutes

Jul 06, 2017 10 Comments

When Progressive Rabbi Sa’ar Shaked stood up to say a prayer at the opening of the ANC Policy Conference at Nasrec last Friday, he took a nasty swipe at Israel for “religious intolerance”.
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Cosatu’s Masuku must say sorry for hate speech

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

Eight years ago, Bongani Masuku, Cosatu’s International Relations Secretary, threatened to subject some of South African Jews to “perpetual suffering” - among other hateful utterances - and he has been ordered to apologise… for the second time.
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Israel losing support among minorities and millennials

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What do you think of when you think of Italy? Maybe you picture beautiful works of art set against rolling Tuscan hills? Maybe a steaming plate of spaghetti topped with marinara sauce served with a deep red wine?
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Concerns about Jewish post mortem delays are allayed

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When news of the forensic officers going on strike was reported, most Jewish people paid little attention, believing it didn’t affect them. However, when your religion specifies that a body must be buried within 24 hours after death, this has a potentially huge impact on the Jewish community.
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On a whim and a prayer

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

When a Jewish person tells a Jewish joke to another Jewish person, it is invariably thought to be hilarious and can be enjoyed for the inside joke that only Jewish people can tell each other.
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The dangerous game played with Syria

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

In the last week, the north-eastern part of Israel has come that little bit closer to the war in Syria. Cross-border missile fire and mortar bombs are now landing with increasing frequency in the Israeli part of the Golan Heights.
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What does the ANC policy conference mean for us?

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

In the past weeks, expectations and fears over the direction of the ANC appeared in headlines around the world. The ANC Policy Conference at Nasrec in the south of Johannesburg, is now finished and there is a clearer sense of the ANC’s future direction.
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Raymond Suttner speaks about politics from the outside

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Professor Raymond Suttner risked life and limb in opposing the apartheid regime as a member of the ANC and SA Communist Party. Now, he gives his reasons for severing these connections in 2005.
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Haredi rabbi explains why his community opposes Kotel deal

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Haredi Orthodox Jews agree with their non-Orthodox brethren on one thing: The future of the Jewish people is at stake in the debate raging over who controls the Western Wall and conversion in Israel.
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What is the truth about Ritalin in our schools?

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

Ritalin is one of the most controversial - and hidden - medications used in private schools. Some will insist that it is over-prescribed, others say that teachers are forcing children to go on it and still another group are adamant that far more children should be on it, but aren’t.
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Turning the lens on Goldblatt

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David Goldblatt is an iconic South African photographer who has shone a light (or, rather a camera) on South Africans in all their glory. For decades though, he steered as far from personal limelight as possible.
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A love across Israeli-Palestinian lines

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

Every journalist is a frustrated author and dreams of writing a great novel, says South African-born writer living in Israel, Joel Gordin, whose book “Love Song To A Stranger” fulfils this ambition.
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Finding the right type of youth leaders

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When Mikaila Sher introduced a water project at her school, she displayed a key characteristic required of Diller Teen Fellows - the ability to have a vision and the capacity to implement it.
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Designing the Johannesburg skyline

Jul 06, 2017 1 Comment

Driving through the built-up areas of upmarket Johannesburg must be invigorating for Anthony Orelowitz, considering just how many of the new and innovative buildings he passes, are those he and his company Paragon Group, designed.
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A Horse Walks into a Booker Prize

Jul 06, 2017 1 Comment

David Grossman, one of Israel’s most celebrated writers, won the International Man Booker prize for his latest novel, A Horse Walks Into A Bar. On June 14, he became the first Israeli writer to ever win this prestigious award.
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Hell’s Zaidas riding to the Karoo

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

Three prominent members of the Cape Jewish community, Michael Bagraim, Alvin Kushner and David Janks, braved the winter weather and embarked on a motorbike tour from Cape Town to the Karoo after Shabbos last weekend.
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Celebrating 100 - looking back to a different time

Jul 06, 2017 1 Comment

Denzil Levy - the doyen of the Port Elizabeth community - celebrated his 100th birthday last Wednesday. His already wonderful milestone birthday was improved when a courier arrived with a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth.
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J’accuse! - No-one can say we did not know

Jul 06, 2017 Go comment!

A famous example of a journalist bravely speaking truth to power, regardless of personal consequences, comes from Jewish history in 1898, when French writer Emile Zola (a non-Jew), published a front page open letter in the paper L’Aurore to the French President headlined “J'accuse...!” [In English: “I accuse...! Letter to the President of the Republic”].
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