Guptas’ brief Purim visit

VANESSA VALKIN

It was a completely outrageous story about the Gupta family who capture headlines daily for alleged corruption and inappropriate influence over President Jacob Zuma – buying the South African Jewish Report.

Apart from the improbability of a sale of a Jewish community newspaper to the Gupta clan, the idea of Hindu, Muslim and Catholic supplements and a new Chazonis Institute founded with the proceeds of the deal, were so preposterous that we thought people would soon realise it was a monstrous, over-the-top joke.

Much to our surprise, however, many did not catch on, even when our Chairman Howard Sackstein wished everyone a “chag Purim sameyach” at the end of the article.

We got panicked e-mails from as far afield as Khartoum, Melbourne, and New York City, and a major revolt was threatened at Sandringham Gardens Jewish aged home in Johannesburg.

The Jewish Report office received a number of anonymous calls too. One man said we had done a good job with the paper but that we should be careful not to put Jews in danger or make people hate us more than they already do. Another woman called, saying that it was “sick, sick, sick and disgusting” and suggested that the leadership should “do the right thing” and resign.

Wow!

Firstly, we offer humble apologies to those who were shocked and disturbed. And for the person who commented that we are endangering our community with this, are we as Jews never allowed social satire?

Secondly, thank you to all our readers who care so deeply and were truly alarmed by the sale. As publishers and content producers, we don’t always know how we are perceived by our readers and whether our work is valued. Based on the reactions to our Purim shpiel, it is evident that we are quite precious to our readers and that our content is considered completely reliable – so frankly we are thrilled.

When our advertising team go out to try to sell ads, they are not always so warmly received and often requests for sponsorship are pushed off by business owners and larger corporate clients. Sometimes we are discouraged by the lack of response and question whether we should be publishing this newspaper at all.

Our publication is not funded by community coffers. Each week, our sales staff “hit the pavement” to sell space. We are also reliant on the proceeds from our annual Achiever Awards dinner where some of you do generously sponsor awards and tables.

And so, for the rest of you who do think we have an important role to play in our community and would be perturbed if we sold out for financial purposes, we ask that now and then, you show your appreciation with your financial support.

Happy Purim and a long weekend, and may the South African Jewish Report be around, independently, for many more Purim shpiels.