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A deep sadness enveloped the communal Chanukah candle lighting on Monday evening, 15 December, in Glenhazel, little more than 24 hours after the deadly terrorist attack at a similar...
Two months after they were taken hostage, and eight months before they would be murdered, the Israelis who would later be known as the “Beautiful Six”...
Fall settled gently over a remote reservation when the tribe approached their new chief and asked what kind of winter was coming. He was a modern chief, raised...
“In the darkest place, I succeeded in seeing the light.” These were the words of Segev Kalfon. He would know about darkness after 738 days in Hamas tunnels. For it...
The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) speaks of the Greeks defiling the holy Temple in Jerusalem. Their true weapon was spiritual destruction through the spread of Hellenistic culture. Under Antiochus’s decrees...
Standing in a school hall filled with children singing Chanukah songs, I truly feel blessed by the privilege of being involved in Jewish education in South...
JTA – Last year, Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall held its 10th anniversary of a Chanukah concert series that was rebooted 70 years after it was halted...
This past December was unusual, with Chanukah coming later in the year and coinciding with Christmas when many members of the community were well into their...
“Darkness will envelop the world, and a thick cloud the peoples.” (Isaiah 60) Is the prophet not describing, chillingly, the world today? The Malbim, Meir Leibush...
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost What’s more...
Lighting candles is a commandment in Judaism, but it doesn’t necessarily protect a household from fire. So, though we want our Shabbat, Chanukah, and yahrzeit candles...
“One of the best parts of Chanukah is the sheer amount of doughnuts we get to eat.” “I could eat 10 of these.” “This isn’t a...
“And the impure were defeated by the pure.” Throughout Chanukah, this line rings out through our prayers three times a day. We remember how a small...
An old man is walking in the dead of night, holding a lantern to help him navigate the darkness of a deserted alleyway. Observing a group...
This week, Jews around the world will gather once again to commemorate the festival of Chanukah, where we celebrate the victory of the few over many...
Why is Chanukah eight nights long? You know the answer to this one, right? The olive oil needed to light the menorah should have lasted only...
There are few societal ills as ancient and as virulent as antisemitism. It has been ever present, and it merely mutates as we traverse the passage...
For many, it’s a Chanukah family tradition to attend the menorah lighting ceremonies at Sandton City and Norwood Mall. Unfortunately, both centres have cancelled these ceremonies...
“Knishes and fishes, and traditional dishes; Dreidels and teigels and smoked salmon bagels; Piled high on plates and a family that sing; These are a few...
Usually at this time of year, we’re feeling excited. As Chanukah approaches, we begin to look forward to the annual traditions. We look forward to lighting,...
Over the past few days, as I reflected on the significance of the 15th yahrtzeit, marked this week, of my mentor, teacher, and rosh yeshiva, Rabbi...
There’s nothing like the dose of excitement that children add to Jewish holidays. This is particularly true of Chanukah, where children often ignite – or reignite...
TikTok Potatoes It’s hard to believe that 2022 has tik-tokked away already, and here I am, writing Chanukah recipes. At least this year, COVID-19 is behind...
All will agree that the number-one conversation topic at social gatherings through 2022 was which is the best always-on solution. We fiercely debated the advantages of...
Eliyahu David Kay is a hero of the Jewish people. He was murdered in Jerusalem this week for only one reason: being a Jew. He was...
Most of us use candles for lighting the chanukiah, but our sages lauded the use of olive oil. The reasons for this are more revealing than...
Have you ever heard of Samuel Pierpont Langley? I hadn’t before listening to author and organisational consultant Simon Sinek talk about “How great leaders inspire action”....
Chanukah means indulging in tempting sufganiyot and other delicacies. The SA Jewish Report asked two of our favourite food maestros to give us their favourite Chanukah...
It’s the key question to a more stable South Africa – can Eskom keep the lights on? In the Chanukah story, one drop of oil lasted...
You have all heard the joke many times before. The summary of all Jewish holidays: “They tried to kill us. We won. Let’s eat.” To a...
Stoicism is the new black. Ryan Holiday, the modern day stoic, has become a personal guru to many, and Marcus Eurelius’ Meditations is flying off the...
“Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.” The immortal lyrics of actor/singer-songwriter Adam Sandler may not strictly reflect reality – at least...
And just like that, after a blessed four months in which the Jewish community of South Africa got married, had Batmitzvahs and Barmitzvahs, danced the Horah...
There’s a lot about Chanukah that speaks to where we are in South Africa’s young democracy right now. And it starts, like many Jewish discussions, with...
When you think of the word “light”, what comes to mind? Brightness? Warmth? Clarity? Soulfulness? Joy? Vibrancy? How about all the above? Light can mean many...
Light has always been used as a metaphor for revelation. In Kabbalah, the Jewish mystics referred to the highest expression of divinity as “infinite light”. And,...
One of the most memorable Chanukah holidays of my life was spent in the Old City of Jerusalem. Walking through the narrow lanes and alleyways of...
Shoot me down if you want. Call me what you will. Throw as many vrot tomatoes as you want at me … I think COVID-19 was...
Many of us are familiar with the iconic black and white photograph of a chanukiah on a windowsill with an ominous Swastika banner flying above the...
Ideas matter. Great leaders are driven and express big ideas. Technical bureaucrats may put policies in motion, but the leaders who made a difference throughout history...
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