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South African Jewry has long been regarded as a model diaspora community. We are famed for our excellent communal infrastructure, high level of identity and involvement,...
We need to give schools a break. They are forced to find a perfect balance between trying to educate our children, keep them and the teachers...
The closing weeks of 2020 brought with them the long-anticipated onset of a second wave of COVID-19 infections in South Africa. Over the December period, the...
I was fortunate to go to Umhlanga in the last week of November on a celebratory holiday after finishing matric. For the few days I was...
The happenings at the Capitol building left most sane people winded. And whereas many were quick to blame 2021 for letting us down so spectacularly and...
The night before 25 November was agonising. It was filled with messages from friends, all detailing the amazing things we’d be doing instead of studying because...
A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth, a double chin and stick-out teeth,...
At the beginning of 2020, no-one could have predicted the unprecedented set of challenges that South African Jewry would shortly be confronted with, both to the...
If there is one event that we attended in abundance in 2020, it has been funerals. Larger and more conventional ones early on in the year,...
The annual Absa Jewish Achiever Awards held last Sunday showed once again how even in the most trying times, Jewish community members from across the age...
The Union of Jewish Women (UJW) has tackled the COVID-19 pandemic with passion, creativity, and incredible generosity. Beneficiaries in rural and urban areas across South Africa...
It’s that time of the year when we are asked to consider the past 12 months, and then look towards the next. It’s never easy to...
On Friday, starting at 12:10, 101.9 Chai FM will be broadcasting the third in a four-part radio series, titled Abraham’s Children that looks at similarities and...
Monday was International Tolerance Day. It was apparently borne in 1996, when the United Nations General Assembly invited UN member states to observe the day each...
As matric starts to draw to a close, I could describe how difficult it was adjusting to writing exams while wearing a mask, or how I...
Every so often, hackles are raised when those seeking to discredit their political or ideological opponents resort to making factually incorrect and insensitive analogies with Nazism...
My mother would have been 80 years old this week. Had she lived. It would have been a formidable occasion, which she most likely would have...
Last Friday, encouraging progress was made in the South African Jewish Board of Deputies’ (SAJBD’s) ongoing fight against online antisemitism when the Randburg Magistrate Court issued...
Sunday in Johannesburg was noteworthy for a number of reasons: the Jacarandas put on a display that was truly remarkable, a massive storm hit Gauteng, and...
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD’s) case against Matome Letsoalo finally concluded last Friday with the Randburg Magistrates Court sentencing him to three years...
I’m not sure if you’re aware of an amazing feature on the website Reddit. It’s called “TIL” shortened for “today I learned”. It has amazing mostly...
Last Friday, more than two years after posting series of tweets threatening and maligning the Jewish community, Matome Letsoalo was found guilty of crimen injuria in...
This week, South African Jewish Board of Deputies National Director Wendy Kahn participated in a World Jewish Congress (WJC) community directors discussion on antisemitism and Holocaust...
My parents were married for 55 years, and fought for most of them. And then, when my mother died three years ago, my father realised there...
If you haven’t been following what’s going on in Brooklyn, here’s a quick summary. It’s a mess. A real mess. And it’s supposedly about COVID 19...
Earlier this week, a delegation from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Gauteng Council, headed by Chairperson Professor Karen Milner, met Johannesburg Executive Mayor...
The matric dance is arguably the most exciting part of the matric year – second to finishing it, of course. It’s all about getting dressed up,...
The passing last week of our much loved Rabbi Avraham Tanzer, z”tl marked the end of an era in the history of our community. It was...
Going to shul over Sukkot felt somewhat like gaining access to the business-class lounge. Aspiring entrants wait nervously in line for their documentation to be carefully...
One of the most important lessons that I learned as a commodity trader was that we aren’t nearly as smart as we think we are. Fifteen...
The rhythms of Jewish life largely revolve around the synagogue. It’s where community members regularly come together for prayer, study, and to celebrate festival and life-cycle...
Rosh Hashanah has brought new beginnings for all of us and the hope that the special connections and support of family, friends, and community, will continue...
By Wednesday morning, South African media had failed to acknowledge the historic signing of a peace agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Instead,...
This week, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that a Ministerial Advisory Committee has been created to focus on coronavirus vaccine development. This body will advise...
Remember the time when we left Egypt because G-d saved us with all those plagues? Back then we weren’t much of a nation, but after leaving...
South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) National Director Wendy Kahn participated in the World Jewish Congress (WJC) National Community Directors’ Forum last Thursday, giving thanks...
It’s official – I’m finished my second set of prelims. I can now focus on preparing for arguably the most important exams of my life –...
There is a part of me that feels that we should cancel Rosh Hashanah this year. Or at least postpone it for the time being. We...
“You do the most vital work for the community, and we are all so grateful. You are literally out there saving lives, lifting up families, giving...
It pains me to write this. It pained me to speak about it on my show, and even more so to discuss it with my family....
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Wedding leads to a number of COVID-19 cases
Buffets of canapés and dessert, the sharing of snacks...
Farewell to rabbi who was jack of all trades, master of everything
On 12 January, Rabbi Desmond Maizels and his wife Esth...
Second wave surges over community
The second wave of COVID-19 is currently crashing over...
Confession of dark 80s days causes shockwaves
A culture of bullying, racism, toxic masculinity, sexi...
Vaccine refusal isn’t personal, it affects others
While people around the world line up for vaccination...
The variant that scuppered our new-year hopes
Since its arrival, COVID-19 has challenged physicians...
Give schools a break
We need to give schools a break. They are forced to fi...
Eric Samson talks to Howard Sackstein about his life
Following the death of iconic businessman and philanth...
Choosing the end to their love story
COVID-19 has taken many community stalwarts in the pas...
A man who gave beyond measure
According to Maimonides, the highest level of charity...
Wedding leads to a number of COVID-19 cases
Buffets of canapés and dessert, the sharing of snacks...
Second wave surges over community
The second wave of COVID-19 is currently crashing over...
Second wave like a tsunami
We have emerged from the eye of the storm to confront...
Dlamini puts “Hitler loving” past behind him
Six years ago, infamous campus rabble rouser and Fees...
Farewell to rabbi who was jack of all trades, master of everything
On 12 January, Rabbi Desmond Maizels and his wife Esth...
Criticism for second shul shutdown in 10 months
For the second time in 10 months, shuls have had to cl...
Experts plead for adherence to stop second COVID-19 wave
Even before matric Rage was declared a “super-spreader...
Choosing the end to their love story
COVID-19 has taken many community stalwarts in the pas...
Farewell to an architectural giant
Historians of South African architecture divide their...
Confession of dark 80s days causes shockwaves
A culture of bullying, racism, toxic masculinity, sexi...
Wedding leads to a number of COVID-19 cases
Buffets of canapés and dessert, the sharing of snacks...
Second wave surges over community
The second wave of COVID-19 is currently crashing over...
Second wave like a tsunami
We have emerged from the eye of the storm to confront...
Dlamini puts “Hitler loving” past behind him
Six years ago, infamous campus rabble rouser and Fees...
Farewell to rabbi who was jack of all trades, master of everything
On 12 January, Rabbi Desmond Maizels and his wife Esth...
Criticism for second shul shutdown in 10 months
For the second time in 10 months, shuls have had to cl...
Experts plead for adherence to stop second COVID-19 wave
Even before matric Rage was declared a “super-spreader...
Choosing the end to their love story
COVID-19 has taken many community stalwarts in the pas...
Farewell to an architectural giant
Historians of South African architecture divide their...
Confession of dark 80s days causes shockwaves
A culture of bullying, racism, toxic masculinity, sexi...
