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The Jewish Report Editorial

The upside of downtime

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There’s nothing better than downtime to reassess where we are at, how we see the world, and how the world sees us. And there’s no better time for that than during our December holidays, which for South Africans is sacrosanct. Nobody willingly works through this annual holiday period. It’s our time for letting go of all our troubles and chilling out.

After last year, we all seriously needed it. The stress hasn’t let up for the Jews in South Africa or anywhere in the world since 7 October 2023. Our worries have just grown as antisemitism has dug its ugly pitchfork into our world.

It was deeply troubling on holiday when I was chatting to people whom I imagined to be like minded, to hear them offhandedly remarking about Israel supposedly committing genocide. Granted, I experienced this only a handful of times. In some cases, they were quick to back off as soon as I questioned or challenged them. I’m still not sure that they backed off because they understood the facts or they were just trying to keep the peace. I wondered if they chose not to engage with me because, as one of them said, “You’re Jewish, of course you’ll deny the genocide!”

The point is, when talking to someone who isn’t part of this community, you don’t always know what their opinions are about Jews or the Jewish state. And right now it is at the fore. So, when people asked what I do, I braced myself for their reaction because there invariably is one. Everyone seems to have taken a side.

Invariably, though, people were actually very supportive of our community and Israel, but they felt the need to say so. In fact, many were excited to tell me how much they loved us, which is a tad disconcerting. In the past, I don’t recall ever having felt this sense of unease in telling people I was Jewish.

I can only imagine how tough this must be in Europe and other parts of the Western world. On this point, it’s worth reading David Saks’ piece on rising antisemitism on this page.

I was sure at the end of last year that we would start this year off with the return of hostages and the end of the war with Hamas. I felt certain that we were getting to the point then where negotiations were coming to a head. And this week, I have been on shpilkes (anxious), waiting to hear that the hostages – or at least most of them – were coming home.

Hearing on Monday that hospitals in Israel have been alerted to be ready for the return of hostages got us all excited. But then we waited. Information was leaked that the deal was done, which turned out to be fake news. Then there was another indicator. More fake news. The truth is as I read somewhere, “There is no announcement until there is an announcement”.

It certainly hasn’t been easy as we count down to deadline on the SA Jewish Report. And as we put this newspaper to bed on Wednesday, there was no outcome to the negotiations.

How hectic and distressing this situation must be for the families and loved ones of the hostages! What they have only been through! How they have survived waiting for so long, I cannot imagine. And as for the hostages, I just pray that they hold onto hope until they are released. Can you imagine them being reunited with their families?

One of the special experiences we all look forward to during our holidays is spending time with close family and friends. There are few things as rejuvenating as those special moments that make memories that last forever. Often, they aren’t the moments when things go smoothly, they are more likely to be when you run out of petrol with your son, and there isn’t a garage within 10km. It’s that walk that you’ll never forget!

In my extended family, though, machaneh invariably comes before family time in December. And I understand why, having spent many of my formative Decembers on a campsite.

This December, I went back to Habonim camp for the first time in more than three decades. Dina Diamond went back to Bnei Akiva machaneh (see page 12). We both witnessed such happy youngsters. So many smiling faces.

I do understand that camp may not be for every young Jewish child, but if your child hasn’t experienced machaneh, they are missing out on something that only those in our community can experience. (See page 14.)

It doesn’t matter which youth movement you choose, because while Bnei Akiva is a perfect fit for many, Habonim is a perfect fit for others. It’s sad that Betar is no longer around, and we need to do everything we can to keep the rest of the youth movements alive and functioning at full strength.

Those who went to camp this year had three weeks in which nobody challenged them because they were Jewish. And when they did discuss Israeli politics, it was in a safe environment.

I get that you may be leaving all your creature comforts at home when you go to camp, but you get so much more than that when you are there. The idea of not having parents or adults telling you what to do for three weeks is exciting for most youngsters. Just saying …

One of the important lessons I have learnt of late was not to put off for tomorrow or next year what you can do today or this year. It takes watching the unfolding of the wildfires in Los Angeles and recalling the horror of the 7 October attacks to bring this home.

I don’t mean one has to break the bank, but if you have travelling to Vietnam on your bucket list and you can manage it, do it. Don’t wait forever.

On that note, may we all have a year of fulfilling our dreams, and one of bonding with those we love and finding a way to stop rising antisemitism!

Shabbat Shalom and happy 2025!

Peta Krost

Editor

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