Lifestyle/Community
Too many revellers at Chanukah party
Johannesburg’s Jewish community took last week’s JR Online story: “Leave your wallet at home for Chanukah party” so seriously that the party was inundated by over one thousand guests! Pictured is a young lad deeply concentrating on his colouring-in project while eating a donut.
ANT KATZ
See pictures below…
JR Online quoted seasoned party organiser, Lara Rosenthal, as saying “don’t miss the community party of the year.” The story added that the Great Chanukah Family Bash in the heart of Glenhazel would be officiated by Rabbi Michael Katz of Chabad, and that everything, including food and entertainment was for free.
Maybe the ‘free’ had something to do with it, but, when all was said and done, the CSO staffers on duty at the party had counted over one thousand visitors, and the organisers had only catered for 500 – on the assumption that so many people were away.
In Cape Town
Meanwhile, the following morning in Cape Town, Michael “Bags” Bagraim (pictured on top of Table Mountai with the Marais Road Shul’s “Torahtjie”.
They walked the minyan up Platteklip. But don’t be fooled. our “Bags in rags” had the younger guys carry the Torah up, as small and cute as it is, and he just took it over once they were up top.
Sadly, Bagraim lost his father Mark after a long illness a few days later. The funeral took place today
Back in Johannesburg on Thursday evening, Rabbi Katz lit the Giant Menorah on the newly-positioned balcony at the KosherWorld Centre which ensured the light was visible to many more people, Katz said.
Maybe it was due to the decision of Jo’s Kitchen, Chabad and the KosherWorld Centre to co-sponsor free latkes, donuts, cake and other yummy treats, as well as great entertainment, that brought the crowds in. But whatever it was, both space and food ran low as a result. Not that this dissuaded the revellers from enjoying themselves late into the night.
Story concludes below pictures…
Rabbi Katz speaks to the throngs of people after lighting the giant candle
Party organiser Lara Rosenthal hands an overwhelmed youngster back to a relative
There was such a wave of unexpected support that cars were double-parked for blocks and some late-comers joined the festivities from the parking, below
Rabbi Katz says that Jody Becker, from Jo’s Kitchen, makes the best potato latkes he can remember tasting.