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28 HASHALOM August
2016
August 2016
HASHALOM
29
COMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
By Michael Greenbaum
By Norma Bloch
Eden College
The tantalizing smell of boerewors wafted through the air; it was
time for our annual Lag Ba’omer braai. While Oren and Josh kept a
watchful eye on the fires, egg and spoon, dribbling and three-legged
races were just some of the exciting events happening nearby, as the
two teams competed for GOLD. Then, it was time for the favourite
“Archery – ready aim shoot” competition which would determine the
overall winners. Hot, tired and exhausted, the pupils were certainly
ready for their Boeri rolls. Well done Josh and Oren! The general
consensus was that they were scrumptious, and well worth the wait.
Shavuot - the festival of receiving our most precious Torah was
celebrated as a joint Eden and Talmud Torah activity. Shlomo, with
his easy way with the children, once again made it such a fun, joyous
and meaningful occasion. They gain so much knowledge without even
realising it!
Each child constructed their own cardboard miniature Aron - the
vessel used to carry the Aseret Hadidbrot through the desert.
Next was the part they had all been waiting for – the making of their
very own pizzas and of course then devouring them! We certainly
have some budding Italian chefs in our midst… Until next month
Shavuot: Tikkun L’eil Evening
Shavuot celebrations began with the first
night Tikkun L’eil dinner in the Perling
Hall after Shabbat in the Great Synagogue
which had been beautifully decorated with
drawings by the pupils of the Umhlanga Day
School. With great communal spirit, families
and friends enjoyed guest speakers and the
superb dinner catered by Selma Lurie.
Rabbi Zekry introduced the evening’s
programme speaking on the meaning
and importance of celebrating Shavuot.
During the evening, we were privileged to
have guest speakers including Judge Phillip
Levinsohn who spoke on the efforts being
taken by the Union of Orthodox Synagogues
to ensure a professional and safe bris milah is
available to parents in South Africa. After the
main course, David Levin gave an interesting
lecture on the legal principles and content
of the Get, the Jewish divorce decree. After
dinner, Cecile Levin gave an outstanding talk
on the origins and development of Jewish
music through the ages.
After dinner, the traditional study session
then began in accordance with the custom
of staying up the whole night on Shavuot
to study topics and themes of the festival
including a series of shiurim and discussions.
Special thanks must be given to those
who presented the various items on the
programme and to members of CSO who
provided security throughout thenight. After
the late night session, the weary participants
were invigorated by their perseverance and
knowledge gained in the course of the night.
On first day Shavuot, the younger children
participated in the Bikkurim ceremony
and Rabbi Zekry’s popular Shavuot youth
quiz. On the second day of Shavuot, we
celebrated the end of the Chag with
Rabbi Leibowitz reading the inspirational
Megillat Ruth. Rabbi Leibowitz said that,
Hashem, in His kindness, gave us the Torah
on Shavuot. Therefore, we read Megillat
Ruth on Shavuot because it contains
many examples of acts of kindness and
compassion as it relates the touching
and emotional story of Ruth, the Jewish
convert who accepted the Torah as Bnei
Yisrael did on Shavuot, and her devotion to
Judaism and to her mother-in-law, Naomi,
teaching us a lesson of the importance of
loyalty and love of family and faith.
The DUHC recently celebrated Elisha Puterman’s 83rd birthday and Second Barmitzvah.
Elisha has been a dedicated member of the community since his youth and has contributed so
much to the Shul and the congregation in his many different official positions both at the Great
Synagogue and at the former Park Street Synagogue over the past 50 years.
He followed in the tradition of his father and became integrated into the administration of the
Park Street Shul, holding the position of Shammas during the YamimNoraim and the Chaggim,
and later appointed as a Gabbai until the Shul closed in December 1975. Elisha and Rochelle
relocated to the Great Synagogue where he was elected onto the Congregation Council and
soon was elected Vice-Chairman and then Chairman. He joined the DUHC Chevra Kadisha in
1970 and has been a member ever since. He has been the “Ba-al tephilah” for Friday services
at Beth Shalom in Durban for over the past 35 years and has also conducted the first night
Pesach seder for many years. Elisha was also a member of Habonim from the 1930’s during
his youth and remembers the Zionist movement vividly.
A successful businessman as owner of Port Natal Paints and a veteran of World War Two in
the SA Air Force, Elisha married Rochelle at the age of 38 and they have four children, Meira,
Simone, Adir and Tehilah. Adir and Tehilah live in Jerusalem. Adir and his wife, Danielle, have
a baby son who is Elisha’s and Rochelle’s first grandchild. Meira has also made aliyah and lives
in Tel Aviv.
On Elisha’s Second Barmitzvah, he read Haftarah Shelach, the same Haftarah he read on
his Barmitzvah 70 years ago. His wife Rochelle honoured him with a lavish brocha in the
Perling Hall after the morning Shabbat service where Rabbi Zekry congratulated and praised
Elisha for his contributions and services to the congregation and the community. The DUHC
congregation wishes Elisha mazaltov on this milestone occasion and success for many years
to come.
Mazaltov to Elisha Puterman