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30 HASHALOM February
2017
February 2017
HASHALOM
31
By Diane McColl
COMMUNITY NEWS
Chanukkah is a festival, much loved by congregants
young and not so young and this is evidenced by the good
attendance at the Shabbat service on Friday, 31 December
last year which was the 7th Night Chanukkah. Congregants
brought chanukkiot from home and the light from these
brought to mind the story of the Maccabees and their
triumph over darkness and oppression 2200 years ago.
Under the watchful eye of Shammas, Jeff Isaacson, Josh Serjeant lights
Chanukkah candles on the 7th Night Channukah before the Shabbat service.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Above Board
Mary Kluk,
President of SA Jewish Board of Deputies
A column of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies
Standing up against racism and bigotry
The usual good feeling generally accompanying the beginning of a new
year was once again unfortunately soured by the latest reports of
offensive posts in the social media.The repellent nature of those posts,
and the anger, outrage and divisiveness they provoked, underlined
once more the urgency of properly confronting the problem of cyber
hatred in our country.There have been other ugly incidents, including
the daubing of pig’s blood and in one of the cases the depositing of a
pig’s snout, at two mosques in the Western Cape.We well remember
how on various occasions in the past, acts of antisemitism have taken
the form of leaving pig heads outside synagogues or other Jewish
institutions. As was the case last year, the Board took a strong stand
against these open manifestations of racism and intolerance, with our
media press releases being widely cited in the various media reports
regarding these incidents.
Last year, the Board also made input into various pieces of legislation
aimed at dealing with racism, promoting equality and upholding basic
human rights. Currently, we are finalizing our submission on the newly
promulgated Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate
Speech Bill. Speaking out against racist behavior towards other South
Africans, in addition to being the right thing to do in any case, further
enhances our credibility as a principled voice against all forms of racism
and intolerance, which in turn lends additional weight to our efforts
when speaking out against antisemitism when such occasions arise.
Farewell to a Legend
Last year, we had the opportunity of looking back on and celebrating
175 years of Jewish communal life in South Africa. In doing so, we paid
tribute to the many outstanding communal leaders, past and present,
whose selfless efforts during those years did so much to build our
community into what it is today. Gerald Leissner, who passed away
in mid-December after a long illness, was at the very forefront of
Jewish communal service.Amongst many other positions held, he was
a former National Chairman and President and long-serving National
Treasurer of the SAJBD.
Gerald’s contribution to both the Jewish community and to South
Africa was immeasurable. One can read, and marvel, at the bare facts
recording his communal, philanthropic and business career, yet even
this extraordinary record tells only part of the story. For generations of
communal leaders, myself very much included, Gerald was an invaluable
source of advice and guidance.
Various Jewish organisations benefited immeasurably from Gerald’s
legendary financial acumen. He also played a crucial role in preparing
South African Jewry to welcome and actively involve itself in the
transition from apartheid to multi-racial democracy during the years
when he headed up the SAJBD. In this, as in so many other areas, he was
a true visionary, and his passing leaves us and the country as a whole
so much poorer.
CHOCOLATE
FIX!
EASY CHOCOLATE CAKE
2 cups flour 3 cups castor sugar
250g butter, chopped 1/3 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 3 cups self raising flour
4 eggs
Preheat oven to 180degC Combine water, sugar, butter, sifted cocoa and
bicarbonate of soda in a pot until sugar is dissolved.
Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 5
minutes. Cool. Add the flour and eggs and beat until light in color. Bake in
26,5cm x 33cm dish for 50 minutes. Cool then frost
Fudge Frosting:
90g butter 1/3 cup water
½ cup castor sugar 1 ½ cups icing sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
Combine butter, water, castor sugar and cocoa in a pot and heat until
sugar dissolves. Sift icing sugar into the pot and mix till smooth. Leave
to cool (or refrigerate for 20 minutes) until frosting has thickened. Spread
on cake
CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
1 ½ cups flour 1 egg
½ cup sugar 1/3 cup melted butter
3 teaspoons baking powder pinch salt
1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup milk
Preheat oven to 180degC
Mix together all the dry ingredients and then add the chocolate chips Mix
together the egg, butter and milk and add to the dry ingredients, mixing
until just combined Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes
SELF SAUCING CHOCOLATE ORANGE PUDDING
1 ¼ cups flour ½ cup castor sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder ½ cup cocoa
1 cup milk or orly whip 80g butter or margarine
2 eggs, lightly beaten finely grated zest of 1 orange
Preheat oven to 180degC
Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat until combined. Pour batter
into an ovenproof dish
Topping:
½ cup cocoa ¾ cup (packed) brown sugar 400ml boiling water
Place the cocoa and brown sugar in a bowl and sit to combine. Sprinkle
over pudding!
Carefully pour the boiling water over the pudding, then place in oven and
bake for 30 minutes or until just set.
The 2017 academic year began on 14 January for the Temple
David Hebrew School. Returning learners from last year have
been joined by a batch of new learners and we hope that
everyone has a year full of learning, discovery and fun.
OPENING OF NEW CLASSROOM AT HA
TSEKO SCHOOL 14 OCTOBER 2016
Since Drakensberg Adventures, a tour company started
and owned by Russell and Simone Suchet in 1997, began
running overnight tours to No. 10 Riverside in 2005,
assistance and support for education has been part of
our vision. Our ground-breaking community tourism
model is based on payments for services rendered to,
as wide a segment of the local community as possible,
with the Nkune family at No. 10 Riverside being the
core of the product. We have built a relationship with
two nearby schools, Mphere and Ha Tseko, enjoying
warm relations with their head teachers, staff, learners
and parents.
The amount set aside from each tourist’s tour price
has increased over the years, and currently stands at
R20 per head (translating to R10 to each of the two
schools). A portion of these funds has been set aside
for soccer kit and educational materials for the schools.
In early 2015, Drakensberg Adventures and the two
schools agreed to use the substantial reservoir of funds
which had accumulated to build a new classroom at
each school, an essential requirement given that they
had multi-class teaching and suffered from tremendous
lack of space! The Headmistress of Ha Tseko, on behalf
of both schools, initiated the process by obtaining
a quote and list of materials required , getting local
builders and suppliers involved. It took just over a year
for the builder to construct two classrooms, one at
each school, to completion. By October 2016,HaTseko
reported that their classroom was complete and ready
to be put into use.We agreed on a “Grand Opening”
ceremony which took place on Friday 14 October 2016.
Russell attended the ceremony representing
Drakensberg Adventures where the entire community
got caught up in the grip of excitement and enthusiasm
and cheered during the speeches and performances.
The excitement was brought to a crescendo when
the headmistress of the school, ‘Me Mabatloung Nthau
presented Russell with a very special reed mat with the
words “Feel at Home” inscribed on it. She handed it
over with the words “feel at home – this is now your
community too”. Simone has hung this beautiful mat on
the wall of Sani Lodge common room area for all guests
to see on arrival.
At the completion of the speeches, Russell and ‘Me
Nkune together cut the ribbon and unveiled the plaque
to open the new classroom amongst much jubilation
and ululating. Drakensberg Adventures had also made
a gift of three framed Sani Pass Flowers/Birds/Mammals
posters to celebrate the new classroom. Our grateful
thanks go to Ha Tseko School and all involved in
planning and executing the day for such an excellent
and meaningful event.
Regards,
RUSSELL AND SIMONE SUCHET
DPJC CONGREGANTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY: