Basic HTML Version
14 HASHALOM February
2017
February 2017
HASHALOM
15
Women of Actiom
COMMUNITY NEWS
ANOTHER “GREEN LETTER MITZVAH DAY”
2011 saw the introduction of Mitzvah Day to South Africa with the UJW being the only organization to associate with this International
initiative of a day on which volunteers of different faiths express the importance of working together to make a difference.
Over the years the UJW Durban has packed 100’s of food parcels, donated kilos and kilos of pet food to the SPCA, provided entertainment
and treats for 100’s of children, visited senior citizens in care facilities and private homes.
For Mitzvah Day 2016
a special tea was arranged at
Beth Shalom for the residents and guests from the Issy Geshen Lamont Home. Entertainment was provided by Igal and thoroughly enjoyed
by everyone. Also for
Mitzvah Day 2016
a visit was arranged to the Claire Ellis Brown School with treats for the children and new toys
and games for the school. UJW committee members also donated generously to the
Mitzvah Day 2016
communal collection of groceries
arranged by the SAJBD KZN.
powerful appeal that: “Having gained the right to be the same, we must
now school ourselves afresh to be different.”
OVER BATTERSEA
by Susan Freed (illustrated with an attractive
photograph of the writer) tells of some of her experiences during the two
years she was a teacher in Battersea.
LET US GROW OLD GRACEFULLY
by Tess Futerman included the
profound remark that “Grey hair is no indication of a woman’s age”.
A FAREWELL – SOLOMON GOLDBERG.
– reported that “Grandpa
Goldberg” (whom Pundit remembers as the Ancient Mariner of the
Club Foyer, who waited there to find an opponent for chess) was leaving
Durban to take up residence at the Old Age Home, Johannesburg, and
published his farewell letter to Durban Jewry.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RICH!
Was a rather cynical article based
on the old joke: “Question: How do you make a million in Israel? Answer
– arrive with two million.”
BOOKS
– Marion Fine’s review of ‘YES I CAN’, the autobiography of
Sammy Davis Jnr.
YOUTH PERSONALITY
– Beverley Frank, illustrated with a most
attractive photograph.
AS THE TWIG IS BENT
was an article, specially written for HASHALOM
by Mrs. Violet Padyachi
(B. Soc. Sci), a well-known Social Worker at the Meyrick Bennett
Children’s Centre.
JEW WHO SPEAKS FOR AMERICA – SAUL BELLOW
– by Anthony
Burgess was published “with acknowledgements to” (i.e. pinched from)
“Sunday Express, Mainly for Men, November 6, 1966.”
STOP PRESS! FIRST CARMEL COLLEGE MATRICULANTS
extended congratulations to all 15 of them who passed and gave the
names of the 6 who obtained distinctions.
LONG SHORT STORY
– sub-titled “The Girl who Loved Pretty Stones”
(A Story of Masada) – reveals after you’ve ploughed through six pages that
it was written by Zena Gevisser and, though perhaps I shouldn’t say so, it
was a tad too long.
HASHALOM February 1967 – Extracts (Brief)
EDITORIAL – “Revolution in the Club”
-stressed the reorganisation
which had taken place in the Club, the enthusiasm with which the
members had taken over the administration of the re-organised Sections
and included the appointment of a new Hashalom Editorial Board and
Committee.
SOCIAL ROUND-UP
reflected some of the new activities in the Club,
illustrated with photographs of the President and Chairman of the Club
meeting celebrated visitors, the Barry Sisters. The report was replete
with photographs of some of the young people charged with making “the
Percolater perk,” among whom Pundit recognised as still alive and living in
Durban Marlene Grill (now Mrs. David Rogoff) and Jeff Isaacs.
IN THE BEGINNING
purported to be an amusing history of the DJC,
written in mock Biblical style.
THE ART OF ACCEPTING NOBEL PRIZE
S by Sidney Greenberg
reported on the 1966 Nobel Prize for Literature having been awarded to
S.Y. Agnon and Nelly Sachs.
DJC Section Reports
related to Hockey (illustrated), Bowls (men and
women), Tennis (also illustrated), and Thursday Club (with alleycat poetry
of uneven metre but enthusiastically illustrated).
A page of social news which did not bear the recognised title of
IN TOWN AND OUT:
• Welcomed various visitors to Durban
• Extended good wishes to Brian Abrahams, son of Sybil and Lionel
Abrahams who had left for the U.S.A. to study for a Master’s degree
in business administration.
• Regretted to announce the recent deaths of Mrs. Constance Annette
(Connie) Waller and of “Grandpa” Solomon Goldberg (the latter only
a month after the announcement of his departure from Durban).
YOUTH PERSONALITY
– Bernice Brewer, illustrated as usual with a
most attractive photograph of the subject.
A SUNSET OF DISTINCTION
was the title of an almost poetic appeal
for financial support for the Durban Jewish Welfare Association and, in
particular, its
GREETINGS CARD SERVICE.
And, therewith, a very brief issue of HASHALOM came to an end.
Am I repeating myself? As 21st Century HASHALOM is not published
in January, it is necessary to compress into one PAST TENSE report,
everything what Pundit has had the privilege of reading to keep this series
properly up to date. So here goes.
HASHOLOM January 1942 – Extracts (Brief)
EDITORIAL
– “Undenominational Service”.
RABBI FREEDMANWRITES
an Open letter to the Jewish Community.
THE BIBLE AS POETRY
– by H.A.S. (who is he?)
SA JEWRY IN FIGURES
by Dr H. Sonnabend – some interesting
statistics including the fact that the 1936 Census revealed that there were
2776 Jews living in Durban – about 30% more than 2017.
THOUGHTLESSNESS
– (Faults Judaic IV - by NEAS).
COMMUNAL SETTLEMENTS IN PALESTINE
– a transcript of an
address delivered at the Overseas League, London, by General Sir Arthur
Wauchope, High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief in “Palestine
and Trans-Jordania 1931-1938” which was in effect a paean of praise to
the Kibbutz system. (Note to KNZC – what about a reprint?)
IN APPRECIATION
– a six-stanza poem by Cpl. J. Coleman 187509 in
praise of the DJC. =One of the
verses reads as follows:
If we want some information,
Or a little recreation
We go there to the Durban Jewish Club,
If in convoy or on vacation,
Or we’re tired – need relaxation –
We are smiled at, but never get a snub.
How’s that for an unsolicited compliment?
IN TOWN AND OUT
congratulated:
• Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Nussbaum and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Levitas on the
birth of sons.
• Mr. and Mrs. Victor Wartski who recently celebrated their Silver
wedding
• “Our Honorary Life Member”, Mr P Wartski, on the occasion of his
89th birthday.
• Miss Anne Cohen and Mr. E. Ginsberg, and Miss Rona Green and Dr.
M. Bloom, on their respective marriages.
HASHOLOM – February 1942 Extracts (Brief)
EDITORIAL
– “National Service” – followed by a sub-Editorial plea to
members to make some use of the library.
THE JEWISHCALENDAR
written by one E.W. Shilburywho purports to
explain “Some very quaint intricacies” in the Jewish calendar. We are told
in a note that the article was published “By courtesy Westralian Judean”,
which raises doubts as to its reliability. These doubts are compounded
when we find Rosh Hashana written several times as ”Roschhaschana”
and Shabbat as “Schabbath.” As they say in the classics, I kid you not.
One wonders why the Editor 75 years ago chose to publish the article
without correcting this outrageous spelling.
INTOLERANCE
(Faults Judaic V – by NEAS)
IN TOWN AND OUT
contained no births, engagements, or marriages,
and apart from reports of travelling Durbanites the only significant news
was that word had been received that Ian Cohen who had been reported
missing in action had now been confirmed as a prisoner of war.
DJC SECTIONAL NOTES
reported that:
• During January nearly 14000 men passed through the Canteen, and
from July 1941 to January 1942, nearly 61000 men had been served.
• The Squash Section had played a match against a combined SAAF and
RAF team, which had been won by the Club.
HASHALOM – January 1967 Extracts (Brief)
EDITORIAL
– “On Being Different” summarises the topic by making the
PAST TENSE
By Pundit
PAST TENSE
Women of Actiom