Jewish Life Digital Edition April 2013 | Page 3

FROM THE TEAM FROM THE EDITOR WWW.JEWISHLIFE.CO.ZA WELCOME CREDITS PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR W elcome to our annual issue celebrating Israel. I’ve just booked a ticket to the Holy Land, my first trip since I accompanied South Africa’s first mass aliyah in 2008, and I simply can’t wait! This issue has filled me with even more anticipation, bringing to life the kaleidoscope of cultures and flavours of this incredible country. And I already know what my reading material will be on the flight, though I can’t quite believe I will have the luxury of eight hours to myself (since I’m leaving my kids at home)! I will be reading Yehuda Avner’s acclaimed book, The Prime Ministers, an extract of which you will find on page 46, in anticipation of Ambassador Avner’s appearance at this year’s upcoming Sinai Indaba. Israel as a Jewish democratic state is a modern miracle of biblical proportions that continues to give me chills, as I reflect on how farfetched this reality would have seemed to past generations of Jews. Imagine the faith that was required to actually believe the biblical prophecies of the ingathering of the exiles, of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, or to believe that one day, in the cities of Judah, in the courtyards of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and happiness, of a groom and his bride would ring out. To the Jews of the Spanish Inquisition, to the European victims of the Crusades, to the thousands of towns and villages decimated by pogroms, to the millions helplessly awaiting their murder in the Shoah, it must have seemed an impossible fantasy. And yet three times a day our great-grandparents affirmed their faith that G-d would fulfil His promises and bring the visions of our Prophets to life. I’m not sure I would have withstood such a test of faith. A Jewish state and army to defend our people wherever they may be are realities I was privileged to be born into. The fulfilment of millennia of Jewish prayers and aspirations certainly give me, personally, the faith I need to believe in equally fantastical sounding prophecies, like the coming of Moshiach and the Resurrection of the Dead. I think it was Golda Meir who said a Jew who doesn’t believe in miracles is simply not a realist. Enjoy this special edition. EDS PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER ISRAEL AS A JEWISH DEMOCRATIC STATE IS A MODERN MIRACLE OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS THAT CONTINUES TO GIVE ME CHILLS. Martyn Samuels [email protected] EDITOR Paula Levin [email protected] OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Linda Superfain [email protected] FEATURES WRITER Chandrea Serebro COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER Heidi Hurwitz ART DIRECTOR Rizelle Hartmeier [email protected] PHOTOGRAPHER Ilan Ossendryver [email protected] DIGITAL MANAGER David Blumenau [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Nicky Barnes, Tami Benmayer, Dan Chaitowitz, Jodie Cohen, Nicci Diamond, Lara Doel, Rachel Falkson, Dr Linda Friedland, Bev Goldman, Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Tzivia Grauman, Anna Harwood, Wendy Kahn, Serenne Kaplan, Tracy Milner, Liz Samuels, Rabbi Ari Shishler, Michelle Vinokur, Joanne Zagnoev, Rabbi Ryan Zail Printers Paarlmedia kzn Distribution Neil Jacobson Mel Levitt JEWISH LIFE is published by Total Publishing (Pty) Ltd ©2008. If you live within the boundaries of the eruv, feel free to take this publication home with you. THIS PUBLICATION CONTAINS WORDS OF TORAH. PLEASE TREAT IT WITH THE RESPECT IT DESERVES. ISSN 1994-8670 Total Publishing (Pty) Ltd PO Box 52339, Saxonwold 2132 The views expressed in this issue of Jewish Life are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor. ON THE COVER: CELEBRATING ISRAEL, PICTURE BY ILAN OSSENDRYVER CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS: Lorraine Youngworth wins a two-night stay at 54 on Bath; Stan Miller and D Perlstein each win a copy of Rav Shalom Arush’s latest book, The Garden of Education; Oscar Sher wins a signed copy of Genesis and Genes by Yoram Bogacz; and Viviane Ziskind wins a signed copy of From Where I Stand, by Rabbi Yossy Goldman. Mazeltov to all our winners! ABC 100% AUDITED CIRCULATION Certified for the period July to December 2012: 13 175 JEWISH LIFE ISSUE 61 1