Jewish Life Digital Edition February 2014 | Page 5

FROM THE TEAM FROM THE EDITOR WWW.JEWISHLIFE.CO.ZA WELCOME CREDITS PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR I t’s been six months since I last sat down to write an Ed’s letter, and I’m back in the saddle, taking back the reins from the multi-talented Chandrea Serebro. I have to say I spent many nights up till all hours – not nursing my baby girl – but reading Jewish Life, cover to cover! Many people ask me what it’s like to be back at work, and I can honestly say it’s a blessing doing what I love, working on this fabulous magazine with my incredible team. It was a lovely issue to get stuck into, with Purim content to choose (page 10-15, 66) and fun features about celebrating simchas (pg 42-60). I have to say I really don’t get Halloween. I find it kind of creepy and spooky (that might be the point) – but not in a good way. I came home one early October evening last year and got the fright of my life when I entered my driveway to find a group of strangers standing around. Turned out they were just neighbours from my street watching as their children played trick-ortreat. I guess us Joburgers can be a bit jumpy, plus the high walls mean we don’t really get to interact much with our neighbours. Anyway, their children were in frightful and ghoulish costumes collecting the dismal remains of my sweet box, as my kids looked on, utterly bemused. And I really had no idea how to explain it all to them. Purim, on the other hand, now there’s a holiday! The teachable moments of the Megillah are endless. From the hidden hand of G-d whose name is never mentioned and the illusion of coincidence in our lives, to the heroism of stepping up when you are needed, even if it entails great risk and self-sacrifice, the Purim story perfectly encapsulates Jewish values in a true series of incredible events that continue to enthral all ages. Not to mention the fun costumes, customs and practical mitzvot of the day, which include giving monetary gifts to the poor and nurturing friendships by sending baskets of delicious treats! That, for me, is what being Jewish is about, a people with a purpose, revealing G-d’s eternal value system, helping to heal the world one act at a time, transmitting that mission to the next generation. Beats Halloween any day. Enjoy this special Simcha edition and may we all see only simcha in our lives in 2014 and always. Martyn Samuels [email protected] EDITOR Paula Levin [email protected] OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Linda Superfain [email protected] ART DIRECTOR Rizelle Hartmeier [email protected] FEATURES WRITER Chandrea Serebro COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER Heidi Hurwitz PHOTOGRAPHER Ilan Ossendryver [email protected] DIGITAL MANAGER David Blumenau [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS Nicky Barnes, Leonard Carr, Dan Chaitowitz, Rachel Falkson, Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, Bev Goldman, Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Tzivia Grauman, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller, Wendy Kahn, Serenne Kaplan, Yaron Kelner, Riva Lange, Sharon Lurie, Rabbi Ilan Raanan, Liz Samuels, Dinah Shapiro, Rabbi Ari Shishler, Michelle Vinokur, Rabbi Ryan Zail Printers Paarlmedia kzn Distribution Neil Jacobson Mel Levitt JEWISH LIFE is published by Total Publishing (Pty) Ltd ©2008. PS. Look out for our bumper Pesach edition with a fresh new look and feel, out towards the end of March. EDS PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER; SUPPLIED INTRODUCING… HEIDI HURWITZ, copy editor/proofreader AT JEWISH LIFE, I… edit all the articles. MY REAL FORTE IS… editing all the articles. WHEN I’M NOT AT MY DESK, YOU CAN FIND ME… schlepping my kids around, going for a run or playing netball. MY FAVOURITE DOWNTIME IS SPENT… reading and sleeping, and hanging out with my husband! I AM CURRENTLY READING… Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. MY IDEA OF A FUN NIGHT OUT... is reading and sleeping, and hanging out with my husband! MY MOTTO IS… from Hillel: “Do not do unto others what we would not want done unto us.” MY CRAZIEST DREAM IS TO BE… retired. BUT NEXT YEAR, I’LL MOST PROBABLY BE… hard at work. 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: M M-L