December Newsletter

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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CHAIR’S MESSAGE WUPJ (Israel) - with wonderful colleagues
from Asia.
Dear congregants and friends, Rabbi Zach Shapiro renowned Rabbi from Temple
Akiba Culver city, Washington USA.
Well, it's common cause that the year 2020 for Prof David Bilchitz UK Torah scholar and Prof of
everyone on this earth, has been very Human rights / Constitutional law.
challenging. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THANK YOU to our
We the Jewish nation have survived every loyal congregation and friends.
adversity with hope, Hatikvah and faith that
there will be a tomorrow for ourselves and Each and every one of you are part of the
humanity. miracle Temple Israel Hillbrow
In the face of a pandemic, we were the first Love
Progressive shul in SA to change to a zoom Reeva Forman
format, on Friday 20 March 2020 before the _____________________________________
Government mandated lockdown.
True to tradition, Temple Israel Hillbrow the BIRTHDAYS
Mother Synagogue (1936), has never missed
a Shabbat or Chagim. Our gratitude to Anna Lee Reitzik Harold Joffe
Hashem for giving us the ideas and ability to
achieve this through my incredible Gregory Tarica Auren Sher Cecil
management team, Jacob Hurwitz. Tech Whiz,
Marion Bubly Lay reader, Peter Joffe our go to Lurie Rahle Lurie
man.
SERVICES Monica Solomon Jeffery Davis Martin
Shabbat services are beautiful with music
from our truly exceptional Joffe Choir and Max Jonty Sandler Bonita Behr
others.
Ma’ariv / Mincha / Havdalah services led by _____________________________________
our wonderful “spiritual lay leader” Lael
Bethlehem. YAHRTZEITS
SPECIAL SHABBAT SERVICES
Rabbi David Benjamin (Israel) “de facto” Max Joseph Hochstadter - Father Peter
Rabbi and Cantor leads services with expat Hochstadter.
South African’s joining from all parts of the Adrienne Schiffman - Grandmother Robi
globe. Schiffman.
Rabbi Nathan Alfred - Head of International Gregory Michael Sher - Father Lawrence Sher.
Development and Community Building at the
Pauline Bella Lurie - Mother Alan Lurie Jeff
Lichtenstein - Husband Rene Kohn Sybil
Hurwitz - Grandmother Jacob Hurwitz

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UPCOMING SERVICES / EVENTS

Kabbalat Shabbat Fridays 18.00

Shabbat Saturday 10.00

Havdalah Saturday 18.15

Ma’ariv Tuesday 18.00

Rabbi’s or Lay Leaders TBA

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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Please join us on Zoom: Any contributions to assist these people would
https://us02.web.zoom.us/j/3887818332 be welcome. Be it bread, jam, peanut- butter or
Or on Facebook http://bit/ftemple hands to make sandwiches. This way we hope to
_________________________________ bring some relief to the hungry over Christmas.

BEIT EMANUEL / TEMPLE

ISRAEL -FEEDING SCHEME.

Thursday morning Sandwiches and Fruit
distribution to the homeless and hungry in
Hillbrow, has been a great success. Since the
word got out, more adults and children are
coming, lining up as early as 9am. Gates open
at 10.15am.

Adding to the hundreds of sandwiches and ____________________________________
bags of fruit from the generous Bet Emmanuel
congregants, the Temple Israel Hillbrow JUMBLE GIVEAWAY
congregants, have also contributed many
more sandwiches, fruit, boiled eggs, vienna Wednesday 9th December, we will be having a
sausages and candy . clothes giveaway. We have been given lots of
preloved clothes that we will be distributed to the
Beit Emmanuel and their helpers will be homeless in Hillbrow. This effort will be
taking a well-earned break during December
until 20 January 2021, however, Temple Israel done In conjunction with the Ladies from the
Hillbrow will try to continue the food drive Inner Wheel Charity club, who will contribute
over the Festive season. After chatting to the many knitted items.
people, we realized that they will not be going
anywhere, as they have no money. ________________________________________

HANNUKAH

Hannukah or Channukah will begin on the
night of Thursday 10th December. So get your
Latkes and Doughnut recipes out, polish up
your Channukia , and don’t forget to buy
candles and Dreidles.

Hanukkah, one of the most widely

observed Jewish holidays, is a festive eight-
day celebration that for many people falls
during the darkest, coldest season of the year.
Also called the Festival of Lights, the holiday
brings light, joy, and warmth to our homes
and communities as we celebrate with

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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candles, food, family, and friends. Light comes Hanukkah, and plan appropriate activities for
literally, with the lighting of an additional ourselves and/or our households. We for
candle each day, and metaphorically, through different households (depending on ages and
a newer emphasis on charitable donations abilities). The idea of activities is not simply
and a commitment to tikkun olam during the doing for doing’s sake but doing for the sake
holiday. Hanukkah (alternately spelled of learning. Be sure to reflect and talk
Chanukah), meaning "dedication" in Hebrew, afterward! Now we invite you to look ahead
commemorates the victory of a small group of at your calendar to see which Jewish value
Jewish rebels (led by Judah Maccabee and his might fit each day. If our activity suggestions
brothers, collectively known as “the are too modest for you, do something you
Maccabees”) over the armies of Syria in 165 think would be a better fit.
B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and
"rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem. 1. NIDIVUT, GENEROSITY
Modern celebrations of Hanukkah focus on ● Go shopping for a needy family.
family and friends and include the lighting of ● Make breakfast in bed for the family
the Hanukkah menorah (also called a cook.
hanukkiyah); singing and playing special ● Visit an animal shelter and give them
songs and games (dreidel); and eating foods your old towels and sheets for bedding.
prepared in oil including latkes, sufganiyot, ● Give gifts to one another.
bimuelos (fried dough puffs) and keftes de ● Shop for a local Toys for Tots drive or
prasas (leek patties). for the local food bank.

Teach (and Practice) a New 2. TZEDEK, JUSTICE
Jewish Value Each Night of ● Give tzedakah to an organization that
Hanukkah works for justice.
● Write a letter to an elected official
In talking with a friend about ways to make about some issue of justice. Visit
Hanukkah more meaningful, we wondered: the Religious Action Centre of Reform
How might we use the framework of eight Judaism's Legislative Action Centre for
days and make it a real rededication to ideas and tools that make it easy to do so.
Jewish values? ● Teach each other about a justice issue
Dear to us.
We decided we’d set up a list of eight Jewish ● Make and decorate a family tzedakah
values, assign them each one day of box.
● Write a letter to the editor of the
newspaper about a justice issue.

3. HODA’AH, GRATITUDE
● Write a thank-you card to someone
who isn’t expecting it.
● Write a thank-you card to
another member of the
household. Be
specific.
● Make a list of things for which you

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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are grateful. Then make a "bouquet" ● Download and play “Middotopoly,” a
game for learning Jewish values.
of those things by making paper
flowers and writing the gratitudes on
them. Use it to decorate the table 6. HACHNASAT OR'CHIM, HOSPITALITY
● Have a Hanukkah party with your
next Shabbat. loved ones, whether in person or
● Play the ABC Gratitude game as a
family, naming something for which virtually.
● Have people over for Shabbat dinner
you are grateful for each letter of and menorah-lighting.
thealphabet. ("I’m grateful for
apricots," "I’m grateful for blankets," ● Invite someone who is single to
etc.) dinner, services, or out to coffee.
● See how many times you can say ● Volunteer to be an usher at your
synagogue.
“thank you” to people during the day. ● Provide part or all of the oneg for the

4. KIBUD AV V’EM, HONORING PARENTS Shabbat service that falls during
Hanukkah.
● Give gifts to parents and
grandparents.
● "Adopt" an elder who doesn’t

have children for the evening or

more.

● Tell stories about family, maybe

even crafting projects to honour

family members who have died.

● Make a coupon book of things you

will do for a parent or grandparent in

the coming year. 7. AHAVAT YISRAEL, LOVE OF ISRAEL (THE
COUNTRY OR THE PEOPLE)
● Visit the graves of parents or ● Give tzedakah to an Israeli organization.

grandparents who have died. Leave a ● Give tzedakah to a local Jewish
stone.
organization.
● Watch an Israeli or Jewish-themed
5. TALMUD TORAH, STUDYING TORAH film together and discuss over
● Play “Torah Jeopardy," asking
questions to which names and places popcorn.
● Put on Israeli music or klezmer and
from the Torah are the answer. dance!

● Make a play of the Torah portion

of the week (During Hanukkah, it's 8. RACHMANUT, COMPASSION
● Volunteer at the local food bank or a
usually part of the Joseph story, which similar non-profit.
is very dramatic!) ● Give out clean, new socks to people
experiencing homelessness in your
● Make Torah scrolls with citations area.
or pictures of your favourite verses ● Visit someone who is homebound
of Torah in them, gift to one and, if possible, light the menorah
another. with them.
● Draw a picture of how you imagine your
favourite biblical hero or heroine looked.
Tell his or her story to your family.

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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● During the week of Hanukkah, Cooking oil.
give one dollar to every person you Method.
see begging. At the end of the Squeeze the grated potatoes inside a clean
week, talk about how it felt. dish towel to remove moisture. Place in a
There are many more Jewish values to choose bowl. Add eggs onion flour/ matzah meal salt
from, and many more activities that you might and pepper, combine.
try to express and learn about these and other
values. Explore the possibilities and let me Heat 1cm of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
know how it goes! Drop potato mixture by rounded
______________________________________ tablespoonful into hot oil and flatten slightly.
Cook until edges are crisp. Flip the other side.
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HOW TO LIGHT THE HANNUKAH
LIGHTS.

On the first night, place one candle at the
far right, as you face the menorah.
Another candle is placed for the Shamash

(taller helper candle) which is used to light
the others. It is not counted as one of the
candles.

https://zoom.us/j/9688910642 Step-1: Light the Shamash
6?pwd=RnRFQ1BQbHphVmxqS Step-2: Recite the blessings
VI4T2laWHRsZz09 Step-3: Use the Shamash to light
__________________________ the Chanukah candle.

RECIPES On the second night, place two candles in
Latkes. the two far-right positions –and use the
Shamash to light them in order, from left
6 large potatoes peeled and finely chopped. to right. Follow this same procedure each
6 tbsp. Matzo meal or flour. night of Chanukah... until all the lights are
1 ,1/2 tsps. Salt. kindled and glowing brightly!
½ tsp. Pepper.
1 small, grated onion. Blessings on the Hanukkah Candles
3 eggs well beaten.

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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The first two blessings are said with the
Shamash already lit, but immediately prior
to lighting the Chanukah candles.

Blessing #1 Baruch ata Ado-noi Elo-heinu melech ha-
olam, Sheh-he-che-yanu vi-kee-yimanu
Vi-hee-gee-yanu laz-man ha-zeh.

Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of

the universe, Who has kept us alive,

Baruch ata Ado-noi Elo-heinu melech ha- sustained us, and brought us to this

olam, Asher kid-shanu bi-mitzvo-sav, Vi- season.

tzee-vanu li-had-leek ner shel Chanukah. ________________________________________

Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of IN MEMORY OF
the universe, who sanctified us with His
Herta Steefil.z"l

commandments, and commanded us to Harold Joffe's Granny, Herta Steefil, passed away
kindle the Chanukah light.
in November at the grand age of 100 years old.
She was hale and hearty right up to the end,

when she succumbed to the dreaded Covid virus.

Herta was born in Germany in 1920, before the

Blessing #2 onset of WW2. Fortunately, the family managed

to escape to the UK. There she met her future

husband and followed him to, then Rhodesia. On

the way there, the airplane she was travelling in

crashed. She survived the crash and walked for

five days until she reached Salisbury. She

Baruch ata Ado-noi Elo-heinu melech ha- eventually got married and had two children and
three grandchildren, Harold being the oldest.
olam, Shi-asa nee-seem la-avo-seinu,
Peter and Harold were due to go to the UK in
Baya-meem ha-haim baz-man ha-zeh. March this year to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Unfortunately, Covid arrived and the trip was
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of cancelled.

the universe, Who made miracles for our She will be sorely missed by Harold, Peter,
forefathers, in those days at this season. Family and friends.

Blessing #3 ______________________________________

This blessing is said on the first night only.

Temple Israel – Hillbrow Newsletter
December 2020

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MITZVAH Day 15 November.

Temple Israel Hillbrow congregants joined
SAUPJ in cleaning up the children’s graves and
Wall of remembrance at the Westpark Jewish
cemetery. It was a very hot day.

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As we move into 2021 Temple
Israel- Hillbrow Management
wishes all, health and safety.