Welcome to our site today! Today is a special moment as 11 of us from the seven Jewish welfare organisations in Cape Town are learners/students for the afternoon. We are participants in a workshop provided by our ‘webmaster’ Rowan Polovin on how to ‘upload’ an article, photo or advertise an event, on our new look Jewish Care Website.

The training is taking place in Highland’s House (Cape Jewish Aged Home) boardroom which is equipped with wi-fi and we have managed amongst us to bring and borrow laptops so that we can learn ‘live’.                  

Often in the last few years I have felt that my status with regards technology has fallen into categories of ‘technophobia’ ‘technically challenged’ etc. This is partially due to the rapid progress and changes occurring in our technological sphere but also due to the fact that I (and many others will identify) did not grow up with television or computers.  In fact I was a ‘typist’ for many years and to my surprise, it has helped me somewhat on the keyboard.                            Candice,Ethne,Annette -JCS

So it’s a brave and exciting experience and chance to be offered and afforded the opportunity to learn firsthand from an expert, in the company of fellow colleagues, with a lot of fun and participation, how to write and add an article for you, the reader, weekly.

 Participants from the 7 Jewish Welfare Organisations and Rowan Polovin 

   Thank you Rowan and colleagues and enjoy the photos of the workshop that I, me, myself, I, have uploaded for you!

   Shifra

Kids Fun for this Summer!

The children absolutely love their new play gym donated by the Chai SA. (See below)

THE UNVEILING OF A PLAQUE IN HONOUR OF ISAAC OCHBERG IN ISRAEL

Pictures of this touching and meaningful tribute to a great man.

Many of the orphans and descendants of those taken in by Mr Isaac Ochberg. All came especially to Israel to put this plaque up in his name.

Wishing you all a fantastic 2012.

Warm Regards,

The Oranjia Team In Cape Town

Oranjia Child & Youth Centre, Cape Town, www.oranjia.com

What do we do: We provide a bi weekly box of fresh fruit and vegetables to over 70 needy Jewish families.

Who we are: we are a group of volunteers who pack, deliver and organise the Tikvah deliveries.

Every second Tuesday of the month we meet to pack the Tikvah boxes.  It is here we make sure that each and every box is lovingly packed with fresh fruit and vegetables. We generally pack the following items:  potatoes, onions, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, butternut, Kitka and seasonal fruit. With an additional dry product which could be rice, pasta or tins of products. For Pesach and Rosh Hashanah we pack an extra special box which will contain ingredients needed for special simcha for the less fortunate among us.

How do we pay for the above? We rely solely on donations.

How can you make a difference?

During the High Holy days many people make donations to Tikvah in lieu of gifts. We write letters notifying the recipient and a thank you to the donor. Throughout the year people make similar donations in lieu of Bar mitzvahs, birthdays, anniversaries and more.  Another way is to make a monetory donation.

If you are interested in donating please contact Candice@jcs.org.za if you have a vehicle and are able to drive please also let us know as we always need drivers to deliver the Tikvah boxes.

What we really need is donations and or a kosher bakery that can assist us with Kitka- also any condements (kosher) that we can add to the 76 boxes.

Thanks to:

Addis- for generously donating boxes for the fruit and veggies to be packed in.

Pick n Pay-

All the drivers who , without complaint deliver Tikvah boxes

All our packers

Fruit and veggie Boys who make up the fruit and veg allocations

Chabad House

Date : Thursday 22 March 2012
Venue: Nelson Mandela Auditorium
Time: 19H00 – 21H00

Facilitated by Clinical Psychologist Lauren Jacobs.

R.S.V.P. The Office on 021-465 9390
Or nechama@absamail.co.za

DONATIONS WELCOME!

(Share this with a friend whom you think could benefit!)

Toes were tapping at the Centre for the Book, the venue for the launch of Matthew Reid’s debut CD of Klezmer music titled Cape Town Shpiel.

Lovers of Klezmer filled the magnificent venue to hear 13 musicians, making up the Playing with Fire Klezmer Band, showcase  numbers from new CD.  Cantor Ivor Joffe  gave voice to the four Yiddish songs on the disc.  Matthew Reid has played an integral part in CJSA for many years as Music Director of our 10 Yiddish Song Festivals.  The long awaited CD, with the tag line ‘Klezmer in Africa’,  was snapped up at the launch.

“The challenge,” comments Matthew “is that I want to repackage old wine into new bottles.”  He totally respects the traditional refrains but wants to bring the vintage into the present and contextualise the music within a South African setting.  So watch out for the playful introduction of local traditional melodies that creep into the opening number.  And listen out for the influences of well known local musicians who add a certain stamp to the traditional melodies.

The wonderful CD can be purchased from CJSA for R120.00  or $20 inc postage ($25 by airmail) or Eu20 inc postage (Eu25 by airmail).  A  percentage of the sales going towards CJSA.  To order E-mail admin@cjsa.org.za or call +27 21 4349691

At Highlands House we offer a supportive, nurturing and caring environment. It is our sincere wish that our residents’ quality of life will be enriched through the care and services that we provide and that they will derive benefit from the extensive facilities and activities that we offer.

Our care is based on our holistic philosophy that ageing is a normal part of living and is another experience along the continuum of life. We see each individual as a whole person with emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

In March 2011, Jewish Community Services received a very generous donation which afforded them an opportunity to purchase residential accommodation in Cape Town. Acacia Court, in the City Bowl area, has been renamed Acacia House and is currently fully occupied.  On 29 Nov 2011 a mezuzah placing ceremony was held and a mezuzah placed at the entrance of each apartment as well as the front entrance to the building. Rabbi Green & Rabbi Liebenberg kindly assisted with the ceremony and it was well attended by committee, staff and clients.

No 4671 – Acacia House

No 4630 – Rabbi Green , Mr Abe Sank (committee member), Rabbi Liebenberg

No 4632 – Rabbi Green, Abe Sank, Paul Berman (Chairman)

No 4632 – Committee, Staff, Clients

• developing and maintaining a project involving specialised medical doctors who have been approached to provide their specialist services approximately twice a year to indigent Jewish people with no access to medical aid;
• organising and event management of a combined AGM with all the organisations represented and usually with invitees making up 300 people. This has become a major event in the Jewish community calendar;
• contributing to the JCC’s website development and the writing of a bi-weekly column titled ‘Shifra Says’.

Together with the current chairman, we work closely to sustain and grow the concept and reality of JCC.

In the next few months I will be bringing you stories (heimische ones) about the exceptional recipients of our Jewish Care Cape Awards given at our AGM, people who have excelled in their capacities as ‘givers’ to the Jewish community and beyond…..
Stories of Herzlia learners committed to doing welfare work, and medical doctors and healthcare professionals who selflessly share their skills, expertise and services to members of our community who do not have access to adequate healthcare.
This is the stuff of our JCC work. I hope you will enjoy reading about us, as much as we enjoy sharing the wonderful work of our organisations.
Shifra Jacobson
C 0835097154
T 021 4646737

DEMOGRAPHICS

The numbers of the Western Cape Jewish Community appear to be slowly on the rise. Indicators currently are:

Young couples are having children in South Africa, with preschool numbers growing.

Longevity sees a growing number of seniors at the other end of the spectrum.

Pointers:

• There are more enquiries for services provided by ASTRA.
• Highlands House is under pressure. Average age has increased from 82 to 86. There will be a greater demand for care.
• Welfare needs have increased with JCS seeing clients from new populations in-fluxing from other areas/countries.

FACILITIES

The biggest need is for actual accommodation and operating space. The importance of the organizations working together and working optimally is vital.  Individual needs of the organizations are important but we also need to think collectively.

FINANCE is the over-riding issue and needs to be considered for all of the issues raised.

• It is imperative that all the organizations strategise in the long term to be physically closer to one another in terms of rationalizing the back office, e.g. switchboards, accounting, etc.
• Awareness of the overall needs of the community must be the guiding principal.  We must aim to be more strategic.

STAFF

It was noted that in the teaching profession, responses to ads for jobs has increased in numbers whereas applications for Social Workers and Nurses is the reverse.

As a Jewish Welfare organization we need to be guided by the principle that we treat our staff – social workers/nurses/care givers – in the way we wish them to treat those for whom they care.

Consideration should be given to introduce bursaries and scholarships for current staff to encourage training development, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate work in careers associated with welfare/nursing.  This would be a valuable fringe benefit and should be available to children of long serving staff.

SUCCESSION PLAN

Encourage young people to get involved in the organizations. Succession starts at Herzlia and we need to get the students involved as they are our future leaders. Leadership role: bring young people into the sub-committees to be involved with specific projects where their professional skills could be put to use and they can see results. Succession needs to be formalized into our structures.

WAY FORWARD?
We can make things change for the better: “Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside”.  The JCC group holds that key!

We would be happy to receive your ideas and input that you think might be relevant to meet the challenges and changes in the future.

The pack comprises of:

• 1 Yahrzeit Candle & 2 Shabbat Candles
• A Tzedakah Box Which People Can Donate To The Charity Of Their Choice In The Name Of The Departed.
• A Box Of Matches
• A Handbook For Mourners Supplied By The UOS
• A Nechama Pamphlet Entitled “When Comfort Is Needed”
• A Nechama Shiva Pamphlet Detailing What Shiva Is About.
• Conduct In A Shiva Home
• Tehillim (Psalms) Booklet To Use At The Cemetery

If you would like to honour the memory of your loved one by making Compassion Packs available to those that need them, a dedication label will be placed on the container. Please contact Shana on 021 465 9390 or complete the following slip and either fax to 021 4659391 or post to 9 Gorge Road, Highlands Estate, Cape Town, 8000 or email nechama@absamail.co.za.

Packs may be sponsored at R240.00 each and additional donations are appreciated.

Compassion Pack Sponsorship Slip