lebrating
Ce
Enjoy a thought provoking and
stimulating day at our seminar on
Oct 28th. Booking essential – R300
includes tea, lunch and gift bags.
Contact: 021 434-9691
Elul 5770 - Tishre 5771
7 Bellevue Road Sea Point: T 021 434 9691
Updates and Happenings
Joan Krupp, Gaby Suskind, Irene Berman, Keilie Gross - participants at Ot Azey
What an exciting month August was. Hardly a day
went by without an activity or an outing. Members
enjoyed being creative at our art mornings and
were treated to wonderful anecdotal mornings by
volunteer guest speakers of the highest calibre.
Highlights of the month included Ot Azey and the
10th Annual Yiddish Song Festival.
Ot Azey was hosted at our Sea Point Branch for
the third year, the brainchild of Jack Shmukler
who worked tirelessly on planning the workshop.
We had over 30 interested participants for the
three day event . We are privileged to be able
to include Tamara Alswang from Johannesburg
and Rochelle Wener from Durban whose love for
Yiddish is generously instilled into the minds and
hearts of the participants. This year, we included
a two evening session for “glat” beginners and
it was heartwarming to see the interest and
participation. What is most interesting to note
is that the ages of participants vary from the
early twenties to those well passed their second
barmitzvahs!. The interest shown has prompted
us to begin an evening class which will commence
shortly. We will be contacting all participants of
the recent course, but if anyone else is interested,
please contact our office for details.
Jason Toay & Yamina Oliver - participants of Ot Azey
The Tenth Yiddish Song Festival, “Mazaltov”
was absolutely wonderful and the talk of the town
for days thereafter. The cast, many had been
CJSA
NEWS
Cape Jewish Seniors Association
P.B.O. 18/11/13/3112 • NPO 0003 402
West Coast: T 021 555 1736 Southern Suburbs: T 021 671 4957
on board since inception 10 years ago, excelled
in every way with their beautiful renditions of all
the songs. Our guest artist Zola , singing her
rendition of “Ich beynk aheim” the emotive song
written by her famous uncle Leyb Rozental, was
both exquisite and meaningful. This is the song
her mother originally sang in the Vilna ghetto
and which her late sister also sang on the same
stage 60 years later. Zola made the number her
very own by taking the Yiddish song and adding
snippets in English that gave it a very special
poignancy. Guest artist Erez Shaked and Aviva
Pelham had us in fits with “Ich vil a chosen”. This
song, written in ‘Yinglish’ – English with a strong
Yiddish sensibility and content - had the couple
complaining about what each one was looking for
in marriage.
Beverley Chait, Ivor Joffe, Aviva Pelham, David Gordon, Dragana
Jevtovic, Zola, Erez Shaked, Caely Levy, Richard Gore - stars of the
Yiddish Song Festival
Ivor Joffe is to be congratulated being a musician
of note with a wonderful voice which enthralls the
audiences, but added to this gift is that he is able to
bring out the best in the Herzlian pupils who have
learnt to love and sing Yiddish. Beverley Chait’s
rendition of “A dudele” was an exquisite rendition
of a song that touched the soul. David Gordon
charmed in his duet with Dragana Jevtovic in the
all time classic Mazel. Caely Levy and Richard
Gore enthralled with the clever arrangement by
Matthew Reid of “Bei mir bistu sheyn”. Co Musical
Directors Fay Singer and Matthew Reid are the
gems behind the arranging and composing of the
music and Irma Kesler directed the show.
Years
November 2010
cjsa@icon.co.za
Eighty Five learners from Herzlia added to the
festivities of the evening with their beautiful voices
and enthusiasm.
The Yiddish Song Festival is a wonderful fundraiser
for CJSA, but that is not the only great thing about
the festival. The past 10 years has created a
new interest in the Yiddish language as well as
being a wonderful tool to promote Cape Jewish
Seniors Association, so Philip Todres needs to
be acknowledged for his contribution in bringing
Yiddish to life as a tribute to his mom Leah.
Friendship Forum
We recently hosted our fourth afternoon of the
Friendship Forum. We included second and third
generation family members and asked each
person to bring an article reminding them of their
loved ones. Anecdotes were shared and memories
were honoured. The next afternoon is scheduled
for October 3rd. We hope that more people will
attend our events which are proving to be truly
special occasions for those who attend.
Betty Diamond, Lily Becker, Shireen Stokel and Debbi Silver looking
at Betty’s school photo
25th Anniversary Celebrations and Seminar
As CJSA is an organization for the Seniors, by
the Seniors, we plan to use the month of October
to honour everyone concerned. Internationally,
October is the month set aside to acknowledge
seniors. Our founding Chairman, Pinchus Gutter
will be visiting South Africa and he will share in
the special activities. We will be hosting a 25th
Anniversary Shabbat Dinner at the Green and Sea
Point Shul hall on October 15th.
Our members, some of them who have been
members since inception of CJSA will be able to
enjoy a celebratory party which will be done in the
form of a road show. We will host a special birthday
celebration at each branch to ensure that the vast
majority of all members will be able to share in this
simcha.
Continuing in this celebratory mode will be our bi
- annual seminar, entitled Celebrate Ageing to
be held at the Sea Point Civic Centre on the 28th
October. All members will be welcome to attend
this thought provoking day.
Continued on page 4
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