The COVID-19 crisis and lockdown have resulted in a burgeoning of online platforms, including Zoom. A new form of online hacking, including the introduction of Antisemitic content has resulted and is referred to as "Zoom Bombing". This is a new threat, in which extremists disrupt online activities by Jewish communities and others. Our friends at the ADL contacted the SAJBD last night to share some important resources in addressing this new threat: 1. A case study of one white

Hello I am Dr Tracey Farber. I am a King David school graduate and I am a clinical psychologist from Johannesburg I have worked in private practice for over twenty years where I have specialised in working with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma. Last year I completed my Ph.D. part time through the University of the Witwatersrand. I interviewed 9 elderly child Holocaust survivors regarding their experiences in the concentration camps. Themes of traum

In these uncertain times the rules of what we can and cannot do are clear however rules around how we should feel are not so clear. If you are feeling scared, anxious, alone or depressed these are your go to points for professional assistance. We are all fighting COVID-19 together. These are some of the people who are available to you: PROFESSIONAL JEWISH COMMUNITY HELPLINE NUMBERS The Chev Chev community social services during office hours: 0115329616 Chev HELPLINE after hou

COVID-19 lockdown regulations in the Government Gazette 11B (1) (a) for the period of the lockdown (i) “ every person is confined to his or her place of residence….” We are obliged to: Stay in our homes Not visit others’ homes Not host other people in our homes This applies for the 21 days from midnight 26 March until the 16 th of April. This includes Shabbat, Pesach and Pesach Sedorim. It is extremely painful to be apart especially for Sedorim. It is heart-breaking for elde

Dear Wendy: What makes this month’s issue of Jewish Life different from all other issues of Jewish Life? Because of the lockdown, the March Issue of Jewish Life will only be available online, not in print! We need your help please to get the word out. Please can you share this news with your friends, family, colleagues, fellow congregants, etc. Please can you also share this information on Whatsapp groups and Social Media. As usual, thank you for participating in the latest i

Dear Jewish Community We applaud our President for his decisive action communicated in his speech last night. These important steps are of critical importance in giving our country a realistic prospect of dealing with this pandemic. We as a community need to be disciplined and responsible at all times in abiding by these measures so that achieve the required outcomes. There is no doubt that painful sacrifices will need to be made, but it is pivotal in terms of our country bei

To whom it may concern: For thousands of years, Jewish women have gone to great lengths to observe the mitzvah of Tevila, in order to assure the continuity of Klal Yisroel in purity. There were times in our history when great mesirus nefesh was needed for the observance of this precept. Be’zras Hashem in the merit of this mitzvah may Hashem shower a flow of brocha upon all involved, including mikveh attendants and users. As we head towards Pesach, we remember that the redempt

Current threat of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. We have been requested to provide the public health reasoning behind the ever increasingly stringent recommendations regarding the current Covid-19 pandemic. These are unprecedented times and we are painfully aware of the extraordinary sacrifices, hardships and difficulties which are being called for. However, as health professionals and experts in the field of infectious diseases epidemiology, we cannot underestimate t

Yom Kippur Katan half day fast In light of the current situation we would like to call on the entire community to undertake a half day fast on Wednesday, which is Yom Kippur Katan, and to do extra davening on the day

This year’s Seder will be unique in terms of the unprecedented concessions that will have to be made to address the very serious times we live in. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of major adjustments will have to be made on Seder night to minimise the possible spreading of the virus and infecting of loved ones, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community and the country at large. Naturally, each family will need to make their own decisions as to t

In response to numerous queries the Beth Din has received concerning davening without a minyan and other matters during the Covid-19 outbreak, we advise as follows: • Congregants should make every effort to daven Shacharit and Mincha at the same time that their shul minyanim would normally daven. This is to maintain good habits and also so that it should be considered “prayer at a favourable time”, i.e. when the rest of the community is davening. • Ideally, when one davens wi

Dear Community Members OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 At the Chev we have had our heads down over the past few weeks dealing with the urgent matter of protecting (shielding) our frailest and most vulnerable community members - the nearly 1,000 residents of our facilities. We are conscious of the gravity of our responsibility and take it extremely seriously. Nothing is more important at this time than protecting those entrusted to our care who are aged and more susceptible to this v

Dear Friends The SAJBD is partnering with @Cadena SA, @CoronaCare for South Africa and @Feed SA in the fight against the rapid spread of Coronavirus in vulnerable and improvised communities. We believe that the way to help combat the spread of COVID-19 is by arming South Africans with knowledge, as well as providing basic essentials to those with inadequate health care and resources. We are urgently raising funds to print informative pamphlets for township residents as well a

If you have any questions for Professor Schoub, please submit them here.

Dear Community Members OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 At the Chev we have had our heads down over the past few weeks dealing with the urgent matter of protecting (shielding) our frailest and most vulnerable community members - the nearly 1,000 residents of our facilities. We are conscious of the gravity of our responsibility and take it extremely seriously. Nothing is more important at this time than protecting those entrusted to our care who are aged and more susceptible to this v

Dear Friends The situation with the coronavirus continues to change day by day, and we are now seeing an increased number of cases. The latest announcement from the Minister of Health is that South Africa has its first cases of local transmissions, which indicates a new level of threat of the disease. This situation raises the question of shul services, which have continued without interruption until this point. Against this background, we have consulted with Dr Richard Fried

Guidelines prepared by Dr Sheri Davimes, a social worker in private practice specializing in anxiety in children and adults. 1. Hygiene first- take this as an opportunity to educate children on the importance of good hygiene habits. Washing hands when coming in the house and always before eating 2. Sharing is caring- except when you are sick. If adults or children are sick they need to stay home. Explain to your children that the more sick people stay at home, the quicker we

Dear Jewish community In the three days since our last community letter there have been further developments around Covid-19 and in terms of our community and government’s response to the pandemic. Below are the revised guidelines that have been created by the Jewish communal leadership, the various sectorial clusters that have been established (education, welfare and religious) in close consultation with experts in the field of infectious diseases. The community is urged to

Dear Friends At this time of great challenge we must be strong and determined. With the advent of the newly reported cases of those infected with the coronavirus in our community, there are a number of new guidelines with regards to shul and simcha gatherings that have been developed under the direction of Prof Barry Schoub, founding director of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, and Dr Richard Friedland, CEO of Netcare. These guidelines, which have been discus

Individuals who have come into contact with a positive, probable or suspect COVID-19 case should be self-quarantined for 14 days. This also includes people who have travelled from countries where there is significant local transmission of the virus eg Asian countries, Western European Countries, Israel, US, UK and Australia. Asymptomatic people (not exhibiting any signs of illness) should remain at home and avoid contact with groups of people outside the home environment. Dur