• 4thmtessence is th„ chit- est Carlos :dichi bcp-s - \ssence 06intessence is the f reshest COlini10 '4) vim ' C4 * • , < 0 II OU X • r 3 s *, O'n.„Ck C from now when a direct mail packet will be sent by the well organized South African Zionist Federation to tens of thousands of Jewish homes registered on its rolls. South African Jews claim a tightly knit community matched rarely in other coun- tries outside Israel. Most children receive a quality Jewish education, assimilation and in- termarriage are virtually non- existent, and aliya and tourism rates are markedly high. The only problem is that the community is situated in South Africa, a nation undergoing sweeping changes under the con- stant threat of extremist "If people can earn a decent living in Israel, they will come. If not, it's to Australia." violence on the one hand and strong government clampdowns on the other. Essentially the Jews find themselves under at- tack on four distinct fronts: •From the Soviet-oriented ANC which advocates the violent overthrow of minority white rule and the establishment of a pro-Moscow regime. •From the meteorically risen far right in the form of the very small but increasingly popular AWB neo-Nazis who strut about in brown-shirted uniforms while waving swastika banners. •From the international com- munity which seems headed for tougher economic sanctions, a measure that would deal a damaging blow to Jewish busin- essmen who play an active and prominent role in the nation's finances. •And finally, from an internal erosion of confidence and fears that an entire generation of younger Jews will emigrate, leaving a demographically lop- sided populace behind them to face the worst. "Ours is the great test of aliya for Israel," explains SAZF Presi- dent Julius Weinstein, "If this so very Zionist community with its excellent day schools, active youth movements and devoted Zionist orientation doesn't come to Israel when it's already on the move, then it just won't work anywhere." Weinstein says Israel is aware of the challenge and doing as much as it can to meet it. He ad- monishes its bureaucracy to think in middle and upper mid- dle class terms, not in refugee terms, and adds "If people can simply earn a decent living, not the high style we've grown ac- customed to, but sufficient, they will come. If not, it's to Australia." When Jews talk emigration, Australia, Canada (Toronto especially), America as well as Israel crop up in conversation. So far this year, some 250 South Africans have come on aliya, the same number as arrived during all of the previous year. Ibp communal fundraiser Mendel Kaplan notes that 15,000 Jews from his country already live in Israel. "What other community can boast that about 12 percent of its members have gone on aliya? Virtually every family has friends or faint- ly in Israel." He chides Israel for having relegated the absorption process into a "political football kicked between the Jewish Agency and the government," but overall he is optimistic that the affirmative "blue book" in- centive plan will help fence- sitters decide on Israel over the competition. Dr. Abramowitz, president of the Bnai Brith region, says, "This community will not get up and move en masse unless the situation changes drastically or for the worse." Dr. Stephen Cohen, Deputy Director of the Board of Jewish Deputies, says his "gut feeling" is that "more people are still staying than are going, but of those going it seems that more are considering countries other than Israel. Israel's bent every rule in the book to attract us, but too many of us have been lured into the belief that being a good Zionist does not necessar- ily mean settling in Israel." Those who look to a future in South Africa see hope in the figure of a black Zulu chief named Buthelezi, 57, who ad- vocates sweeping reform with- out bloodshed. In an interview conducted in Kwazulu's administrative seat, Ulundi, Chief Buthelezi proved highly informed on matters of Jewish interest. "Israel is a land of miracles," he said of his visit there. "I am deeply inspired by what I saw there. I returned home with in- creased hope and a realization that people facing adversity can become ingenious beyond all prediction." He called the equa- tion of Zionism with apartheid "a convenient cover for anti- Semitism. This is an abhorrent, abominable thing. When they say. Zionism is the same as apar- theid, they are just hiding their anti-Semitism." The chief said Archbishop Desmond Tiitu "has no consti- tuency" at home. He identifies with political parties and is much more than being involved as a moralist based on Judeo- Christian ethics. He is restricted as a religious leader and admits, in endorsing economic sanctions against South Africa, that he doesn't speak for anyone except •.333 0 Quintessence is the ultimate clearance at up to 75% Off for the La Mirage Inside - Outside Sidewalk Sale on Friday, July 25th & Saturday, July 26th* v W , ;: J - oc!, icuer, ..5:Wea ter .W. .3, Vet • 'untesser1C0-?' earrir'tt) h e • 11 s5ence .e th , :e IS kok.t 01 0 t tho t :