JEWISH MEMORIES OF MANDELA will be
published at the SAJBD Conference Opening
Session on Saturday night. Order now and
Ensure you get your copy first, and cheaper.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
The following touching story from Jewish Memories of Mandela which will be released at the Board conference opening session next Saturday night, is about Craig Joseph inviting Nelson Mandela to his bar mitzvah.
The story appears in Chapter 12, entitled “The People’s President,” which consists of a series of vignettes showing Nelson Mandela’s personal interaction with members of the Jewish public following his release.
Taken individually and contextually, few if any of the episodes described would be considered of themselves to be of any great historical significance.
Jewish Memories of Mandela has been written by distinguished author journalist
and historian David Saks. Saks’ previous work, ‘Boerejode – Jews in the Boer
Armed Forces, 1899-1902’ sold out at its launch and is now available in a 2nd print.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT BOREJODE ON MY SHTETL
What they do, rather, is provide “off-the-record” insights into Mandela the man, his personality and character traits as reflected in his personal, day-to-day interactions with ordinary citizens.
As such, they are no less revealing in this regard than the “big moments” of his public career.
The year was 1996. Madiba had been president for two years.
CRAIG’S STORY…
“As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Shortly before his bar mitzvah celebration, young Craig Joseph decided he wanted the President to attend. Undeterred by his parents’ amused scepticism, he composed a special letter of invitation and personally delivered it to the Mandela residence. It turned out that the joke was on the senior Josephs.
One week before the celebration, Craig’s mother received a call from Mandela’s secretary accepting the invitation and advising that the president would be attending the function from 8:15pm to 9pm.
The ceremony took place at the Simon Kuper Hall, Johannesburg, on 15 August 1996. With a fine sense of the theatrical, the Josephs decided not to fill in the other guests, instead only requesting that they be seated as quickly as possible in anticipation of a “special guest”.
At exactly 8.15pm, the President arrived:
IN CRAIG’S OWN WORDS…
“The magic that filled the room was indescribable. Neither I nor my family could believe that Nelson Mandela was standing before us. He had arrived, as promised, to celebrate my momentous day with me.
“This world-renowned figure of hope and grandeur had come to be with me, Craig Marc Joseph.
“Madiba toyi-toyied behind the main table, shaking the hands of shell-shocked guests while our festivities continued with the “horas”. My family and I then joined him at the main table for the singing of the now, much more meaningful, national anthems. I took the opportunity to address this humbling man in an attempt to describe my gratitude and appreciation of his presence.
“His words to me in return will remain with me always.”
SAJBD 46th National Conference Opening Session – everyone is welcome and attendance if free - but space is limited so register now to secure your seat
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CLICK HERE >> Jenni@beyachad.co.za to send an e-mail to Jenni Fernley at the
SAJBD if you require any additional information.
Astonishing how Madiba is
Astonishing how Madiba is feted and fawned by so many folks but the real hero of South African politics ,even though not around anymore ,su
rely must be the late Helen Suzman,with decades of fighting for rights
of other oppressed communities etc. but doing it without grabbing the
spotlight for herself,while the so called icon himself Mandela couldn
,t care two hoots what happens to the country he went to jail for ,so much corruption,ineptitude and sheer insanity from the ruling party yet
not a word of disgust from an icon?