Shalom Shtetlers,

I blew my top when a good friend said to me this afternoon: “I’m surprised you never took the Jewish report’s bait?” Well, I don’t mind telling you that when I read the ‘non-story’ on page 3 of last week’s Report for the first time this afternoon I blew my top, took the bait and RESPONDED WITH A BLOG post called “What game are the Jewish Report playing? What makes me all the more upset is that I have been writing a great blog for a few weeks and it will now have to wait for posting. Watch for it.

Attention Ladies: Read REINVENTION CONVENTION - I won’t spoil it by telling you too much here – but you WILL be sorry if you see this amazing opportunity too late. Click thru now!

Then, a heads-up for the over two-thousand who receive this newsletter - be quick and be the first to STAKE YOUR CLAIM to a great opportunity to have a stall where thousands of Joburg Jews will congregate on one day. Schools, Shuls and other organisations, individuals, businesses – if you want to raise funds or make some money – this is the type of opportunity that doesn’t come around often.

THESE KIDS MAY BE DEAD NOW! gets my vote for the most fascinating read of the week. We have researched it to the utmost and are not 100 percent sure of its veracity, but we had to publish what we could find as there is a viral e-mail campaign doing the rounds in the public domain. The story is that the young Norwegians killed at the island camp were being taught only two things while there: tactics for effectively boycotting Israel and training for blockade busting in Gaza.

It seems that it is my time for cuddling up to the Board. Last week I threw them a bouquet for their pending JEWISH MEMORIES OF MANDELA book and their chosen theme and speakers for their forthcoming GLOBAL JEWISH CITIZEN National Conference.

This week we again have a ‘bouquet’ story for acting quickly and getting the University of Pretoria to apologise and have their student radio station, TUKS-FM, remove a Nazi-themed blog from their website – ON THE DAY IT WAS POSTED! Well done, guys.

Our story called SA’S HOTTEST JEWISH DESTINATION, on the other hand, earned us a bouquet – and an e-mail saying from the Durban community with the subject line: “Debben thenks you.” Okay, so they can’t spell so well – but check out this story that’s been our top read this week. Durban is experiencing a Jewish population explosion with a flourish of activity and five new Jobs posted. Communal orgs are also upping their game and a hugely successful ‘meet-&-greet’ attracted 90 people last weekend.

Terry Crawford-Browne, well-known arms-deal activist & now Secretary of the RUSSELL TRIBUNAL in SA gets grilled in the Sunday Times. He seems to have had a smug answer for everything Chris Barron could throw at him. A Shtetler, however, asks him much tougher questions.

The GILAD SHALIT RALLY is expected to draw thousands next week. Be there at the start, march with the crowd or be at the end-point – but be sure to be there!

The GAY DEBATE continues and Shtetlers have now posted over 7,000 words. A father tells how his family accepted his daughter’s partner, and now they are getting twin grand-daughters. An anonymous Shtetler came out and ChabadGirl posted an absolutely hilarious new-new-New Rules from the US last Friday.

Finally, something I don’t usually do (so I am not setting a precedent), I have to give a friend a punt so here comes an advert - one that I can vouch for having been a happy tenant for some time. OFFICE SPACE TO LET. 46sqm SECURE. AMPLE PARKING. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE SHTETL. Call Aura anytime (except on Shabbos) 082 666-3662. And a great landlord – I can personally vouch for that!