A completely new and revised edition of the Pick ‘n Pay Hebrew/Gregorian calendar will be available countrywide in the next few days.
It is a total revamp of the old PnP calendar and has been done in collaboration with the UOS this year. This stunning production really ups the ante and is likely to be the one that is displayed throughout the year in SA Jewish homes.
The person behind the new calendar is Pick n Pay’s Marion Duncan and her husband Joseph Fink.
“Marion first became involved with us when she worked on the new look PnP/UOS Pesach Guide,” UOS executive director Darren Sevitz told MyShtetl.co.za today. “She was so fascinated with the Jewish Festival cycle and customs that she undertook to re-create the calendar – turning it into more than just a calendar, but a collector’s item as well.”
Some interesting features of the new calendar
Sevitz says that the most notable change is that “the months run according to the Jewish monthly cycle, i.e. Tishrei to Elul, with the secular dates also represented in smaller print on each Hebrew date. This will take some adjustment and getting used to, but as Marion says, this is a Jewish calendar for use by Jews, and should therefore be based on the Jewish monthly cycle.
The calendar also features, for the first time, candle lighting, motzei Shabbat, fast times etc not just for Johannesburg, but also Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontien, Plett, PE, East London, Buluwayo and Harare – all on the same page.
Each month features an inspirational quote, relevant to that month, by community Rabbis.
The calendar highlights Marion’s artistic talent. Each month is lavishly decorated with fancy and fantastical creatures from Illuminated Jewish Manuscripts over the centuries. Marion has painstakingly redrawn each image.
“Each month also includes lesser known yet interesting and informative information about the month,” Darren Sevitz told MyShtetl today. “Perhaps the most impressive feature of the new calendar is the price – only R20!”
Darren says that the calendar will be distributed via the UOS, and all Pick n Pay stores frequented by the Jewish community. “Feedback on the calendar would be appreciated,” says Darren. Send a mail to calendar@uos.co.za.
PnP UOS Calendar - An example page shows the formatting of what must be the best Hebrew-Gregorian calendar ever published in SA.jpg
Thanks for the the post!
Thanks for the the post! That was Hilarious!!
I have to say I've heard
I have to say I've heard some pretty harsh criticism about the calendar. I think it's because we all need to make the mental switch from the Gregorian dates to the Hebrew dates.
I've even heard whining about the size. I'm sure that's valid if you have a specific place to hang your calendar and now it's bigger, so I can't argue the point.
Anyway, here's my view! You were expecting something else?
1. I think it's a beautiful display piece. Instead of hiding an ugly, advertiser littered primary and secondary colour calendar, we know have something that's filled with such incredible artwork and useful information that goes beyond just knowing when it's candle lighting time and when the fasts are over. Put it out there for others to see.
2. Gregorian dates are for Catholics! I know we use them in South Africa, but let's take a moment to reflect that Pope Gregory XIII brought it into law. The days and months of the Gregorian calendar are named after pagan gods, whereas our months are derived from our Tanach and of course Shabbat.
Are we comfortable that our Jewish calendar should also reflect the thinking of one of our most active persecutors throughout time? Are we happy to 'forget' that these days and months we use are a continual call to pagan gods. I hope not.
My single criticism is that it should be easier to read and remember those Gregorian dates. Whomever design the layout of the wording in each date did not have enough experience in understanding how and in what order humans read and interpret words. It should be shown just below the big numbering, not on top. We usually focus on the big number and then read down!
Yes, it's new, and it's awkward for a little time only. Imagine what those poor Catholics must have dealt with when Thursday 4 Oct 1582, changed over to Friday 15 Oct 1582. 11 days older, but only one night passed...
I love the new calendar, and I'm glad it centers on being Jewish.