Half way through

Hey Comrades,

Ilan here from Cape Town.
Cape Town has experienced intense flooding recently, our house survived ( as we are rich and are located on a high lying region) , but some 10 000 shacks (tiny tin squares) got destroyed leaving many homeless. So besides for the global warming the 2nd 6 months will be heating up for other reasons too. CT may be cold and I may only be doing 2 courses at Uni for the next 6 months (yay!) but our house is buzzing like a 24 hr quicky mart (Simpson fever does exist in CT too...).
After my travels to Durban (to run a Jew camp) and then to Swaziland ( to make fun of poor black people..that was a joke, dont stress I am not racist), Swaziland is beautiful and a very illuminating insight into our culture, Our House is happily back together and , like any other semi-functional body, had a much needed break from each other. Changes are happening too:
* Emma has declared her undying love for a girl in her class
* Daniel B is swopping rooms with Kev Sack
* Daanie has become fat ( not "ph" fat i.e. "phat")
* Kevin hair growth has increased.

We have some unbelievable things coming up. The 2 that spring to my mind immediately are
1. The upcoming massive Chill at our House this Fri with nargilah, coffee etc
and
2. The upcoming Limmud next weekend.
- Limmud is a branded concept imported from Britain. it is a massive pluralistic Jewish learning environment where people from all different walks come together to learn, socialise , debate and engage. The Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Dr Rabbi (Orthodoxy is the way) Warren Goldstein, has condemned the event on the basis that it accords equal status to Reform and Orthodox peoples. This is a tragedy, and does not bode well for the future of the Jewish Community in South Africa which is increasingly becoming more and more polarised between the close-minded "Orthodoxy" and the more liberal and engaging entangled alternatives.

Otherwise I wish all Moishe Housniks a fulfilling 2nd 6 months and a challenging one.

Salaam Aleikum,

Strauss
Moishe House Cape Town