Country participating in the 2012 Olympics: South Africa Jewish community: Jews of Lithuanian descent

By: Sophie RadfordSchool: King David Victory Park (Grade 4)City: JohannesburgCountry: South AfricaTeacher: Corinne Sandler

About South Africa* The southern most country in Africa* Main cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban* Total population – approximately 50 million Black, White, Indian and Coloured South Africans* 11 official languages – English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Venda, Tswana, Tsonga, Pedi and Shangaan

The first democratic president in South Africa

South Africa’s landscapes…

South Africa rainbow nation – a mixture of cultures and religions…

South Africa’s Jewish communities …* From 1652-1914, early generations of Jewish immigrants settled in most towns and cities throughout the country* Today there are about 75000 Jews living in South Africa

largest Jewish communities live in Cape Town and Johannesburg

most, like my family, are descendants from Lithuanian immigrants

Isaac Schwartzman. My great- great grandfather with his family from Beksna Pauline Schwartzman . My great- great

grandmother with her family from Pokroy

History of South Africa’s Lithuanian Jews …* Large numbers came to South Africa from 1880-1914 because:

They wanted to escape Russia’s harsh, anti-Semitic laws and the pogroms

The discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa offered them opportunities for a better and safer life

My great-great-great grandparents in Johannesburg and my granny as a little girl

Wolmarans Street Shul Johannesburg – where my great-great grandparents and my granny and grandpa got married

The Great Park Synagogue where I was named Shiran

Famous Jewish South Africans:

Nadine Gordimar - writer

Barny Barnato – diamond magnate

Ali Bacher - cricketer

Judge Richard Goldstone - human rights champion

William Kentridge - artist

ADON OLAM Adon olam, asher malach,b'terem kol y'tzir nivra.L'et na'asah v'cheftzo kol,azai melech sh'mo nikra. V'acharey kichlot hakol,l'vado yimloch nora.V'hu haya, v'hu hoveh,v'hu yih'yeh b'tifara.V'hu echad, v'eyn shenil'hamshil lo, l'hachbira.B'li reishit, b'li tachlit,v'lo ha'oz v'hamisrah.V'hu Eli, v'chai go'ali,v'tzur chevli b'et tzarah.V'hu nisi umanos li,m'nat kosi b'yom ekra.

B'yado afkid ruchib'et ishan v'a'irah.V'im ruchi g'viyati,Adonai li v'lo ira