Thank you for reviewing on Israel Link our book, “Ideally Speaking”, which I am sure that former members of our Jewish youth movements in South Africa – now spread across the globe – will find most interesting. After all, who does not question the idealism of one’s youth and ask how we shaped-upped to our juvenile ‘’dreams’’ that set us on divers directions in life?
I found all the other book reviews fascinating, and look forward to now reading these books; many of the authors I know.
I recently returned from a short family visit to South Africa, where I was struck by a very pessimistic outlook following President Jacob Zuma’s latest cabinet reshuffle. Political and economic concerns were the main conversational pieces with family and friends – there was less verbiage about sport. Maybe that’s already a lost cause! And of course, there is always the endless complaints and criticism of incompetence and corruption that only intensifies.
Personal anxiety and fears for the future were clearly palpable, and I heard increase talk amongst young South Africans considering emigration or studying abroad. Furthermore, I found the special section – ‘A Special Breed’ – also fascinating, particularly the interview with Nahum Sneh (Skikne). I had no idea that South Africa’s famous film star, Lawrence Harvey was his brother, that his surname was Skikne, that he was a passionate member of a Jewish youth movement, and that he used to visit Israel.
I love these historical tidbits!
Steve Hellman
Kibbutz Tzora
