Community Magazine June 2019

iyar - SIVAN 5779 june 2019 83 luxury craft hunter, including tribal-made purses, scarves, dresses, and jewelry. In theMaboneng Precinct in Johannesburg, row upon row of street merchants, as well as boutique shops, offer locally-made wares. This is where I bought my wife a head scarf, and a handmade bead necklace (for $12). Sit on an outdoor bench and have fresh-made Ethiopian coffee. The warehouse-filled Rosebank Flea Market and Rosebank Crafts Market provide a one stop shop for all your souvenir needs. So, whether you want tchotchkes, clothing, or local organic honey, this is the place. At roadside shops in Hartbeespoordam, I bought a leather belt made from kudu hide (a species of antelope), and tasted several marula fruits, plucked fresh from the tree (for $20 total). It’s a cousin in taste to a sour plum, with a thick skin. Another amazing adventure is visiting a diamond mine, a unique experience to South Africa. The underground tours of the Cullinan Diamond Mine give an insider’s view of how diamonds are pulled from the rock, polished, and crafted. It is a world famous mine, which has produced many of the planet’s highest quality gems, including the largest diamond ever found, the Cullian Diamond, weighing in at a phenomenal 3,106 carats. Two of the British Crown Jewels come from the mine, the 530-carat Great Star of Africa and the 317-carat Lesser Star of Africa. Accommodations and Food In centrally-located Johannesburg, top-tier accommodations can be found at Genesis Suites, which has won a number of awards from TripAdvisor and Booking.com. The amazing thing is that it is not merely a hotel, it is more like an apartment. Available are one- to three-bedroom apartments, so it’s great for families, too. It’s a real treat to have a fully-equipped kitchen, seating area, furnished living room area, as well as four-star rooms. It definitely has that spacious “home feel” to it. Their staff and support team are attentive and cheerful. To unwind, take in Genesis’ fitness centre or pool, or stroll around the hotel plaza, which has two supermarkets (Woolworth’s, and Pick n Pay), a kosher bagel restaurant (Bagel Zone), Seattle coffee shop, and about a dozen other shops. Pick n Pay has a wide variety of kosher offerings, including shelf upon shelf of meats, a take-out counter with prepared foods, a salad bar, and many other items that will never leave the kosher traveler hungry. Do try Pick n Pay kosher biltong, a delicacy comprised of dried seasoned meat strips. It’s like beef jerky, only tougher, less sweet, and less processed. Single serving bags sell typically for $5.00. In addition to kosher food availability within arm’s reach, there are several synagogues are in the area, within walking distance. American consumers might also enjoy the fact that our currency is stronger (the rate is 14.5 Rand to $1.00) and most grocery food items are about thirty percent cheaper than what you would find at our local stores. Cape Town Considered the “Jewel of South Africa,” Cape Town is comparable to Seattle in many ways: it is a mountainous coastal city with a rich and vibrant architectural landscape. There is ample beach to stroll along, and near the waterfront is the Sea Point neighborhood, brimming with hotels, as well as several batei knesset within walking distance. The Jewish population of Cape Town is said to be about 20,000, and there is no shortage of kosher food. There are Jewish museums in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. Typically, flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town range from $100 to $150, and leave virtually every half hour. The flight is 1.5 hours, and if you are adventurous, the drive is 16 hours. Table Mountain is one of the must-see attractions, with a stunning view from the top. Take the cable car to the peak, and couple it with Boulder’s Penguins and Cape Point for a day’s excursion. (Yes, penguins are on the beach for all to see!) The following day, book a tour of Robben Island and a local township tour, and pair that with a canal cruise to see the waterfront in all its glory. Aquila Private Game Reserve is a nearby attraction, where there are opportunities to enjoy a full day safari on horseback. See the “Big Five” and much more, up close, while peering over the jaw dropping views of the wilderness. All tolled, South Africa offers a great 10-day vacation, not including flight times. South Africa ought to be on the list for a “to get to” vacation, one like you’ve never experienced. The safaris, thehistory, the sights, thepeople, and theadventures, are all good reasons to visit. The Great Synagogue in Cape Town