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It should never have come to this: Southern Africa's Jewish community can
no longer meet 100% of the needs of its most vulnerable members: the
elderly and the handicapped. Emigration of the young continues unabated, as
do economic hardships. Inflation eats away at senior citizens' pensions.
Safety has become a critical issue. That means elderly Jews are moving into
Jewish-run old age homes in increasing numbers, where they find
companionship and security.
More than 1,100 Jews live in the six Jewish old age homes of Cape Town,
Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bulawayo. Government cutbacks mean that
a quarter of their operating budgets have vanished. With an ever-shrinking
Jewish community to support them, a financial crisis is fast approaching.
400 Handicapped, mentally ill and children in need are also supported and
cared for in 6 homes country wide catering for their special needs.
Recent email:
"I am sorry to inform you that last night, the one
functioning bus serving our home was hijacked. There was no loss of life
and no one was harmed. Our only other bus barely functions, and this is our
only form of transport to take the elderly out for excursions."
Over Pesach we supply a total of 16,000 meals. This includes
breadkfast lunch and supper. We also open our home for the first two nights
to anyone who is needy and has no where else to go, as well as to families
who want to share in a Kosher Pesach.
It costs us R60,000 for the two nights and R250,000 for the
whole of Pesach.
Recent fax:
"The elevator no longer functions. We have no means of
bringing the patients from the 2nd floor. We are in urgent need of $3,500
US to repair the elevator."
Recent email:
"I wish I had better news, but the one vehicle we use
to transport our patients lost its hydraulic lift. The repair estimate is
$900 and we do not have discretionary funds of this nature when medicine,
food and salaries leave no financial room to maneuver."
Letter from SA Chief Rabbi Harris:
"Your support is of immense value to us. You can't
imagine how it boosts our morale." The situation is no less grim in
the three Jewish community run facilities that care for the handicapped.
340 Jews, most of them between the ages of 15 - 55 years of age, are living
in protective and nurturing environments. Known for their expert care of
those suffering from autism, schizophrenia and Down's syndrome, these homes
are eating through their financial reserves. Already operating several
months each year in the red, staff dismissals are imminent, as are cutbacks
in the services.
4950 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA,
92123
Email: chaisa@jcfsandiego.org
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