Jewish Affairs - South African Jewish Board of Deputies

JEWISH AFFAIRS ROSH HASHANAH 2012I was interested to read the article by Gwynne Schrire ‘Art as protest: Jewish inversions of theCrucifixion motif’ in the Pesach 2012 issue of Jewish Affairs as it brought back memories.I was friendly with George Lowen, QC, a refugee from Nazi Germany and a senior advocate at theJohannesburg Bar. He was visiting me one evening and noticed a painting I had by Father FransClaerhout, the Roman Catholic missionary from Belgium, who lived in the Tweespruit mission station.The painting depicted a crucifixion, with Jesus portrayed as a horse with a crown of thorns.He explained that he was defending Harold Rubin on a charge of blasphemy for painting a Jesus thatthe prosecution complained looked like a monster. Could he borrow the painting to take to the court?If a Catholic missionary could paint Jesus as a horse, then surely a Jewish artist could paint him as aman?This he duly did and my painting was produced as evidence for the defense. Harold Rubin was foundnot guilty. I do not know whether it was my painting or common sense that prevailed.‘Ploni Almoni’JohannesburgREADER’S LETTER*We wish all our Jewish customersa sweet and blessed New Yearand well over the fast52