South Africans send gifts of hope to terror victims

CAPE TOWN (JTA) -- A South African group is working to make a difference in the lives of Israeli victims of terror.

Durban Israel Victims of Terror Enterprises, known by its acronym Divote, was launched in Durban's 3,000-strong Jewish community after an emotional address by Ra'anana Mayor Ze'ev Bielski at an Israel solidarity rally in the city in 2001.

With the support of local philanthropist John Moshal, a small fund was set up in Israel, primarily to improve children's lives by providing them with computers, television sets and satellite decoders, paying for summer camp or buying new clothing.

The major part of Divote's work, however, is done in Durban and is spreading to the bigger cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Cheryl Unterslak, who is in charge of the South African operation, runs workshops with all sorts of Jewish groups in Durban, including the aged home, schoolchildren, the Zionist council and women's and youth groups across the community.

"This has been one of the very special things about Divote," Unterslak said. "It has had an incredibly unifying effect on this community with everyone, regardless of religious or political affiliation, coming together as one for the benefit of their fellow Jew in Israel. People here feel that they are no longer armchair Zionists."

At the workshops, Unterslak discusses the situation in Israel and the plight of terror victims and survivors. Groups then do activities such as hand painting T-shirts or making jewelry for victims, to which they attach letters of support.

Before Passover, Unterslak received an overwhelming response to an appeal for new clothing for children affected by terrorism.

"In two days I had a few outfits for each child, plus toys for the younger ones. Someone even bought them all underwear and socks," she said.

She also got a letter back from the wife of a man who had been shot in the head by terrorists saying that "for the first time, she honestly felt that the loss of her husband wasn't only hers but that of the whole of Am Yisrael," Unterslak said. "It means so much to them that Jews on the other side of the world who don't know them, care."