A massive flood of hail and rain last Shabbas has put popular “House of Judaica” at Norwood Mall out of business for “between six and twelve weeks” says Sharni Sharabee who owns and manages the store with her husband Avishay.

A huge rainwater run-off pipe that many gutters and pipe run into broke directly over her store. “It was above our ceiling,” Sharni says, “and it broke in two under the pressure and weight of the ice [from hailstones] and water.”

This led to the weight piling up on top of the ceiling just above the store’s English books section. The ceiling, too, gave in under the weight.

Sharni says that the water and ice started filling up the shop on Friday night. The centre management tried to contact her but Shabbas was already in. By the time emergency staff on the scene had contacted her mother and obtained permission to break the glass shopfront, the water had filled the shop like a fishbowl to a height of “at least 1m,” says Sharni.
The huge volume of liquid that escaped created a wall of water and ice all the way to the entrance of Pick n Pay and then diverted through the centre, witnesses told Sharni afterwards.

“At least 75 percent of our stock is ruined, as well as all of the fixtures and the flooring.” She says that it will take them six to 12 weeks to re-open, depending on insurance delays. We have to re and restock, and 80 percent of our stock is imported, she says.

“We wish to apologise to our loyal customers for the inconvenience,” says Sharni, “and, G-d willing, we’ll back as soon as possible to service their needs.”

It has yet to be established whether the insurance claim will be against the centre’s, or the Sharabee’s, insurers.