As we prepare to celebrate Women’s Day tomorrow, the SAJBD urges all South Africans to do more to combat the scourge of violence against women in our society.  There is a critical need for greater awareness, education and the enforcement of the law around gender-based violence, as well as discrimination in the workplace and in other spheres of daily life.  Our young girls should also be empowered through education, skills and development. Combating gender-based violence and i

If every reporter brings his or her own bias to reporting on any event, would this be compounded by the religious observance of the said journalist? This was a question that the well-respected journalist Nausheena Mahomed had to answer when she found herself embroiled in heated discussions and having to defend herself for, in her mind, just doing her job. Last Wednesday, she was in Pretoria covering the somewhat festive march by thousands of Christians in support of Israel, i

Unfortunately, she has chosen to do so through the BDS organisation. The BDS is based on the premise that Israel should be boycotted until it ceases to exist as a Jewish state. Many of the campaigns the organisation initiates in South Africa have resulted in blatant antisemitic incidents (including the singing of “Shoot the Jew”, Nazi salutes, the placing of a pigs-head in the kosher section of Woolworths). It was clear from the press conference Shashi Naidoo held with BDS on

Senior SAJBD representatives, including the National Chairman Shaun Zagnoev, as well as one of the administrators of the Sneakerheads group (who cannot be named as he is a minor), were present.  Zagnoev said that the meeting had been a very moving one for all concerned. There had been no doubt that both Seedat and Hattia were genuinely remorseful for what they had done and wished only to make amends. The comments made by family members who accompanied them likewise showed a s

Earlier today the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, through Ian Levitt Attorneys, laid criminal charges at the Sandton Police Station against three individuals who posted threatening and grossly antisemitic comments against the Jewish community last week.  The three against whom the charges were laid were Muhammad Hattia, Tameez Seedat  and Matome Letsoalo.  Letsoalo’s series of tweets included the statement, “@sajbd The #Holocaust Will be like A Picnic When we are done with all y

He was especially famed for capturing the brutalities of the Apartheid regime.  He leaves a powerful record of South Africa’s recent political and social history.  The SAJBD extends its condolences to the family and friends of the late David Goldblatt.

Dear Community Member The SAJBD has been notified of a number of appalling antisemitic comments posted on social media platforms by a number of different people over the past 24 hours.  We have been investigating the incidents and have now established the identities of two of the perpetrators. A third case, which occurred more recently, is currently being followed up.  The various posts are in clear violation of South Africa’s laws prohibiting hate speech. Please be assured t

Over the past 24 hours, a flurry of viciously antisemitic and threatening attacks have been made against South African Jews, both on social media and in direct face-to-face encounters. The incidents, which are being followed up by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), have generated great anxiety and anger in the Jewish community and screenshots of the offending posts have gone viral (See below). SAJBD Chairman Shaun Zagnoev said that while it was unfortunately common to f

OPINION: No room for nuance in Israel-Palestine debate - just ask Shashi Naidoo. https://m.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/no-room-for-nuance-in-israel-palestine-debate-just-ask-shashi-naidoo-20180619

It took less than 48 hours for the BDS to do a complete turn-around over Shashi Naidoo. On Sunday, Ms Naidoo was the devil incarnate, the target of multiple death threats for having dared to tweet comments supportive of Israel. Now, having apologised for her ‘heresy’, she is suddenly a celebrity. Indeed, the intention now is to set her up as a poster girl for the BDS movement. Shashi Naidoo, a local television personality, took to Social Media over the weekend to express the

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemns the latest utterances by EFF Leader Julius Malema against the Indian community. Alana Baranov, the SAJBD representative of the Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG) notes that “racially divisive rhetoric such as this creates an atmosphere in which hate and discrimination directed towards a certain group of people may flourish and become socially acceptable. We should be working to build bridges between communities, not to

For hard-core haters of Israel, merely defaming and demonising the Jewish state is no longer enough.  Now, they are using blatant threats and intimidation to punish and silence anyone who dares to challenge their bigoted narrative. Shashi Naidoo has become the latest victim of this thuggish vendetta. For tweeting comments expressing support for Israel and condemning its enemies, she has become the recipient of multiple death threats, in addition to being subjected to a flood

Earlier this year, the ANC repeatedly denounced artist DJ Black Coffee simply for exercising his democratic right to perform in Israel. Then civil society went for journalist Gareth Cliff, depicting him as a moral pariah for daring to put forward an alternate opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Now Dr Mpho Phalatse, MMC for the DA in Gauteng, has become the target of hysterical condemnation for having expressed support for Israel at a South African Friends of Israel

Feelings continue to run high over the recent deaths and injuries along the Israel-Gaza border. In view of the completely one-sided nature of the confrontation, it is easy to buy into the “brutal massacre of innocents” narrative being assiduously propagated by anti-Israel agitators. Emotional, knee-jerk reactions are nevertheless unhelpful when trying to understand how such a tragedy could have taken place in the first place and, more importantly, how they might be prevented

Alana Baranov, SAJBD representative on the Hate Crimes Working Group, writes on fighting xenophobia in Sunday Tribune and Sunday Independent:  https://bit.ly/2sEsd3D

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is appalled by the unambiguously antisemitic statements made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday. In a chilling revival of classic expressions of anti-Jewish hatred, Abbas sought to justify the historical persecution of Jews by claiming that Jews had brought this upon themselves by their alleged immoral and harmful actions. Even the Nazi Holocaust, in which one-third of World Jewry were systematically murdered, was portrayed as bei

As we celebrate Freedom Day tomorrow, our country continues to be devilled by racism. There is hardly a day that passes, in which there isn’t an incident. At the same time, we have a strong democracy that allows for different opinions on all matters. It is something that we can be proud of. Yet the recent “hanging” of an effigy of Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, is an offensive and inappropriate way to express differences. Our violent past, including the cruel and degra

Mary is pictured in Okopowa with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, The Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, The President of the Polish Jewish Community Leslaw Piszewski and the President of the Warsaw Jewish Community Anna Chipczyńska

This is a powerful message shared from the Jewish Leadership Council and the Deputies of British Jews: #EnoughIsEnough Watch the video here:  https://twitter.com/JLC_uk/sta ...

The SAJBD are saddened to note the passing of politician #Zola Skweyiya, and extends its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.  Mr Skweyiya will be remembered as a dignified and committed leader who always put his responsibilities to the betterment of the South African people first.   The SAJBD worked closely with him when he was one of the envoys appointed by former President Jacob Zuma to finding a lasting solution to the Middle East. To this end we appreciate