The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has made a submission for this year’s Constitutional Review, focusing on issues of ‘hate speech’ and how the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) could be made more effective in addressing them.  The SAJBD is of the view that racist hate speech is of itself damaging, and this is not fully covered by the current definition.  Rather, the SAJBD believes that at present, definition is overly narrow since it proscribes advocacy of ‘

The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) and South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemn the brutal terrorist attack in Tel Aviv last night Wednesday the 8th of June 2016.  The attack by armed men took place at a popular shopping area nearby a children’s playground. This act of violence resulted in the deaths of 4 innocent civilians and left 11 injured. This horrendous act highlights the reality that such terrifying atrocities are regularly committed against Isr

Early this morning, the South African Jewish community lost one of its most loved and respected members with the passing, at the age of 98, of Advocate Jules Browde, an eminent member of the Johannesburg Bar and a long-serving human rights activist and Jewish communal leader. In the course of a career stretching over more than half a century, Browde acted for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, as well as other as number of other anti-apartheid activists, and was a founder memb

The SA Jewish community joined the Africa Diaspora Forum in celebrating Africa Day in Yeoville on the 25th of May.

The responsibility of the SAJBD is to ensure that every Jewish person feels free and comfortable to be part of its events, especially Yom Hashoah, says Mary Kluk. The Sunday Independent last week carried an opinion piece on a court case that has been brought against the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Cape Council concerning the question of women singing solo at the annual Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Commemoration) ceremony. The sub headline read: “Hitler killed as many female

Jehuda Evron and other Holocaust survivors have fought for decades to correct a historic wrong. Seven decades after the Holocaust, survivors and their heirs are still seeking justice for the theft of their property. Join the SAJBD and the World Jewish Restitution in supporting a Call to Action urging European governments to provide timely and fair restitution or compensation for property confiscated during the Holocaust.  ‪#‎HolocaustJustice‬

Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is an opportunity for all of us to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, and also to seek justice on their behalf. Join the Call to Action, supported by the SAJBD and the World Jewish Restitution Organization, and urge European governments to provide timely and fair restitution or compensation for property confiscated during the Holocaust.  ‪#‎HolocaustJustice‬

During the first week of May, the Jewish communities of seven South African cities will come together to mark Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, Jews around the world remember the six million Jewish victims of Nazi tyranny – men, women and children singled out for mass extermination for no other reason than that they were Jews. Also remembered are the millions of other innocent people who died at the hands of the Nazi regime during World War II.

Holocaust Survivor, Irene Klaas shared her memories with Masechaba Ndlovu on Power FM. Listen to the podcast here.

Wendy Kahn writes for The Star and Pretoria News: Earlier this year, I was privileged to spend Human Rights Day in Sharpville. On the square where the horrific massacre took place 56 years ago, I stood next to a woman by the name of Maria Morake, who was a witness to the atrocity.  Read the full story here.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies has paid tribute to the late Bertie Lubner.  Minister Davies says he learned of the death of Bertie Lubner today, with great sadness. “Bertie played a significant role in the industrialization of this country through the companies that he founded and ran with distinction. He was also a strong advocate for human rights and an active philanthropist,” adds Minister Davies. He says Bertie was the founding father of the Manufacturi

It is with profound sadness that the Field Band Foundation marks the death earlier today of its co-founder and Honorary Life President, Mr. Bertie Lubner. From our very beginnings in 1997, Bertie has been an active and involved supporter of the Foundation’s outreach to more than 40 000 children of disadvantage across South Africa. Through this time, he personified active citizenship, humane caring for people less privileged, consistent optimism in positive outcomes, and dilig

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies extends its condolences to the family and friends of Bertie Lubner who sadly passed away this morning (18 April 2016). Bertie was an extraordinary man, contributing to many worthy causes. His vision and leadership were responsible for the creation and development of some of South Africa’s leading NGO’s including Afrika Tikkun, Friends of Ben Gurion University and the SA Israel Chamber of Commerce.Bertie was a member of the Gauteng Co

Reports of violence, intimidation, and hate-speech directed against Lesbians, Jews and Whites during the protests at Wits University yesterday are distressing.  While the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is sensitive to the myriad of serious issues facing students in this country, it is never acceptable to target minority groups and inflame hatred.  According to comments and photos on twitter, a student claims “they strangled me, choke slammed me, threatened me.

Reports of violence, intimidation, and hate-speech directed against Lesbians, Jews and Whites during the protests at Wits University yesterday are distressing. While the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is sensitive to the myriad of serious issues facing students in this country, it is never acceptable to target minority groups and inflame hatred. According to comments and photos on twitter, a student claims “they strangled me, choke slammed me, threatened me. A

The SAJBD condemns the horrendous terrorist atrocities that took place in Brussels today. We express our sincerest condolences to the people of Belgium and particularly the families of the victims. We join with the international community in expressing our commitment to eradicating the scourge of terrorism wherever it surfaces.

The SAJBD joined the Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese commemorating Human Rights Day in Sharpeville. The event remembered the horrific loss of life in Sharpeville, but also focused on the important anti-racism campaign. Witnesses shared their harrowing tales of the 21st of March 1960. SAJBD Chairman, Shaun Zagnoev, delivered a message on behalf of our community.

King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College leadership participated in the Greek National Day Celebrations and  ‪#‎takeonracism‬  event at Saheti School.

On 18 March, the SAJBD delegation joined international Jewish leadership at a World Jewish Congress commemoration of the terror attacks in Buenos Aires in the early 1990’s.  In two separate attacks 114 innocent civilians lost their lives and a further 540 people were injured. There has still been no justice for the victims of the brutal killings at the Israeli Embassy which occurred on this day 24 years ago, nor for the horrific attacks at the AMIA community centre in 1994. 

Neglected MuseumAfrica has a treasure trove of collections that have been consigned to mothballs All aspiring writers will attest to the pleasure of seeing their work appear in print for the first time. In my case, it was an article (published by this newspaper) on the new direction that the Africana Museum – shortly to rename itself MuseumAfrica – was taking in response to South Africa’s unfolding political transformation. My very appointment, in April 1990, as curator of hi