As part of Argentina’s presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), the Argentine Embassy, led by Ambassador Raúl Ailán and embassy staff, hosted a roundtable on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism at the offices of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. SAJBD representatives from across the country attended the event, which included presentations by Dr Ariel Gelblung, Director for Latin America at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Prof.

20 candidates. 15 seats. 150+ delegates. One representative community. Last weekend, more than 150 delegates from the organisations affiliated with the SAJBD voted to elect 15 Council members from 20 nominated candidates. Our delegate and affiliate system ensures that the election reflects the diversity of our community, with representatives from across South African Jewry having a voice in choosing its leadership. The process was overseen by National Vice President Mary Kluk

Today, the leadership of the South African Jewish community took to the streets in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Sandton and Durban to mark three years since the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. Seven people stood in seven different locations, holding posters highlighting seven documented facts that we believe must remain part of the public record. hold and Our action is a direct response to the intimidation experienced by South African Jews here at home. Over the past t

What an incredible evening of engagement and meaningful conversation, with over 450 people in attendance! Thank you to all the mayoral candidates representing Democratic Alliance, ANC, DA, PA, FF Plus, ACDP and BOSA for taking the time to participate, share their perspectives, and engage meaningfully with our Jewish community. Open dialogue and meaningful engagement are vital to building a stronger, more connected future, and we are grateful to all the candidates who contribu

The SAJBD KZN Council was pleased to host its Annual General Meeting at the Durban Jewish Club on Thursday, 13 August 2026. It was a meaningful evening of reflection and appreciation, as we celebrated the dedication and contribution of our leadership, Board, affiliates and community partners over the past year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and to all those who continue to contribute to the strength, unity and vibrancy of the KwaZulu-Natal Jewish com

📍Highlights from the SAJBD delegation at the 70th National Women’s Day Commemoration at the Union Buildings Together, we heard powerful messages from Mme Sophie Williams-De Bruyn, one of the last surviving leaders of the historic 1956 Women’s March, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, and President Cyril Ramaphosa. Together, we honoured and celebrated the legacy of the women of 1956, women who stood up, spoke out and helped shape the South Africa we know today. And

From boarding the Gautrain to shlepping through the inner-city streets of Jozi and past its iconic landmarks, we walked proudly as Jews and as South Africans, celebrating the city we are so privileged to call home 👟🇿🇦✡️

What a powerful experience for the Jews4Jozi Walk the Talk team! From boarding the Gautrain to shlepping through the inner-city streets of Jozi and past its iconic landmarks, we walked proudly as Jews and as South Africans, celebrating the city we are so privileged to call home. At a time when Jews around the world are feeling increasingly isolated, we are incredibly fortunate to live in a country where we can be openly and proudly Jewish, while feeling an integral part of th

This Mandela Day, the SAJBD was proud to partner with the incredible Maharishi Institute to serve Johannesburg’s inner-city community. Together, we helped provide more than 5,000 meals and learned about the Institute’s inspiring work, led by its Jewish CEO and founder, Taddy Blecher. Through education and holistic support, the Maharishi Institute is transforming lives and helping build a brighter future for the inner city. As a Jewish community, we are guided by the value of

On 13 July, alongside our incredible community volunteers, we packed and delivered hundreds of food parcels to members of the Congolese community in Johannesburg who are facing severe humanitarian challenges. This community is especially vulnerable with no citizen registry and very limited support from official representatives, countless families have nowhere to turn. We were made aware of their urgent needs by a trusted partner organisation with whom we have worked since 200

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies was honoured to attend the U.S. Embassy in South Africa’s celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. The event brought together leaders from across South African society to commemorate a significant milestone in American history and to reflect on the longstanding ties between South Africa and the United States. Former President Thabo Mbeki spoke about the shared history of our two nation

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) unequivocally condemns xenophobia, anti-migrant violence and the scapegoating of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. As a community shaped by a history of persecution, exclusion and displacement, South African Jewry is acutely aware of the dangers of blaming vulnerable minorities for society’s challenges. We know that when fear and frustration are directed at those perceived as “outsiders”, the results can be devastating.

Fifty years ago, On June 16, 1976, thousands of young people in Soweto stood up against injustice. Armed with nothing but courage, they marched for their right to a better education and a better future. Many paid the ultimate price, including Jewish anti-apartheid academic Dr Melville Edelstein, who was killed during the Soweto Uprising. Today, the SAJBD led a delegation of communal leaders and youth representatives from Habonim and SAUJS to the national 50th anniversary comm

The SAJBD was proud to represent South African Jewry at the AJC - American Jewish Committee Global Forum 2026 in Washington, DC, alongside more than 2,000 Jewish leaders, diplomats, students and activists from around the world. A key highlight was engaging directly with senior representatives from TikTok, Meta, Google, YouTube and X on the challenge of online antisemitism and the need for greater accountability from digital platforms. The conference also underscored the resil

🗳️ The SAJBD attended the IEC National Launch of the 2026 Local Government Elections. It was inspiring to witness the strong youth-focused vision driving this election campaign. One thing was made clear: democracy does not sustain itself — it depends on the active participation of every South African. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. 🇿🇦 We encourage all members of our community to register to vote on the link below as soon as possible and play an active role in shapi

Rabbi David Shaw, member of the SAJBD and Rabbi of Sandton Shul, Wendy Kahn and Gabi Farber Cohen hosted a meaningful interfaith engagement, welcoming a group of seminarians from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference led by Bishop Graham Rose. The group, currently in their eighth year of formation for the priesthood within the Catholic Church, are spending a semester focusing on interreligious dialogue. As part of this programme, they chose to visit a synagogue to

This week, SAJBD Vice President Mary Kluk and Chairperson Prof Karen Milner attended the World Jewish Conference in Geneva. Both hold leadership positions on the WJC. Prof. Karen Milner presented a session titled “Making Engagement Count: Community and Government Action on Antisemitism,” sharing the South African experience as a case study in navigating challenging - and at times hostile - political environments, while continuing to achieve meaningful outcomes through princip

Together we united. Together we stood. Together we will endure. 🕯️🕯️ View video on YouTube https://youtu.be/2-LsVmwosnk

SAJBD stood in solidarity with the Iranian people, who continue to fight for freedom in the face of brutal repression. In recent months, tens of thousands have reportedly been killed and more than 600 executed — a stark reminder of the human cost of this struggle. We stand with those demanding dignity, justice, and the fundamental right to live freely.

“We are witnessing the deliberate distortion of one of humanity’s darkest chapters. Not to honour the dead. But to weaponise them against their very descendants. Holocaust inversion has arrived at our doorsteps” Danny Mofsowitz SAJBD Gauteng Chairperson speaking at Yom Hashoah 2026. Now more than ever this is a video which must be watched.