A woman of passion, intelligence, flair and courage, Helen Aron was an acclaimed documentary and art photographer of Johannesburg’s disappearing past. Kathy Munro is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of the Witwatersrand. Having trained as an economic historian, she now researches and writes on historical architecture and heritage matters and has a regular book review column on the online Heritage Portal. She is Vic

A program for a 1955 concert recalls how famed Jewish entertainers performed in South Africa on Israel's behalf. . Gwynne Schrire, a veteran contributor to Jewish Affairs and a long-serving member of its editorial board, is Deputy Director of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies – Cape Council. She has authored, co-written and edited over twenty books on aspects of South African Jewish and Western Cape history. The following article is based on a copy of a 1955 concert programme o

In 1998 , a plaque was unveiled by the University of Vienna’s Medical Faculty in memory of teachers and students exiled or murdered under the Nazi regime. A participant reflects on the occasion. Emeritus Professor Isidor Segal is Master of the World Gastroenterology Organisation and Consultant (retired) GIT Unit, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. On the morning of 6 September 1998, delegates to the World Congress of Gastroenterology were invited to a symposium enti

The story of immigrants Reuben and Sophia Newstead and their part in establishing the Claremont shul, framed as an imaginary first-person memoir by their grand-daughter. Charlotte Cohen , a regular contributor to Jewish Affairs , is an award-winning short’ story writer and poet, whose work has appeared in a wide variety of South African publications since the early 1970s. . The passage was a nightmare. Hundreds of Jewish emigrants Litvaks packed like sardines onto a vessel th

The trick to surviving the Covid-19 pandemic is choice, coupled to a vigilant guard over what you allow yourself to think, says Dr Edith Eger. “In these times, pay a lot of attention to what we think, as what we think, we create. Pay attention to what you focus on because the chances are that (which you focus on) is what will happen,” she says. Eger is a 92-year-old psychologist, based in the US. Born in Hungary in 1927, she’s the author of the best-selling The Choice, which

Long-serving Jewish Affairs editorial board member Judge Ralph Zulman, who passed away on 8 August 2020, combined a stellar career on the Bench with over three decades of service to SA Jewry... The editorial board of Jewish Affairs was saddened to learn of the passing earlier this month of long-serving board member the Honourable Justice Ralph Zulman. Judge Zulman combined a stellar career on the Bench (culminating with his appointment to the Appellate Division of the Supreme

The SAJBD notes the statement issued by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) describing the agreement between the UAE and Israel to normalise relations is “regrettable”, on the grounds that the Palestinian people had not been “engaged”. The statement by Dirco is unfortunate. In fact, the existence of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel creates an official framework within which such matters can be formally and constructiv

LIZA ESSERS initially rose to prominence in the commercial and financial sector in South Africa receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and working as a strategic consultant for the leading global professional services company Accenture, as well as in private equity. In the seven years prior to becoming the owner and director of Goodman Gallery in 2008, she was an independent art advisor and curator specializing in the conceptualization, development and production of v

As the representative spokesbody of South African Jewry, the SAJBD ensures that the voice of the community is heard on all issues that concern it. To this end, it maintains effective channels of communication and forges sound working relationships with leading figures in the political, media, educational and civil society spheres.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is the recognised spokesbody and civil rights lobby of the South African Jewish community. Its core mandate is to combat antisemitism in all its forms while also ensuring that the community’s right to fairness and equality in terms of its religious and cultural practices is upheld. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is the recognised spokesbody and civil rights lobby of the South African Jewish community. Its

Like Olga Kirsch, Jennifer Friedman grew up in the Orange Free State and wrote poetry in the Afrikaans language she grew up in. Brian Josselowitz tells her story. Brian Josselowitz has worked in the newspaper industry, as a journalist, sub-editor and editor for some fifty years, including for the Weekend World, Business Times, Sunday Times and Caxton. After moving to Cape Town, he launched a community newspaper for the northern suburbs at the behest of The Argus Company (now

What made this year's Seder night different from all other Seder nights? Charisse Zeifert describes how. Charisse Zeifert is Head of Media and Communications at the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. “ This is true freedom: Our ability to shape reality. We have the power to initiate, create and change reality rather than only react and survive it. How can we all educate our children to true freedom? Teach them not to look at reality as defining their acts but to look at

We are saddened by the passing of Andrew Mlangeni, stalwart of the anti-apartheid Struggle. Mr Mlangeni was the last of the famed Rivonia Trialists whose example did so much to inspire others in the darkest years of Apartheid. At great personal cost, he devoted himself to the fight for justice and equality and will be remembered as one of the architects of democracy in South Africa. His passing, which follows shortly upon that of fellow Rivonia Trialist Denis Goldberg brings

This year, we are honoured to have Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt as our guest speaker. Deborah Lipstadt is a historian, academic and the author of award-winning books: “ The Eichmann Trial ”; “ Denial: Holocaust History on Trial ”; and “ Denying the Holocaust: The Growing Assault on Truth and Memory ”. Join us for her South African debut on 10 November, where she will address us at the SAJBD Gauteng Conference. BOOK NOW This year, we are honoured to have Ambassador Deborah Lips

This week, St Peter Parish in Durban’s Mahatma Gandhi Road prepared 120 food parcels to distribute to the needy. Durban - This week, St Peter Parish in Durban’s Mahatma Gandhi Road prepared 120 food parcels to distribute to the needy. The parcels are designed to sustain a family of four for a fortnight. Normally distributed over three days - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - parish priest Father Georges Bidzogo had a problem: 80 of the parcels were given out on Tuesday alon

Quarantine and Isolation Definitions for COVID-19 Quarantine : is the public health measure whereby someone who has come into contact with an infected individual has to separate himself/herself from any other person, as they could have picked up infection from that contact. The period of quarantine is determined by the incubation period of the infection (i.e. the period of time from contact to when they would have started to become ill) + the normal duration of the illness

Simone Kriel’s deeply offensive antisemitic post led to a criminal probe and the reproach of Auschwitz survivor, Ella Blumenthal. Dear Simone, I was so saddened to hear your comments. Saddened, because I was about your age in 1945 when I was liberated from that pit of hell they called Bergen Belsen. I had lost everything that I had ever had. I had lost almost everyone that I had ever loved.. I, like millions of others, had fallen victim to the vicious propaganda machine the N

Simone Kriel’s deeply offensive post about Jews leads to a criminal probe and the reproach of an Auschwitz survivor Pretoria Instagram influencer and fitness figure Simone Kriel is staring down a criminal probe and could face jail over her comments that denigrated Jews by declaring Hitler an innocent man. But Kriel has now doubled down, insisting she stands by her statements that Hitler was innocent. “I don’t see myself as a Nazi. I see myself as an Afrikaans Christian and I

The theological roots of antisemitism go back to the early centuries of Christianity itself, and persist even to this day. An Anglican priest considers this legacy in light of contemporary developments. Revd Canon Peter Houston is Rector: St Agnes Church (Durban) and Canon Theologian: [Anglican] Diocese of Natal. . Abstract Islamophobia and antisemitism are likened to two sides of the same coin. While there are considerable similarities in definitions, such as a fear-based re

A re-imagining of old Doornfontein, bustling heartland of Jewish Johannesburg during the early decades of Jewish settlement. Zita Nurok , a regular contributor to Jewish Affairs, is an elementary school teacher who grew up in South Africa. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women, and has served as Vice-President and President of the Indianapolis branch. The two watercolours, painted by architectural historian and artist Jay Waronker in 2012, show the exte