Today, 07 May 2020, Philanthropists from the Jewish community in South Africa announce the establishment of the Gesher Small Business Relief Fund (“the Fund”) to offer interest free loans to small businesses in the South African Jewish community adversely affected by the impacts of COVID-19. The Fund is a new, independent entity that will draw on the operational and administrative infrastructure and expertise of the Chevrah Kadisha, in order to quickly and effectively assist

A chance communication with a domestic employee brought home to a Jewish community member in Johannesburg the desperate plight facing people who are not being paid during the lockdown period. Determined to do something about this the member (who wishes to remain anonymous) got in touch with SAJBD Chairman Shaun Zagnoev and was referred by him to the Angel Network. This organisation, a social upliftment initiative founded and run by a dedicated group of Jewish women, has been

Loving Classroom South Africa, a PBO that works to foster a healthy and safe environment in South African schools, is amongst those working to alleviate the plight of those young learners whose critical daily needs are not being met. Through the efforts of Glynne Wolman of the Angel Network and Rabbi David Shaw of the Sandton Shul, a substantial amount has now been raised enabling the organisation to donate food parcels, hand sanitizers and face masks to children of the schoo

Jews have been part of the fabric of Johannesburg from the very beginning. Veteran journalist Lionel Slier reflects on the current state of the community. Lionel Slier is a veteran contributor to South African Jewish publications, including Jewish Affairs and the South African Jewish Report. Not long ago, I read an article in an Australian publication where the following informed guess was made about the number of Jews living in South Africa: “In the early 1970s, seeking mor

Government is partnering with Banks in a R200bn loan guarantee scheme to enable Banks to guarantee a portion of and make available emergency, easy to access loan finance to businesses at rates linked to prime, with a 6-month payment moratorium, repayable over 5 years, to be used to fund 3 months of operational expenses. Although usual credit criteria will be applied, the approval process will be accelerated and credit will be relatively easy to obtain due to the Government gu

Two great ancient civilizations, Jewish and Greek, influenced and impacted upon one another, and collectively altered the course of world history. Bernard Katz summarizes 23 centuries of Greek Jewish history. Bernard Katz a frequent contributor to Jewish Affairs is a Chartered Accountant who does freelance corporate finance advisory, investigations and sits on several boards . The earliest known Jewish presence on the Greek mainland dates to the 3rd Century BCE. However, it i

“We live in parallel universes and the inequality and hopelessness is palpable”. This is how SAJBD Gauteng Council member David Cohen describes the situation in Riverlea, a poverty-stricken, mainly coloured suburb in south-western Johannesburg. The community there is one of those that is being assisted through the CAN (Community Action Network) Initiative, in terms of which a group of people – it could be a study group, book club or simply a group of friends - works together

The Covid-19 crisis invites comparisons with an even deadlier pandemic, the 1918 Spanish Flu. A survivor describes the Flu's impact on Jews in Cape Town. Emeritus Professor Howard Phillips has taught and published extensively in the fields of the social history of medicine (including epidemics and pandemics) and the history of universities, including in the University of Cape Town’s faculties of Humanities and Health Sciences. This article is abbreviated from an interview, co

The Coronavirus and related lockdown have resulted in massive economic consequences across South Africa. This document is to assist members of our community and is intended to set out a high-level summary of the relief measures available. Care should be taken to research and get advice to suit your particular circumstances. We shall provide updates as required and your attention is drawn to the email address at the end of this document for assistance and input.

Although influenza vaccination will not protect against coronavirus infection, it is strongly recommended, in particular, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Influenza could well be an important aggravating underlying condition which would exacerbate Covid-19 disease. Furthermore, the diagnosis of Covid-19 would be complicated by influenza because the symptoms are very similar , and this could well compromise the management of Covid-19 illness.

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. This is an edited version of her article, originally entitled ‘Immigration Restriction, Bubonic Plague and the Jews in Cape Town, 1901’ that appeared in the Chanukah 2008 issue of Jewi

We wish our Muslim friends “Ramadan Mubarak". May you have a spiritual and meaningful Holy month.

David Saks is Associate Director of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and Editor of Jewish Affairs. The following is an edited version of his article which first appeared in the Pesach 2005 issue of this journal. When the ocean waters abruptly receded on the morning of 26 December 2004, it was a last-second warning to those lining the beaches throughout the eastern Indian Ocean that a massive catastrophe was about to unfold. A lucky few realized that something was wr

Tuesday, April 21, will be commemorated in many places around the world as Yom HaShoah, the day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust – this year is also the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the most notorious of the Nazi death camps. It’s also the first time the commemoration will have to be held virtually since more than half the world is in lockdown to fight the spread of COVID-19. Don Krausz is a sprightly 90-year-old. He was 14 when he was liber

The Holocaust is a reminder of what can happen when a country weaponises hatred We live in unprecedented times. On Monday next week we will be remembering a very important day in the Jewish, and indeed the world’s, calendar – the systematic murder of 6-million Jews by the Nazi regime between 1941 and 1945, the annihilation of a third of the world’s Jewish population. This year - the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, one of the most infamous Nazi German death ca

Yom Hashaoah - commemoration in isolation

The SAJBD is honoured to work on this important initiative together with other religious, civil society, sports personalities, academics and former political representatives calling on all South Africans to launch a national food security campaign as part of the fight against COVID-19 in our country.

Dear Community members Financial Relief during COVID-19 It is one month since the first COVID-19 person was diagnosed in South Africa and since then we have gone through a whirlwind of emotions, including stress and anxiety. One of the areas causing great concern for all South Africans is the pressure that the lockdown has had on businesses and the resultant financial concerns. In the coming weeks our community will announce support mechanisms to assist you at this challengin

Dear friends, As we are all faced with new realities stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever before virtual conference calls via different software platforms became an integral part of our daily lives. We have all witnessed headlines about such calls being hacked by antisemitic groups and individuals, targeting Jewish organizations in order to disrupt meetings and spread their hate messages. We are forwarding to you Guidance for Secure Livestreaming, courtesy of C

Yesterday evening a group of world leaders joined Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to give pre-Pesach messages. In her message, SAJBD President Mary Kluk observed that in this terrible global crisis, “Jewish community organizations across our country and indeed around the world have joined together as never before - physically apart, but spiritually and emotionally TOGETHER” https://www.timesofisrael.com/modern-day-plague-wont-break-our-ties-rivlin-tells-world-jewish-leaders/