This year, Human Rights Day coincides with the Jewish festival of Purim. While the two events appear to have little in common, in actuality, there are numerous interesting parallels between them. The Purim narrative, based on events recorded in the Book of Esther, abounds with human rights themes. The festival commemorates how a plot to massacre the entire Jewish population of the Persian Empire was thwarted through an extraordinary chain of events which in retrospect could o

Academic freedom should be embraced, defended and never be taken for granted. This was the consensus at a meeting between representatives from Stellenbosch University (SU) and the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) at the University on Friday, 25 January 2019. The meeting was convened following the withdrawal of several Israeli academics from a conference, entitled Recognition, Reparation, Reconciliation: The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma, held at SU towards the end

22 November 2019 The SA Jewish Board of Deputies is saddened by the passing earlier today of Sir Donald Gordon. For his phenomenal...

This issue includes a special focus on Jewish culture and heritage. It includes contributions on music in the Bible and Judaism in general by Cecil Bloom, the Tu B’Shvat festival, past and present, by Henia Bryer and an overview of the Barmitzvah ceremony and how it has evolved over time by Lionel Slier. Closer to home, the indefatigable Gwynne Schrire has, with much relish investigated the origins, analysed the contents and considered the overall historical context of a late

In this issue, the distinguished journalist, author and editor Jeremy Gordin provides a perspective on the significance and continued relevance of the Rambam/Maimonides from both a personal and academic perspective. This is followed by the latest in veteran contributor Bernard Katz’s “A Brief Journey Through…” series looking at some of the main centres of Jewish life in Europe and the Near East from the earliest times until today. This time he focuses on the Jewish presence i

South African Jewry conveyed a rousing message of support to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his efforts to confront the legacy of corruption and state capture at last night’s SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Gauteng Council conference. The well-attended gathering included Cabinet ministers, business leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and community members.  Former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan was given an especially enthusiastic standing ovation by the capacity

“My experiences living amongst a Jewish community.  My first engagement with Jewish people began when the company I worked for merged with a Jewish family-owned-business and to whom I was then to report to as my new CEO.  My first encounter with my new Boss, Ronnie Norwitz, was on a Friday when he came down to my office at around 12 looked at his watch and said “Solly aren't you going to be late for your Friday prayer?”  Never before in all my years of working, had I ever had

At the biennial conference of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Gauteng Council next week, Gauteng Jewry will have the first opportunity of engaging directly with President Ramaphosa since his assumption of the presidency earlier this year. Rather than delivering the traditional keynote address, Mr Ramaphosa will be exchanging views with eminent business leader Stephen Koseff on challenges currently facing South Africa, what the Jewish community is (or could be) doing to help a

Join us as we celebrate Mandela’s Centenary with President Ramaphosa and the Nelson Mandela Centenary programme. 25 November 201817:15 Click here to secure your seat.

Prince Buthelezi Birthday

This week, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) unequivocally upheld a complaint against Ehrenreich lodged by the SAJBD. Ehrenreich was found guilty of prohibited hate speech, of harassment and of violating the complainants’ right both to dignity and to equality. He was directed to apologise in writing to the SAJBD and affirm his commitment to constitutional values.   In its 26-page ruling, the SAHRC observed that even if a clear distinction had been made between the SAJBD

Have you heard the joke where a Jew, an Afrikaner and an Indian walk into a Shebeen? It sounds like the kind of “witty” yarn that EFF leader Julius Malema would spin. Oh, wait, actually, he has already told tales about different minorities – singling them out for abuse. Most recently, he “cleverly” managed to insult two minority groups at the same time, when he said: “There’s a group of white right-wingers (read Afrikaners) who are being trained by Jews in Pretoria to be snip

We are pleased to announce that the Rosh Hashanah 2018 issue of Jewish Affairs has been posted on our  website. The printed version will be sent to subscribers shortly. As always, we ask that you assist us in widening the reach of the journal by forwarding this message to anyone who may be interested. In May this year, the State of Israel celebrated its 70th anniversary. To mark that memorable milestone, the Rosh Hashanah 2018 issue of Jewish Affairs is devoted almost entire

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies pays tribute to Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe, and extends its condolences to the Sobukwe family on her passing. Mrs Sobukwe will always have an honoured place in South African history for her loyal, steadfast support for her legendary husband, the great Pan-Africanist leader Robert Sobukwe, during the struggle against apartheid. She epitomised the courage, endurance and loyalty of the innumerable women whose husbands or partners were imp

With the Yamim Tovim coming up, I again urge all our university students to please check that there are no clashes with their upcoming...

On Mandela Day last week, sandwiches were made and handed out, blankets knitted and distributed and speeches given by impressive and inspiring world leaders. It is fitting then, that, on that auspicious day, I experienced what I believe was a profound ‘Mandela moment’, one that exemplified the Madiba values and spirit. Following some highly abusive and antisemitic commented posted on a Whatsapp group last month, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), together wit

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