The SAJBD notes the confusion as to which equality court the Andile Mngxitama hate speech case should be heard in. The SAJBD lodged the complaint with the Johannesburg High Court, and they in turn, referred it to the Magistrate’s Court. The Magistrate’s Court have indicated that this was an incorrect referral.  The issues are of a procedural nature and do not touch on the merits of the case. Our legal team is considering all legal options to take the case forward on its merit

We are pleased to inform you that the latest (Chanukah, 2017) of  is now online, and can be found here. The printed version will be posted shortly. This issue includes an Arts & Culture focus, comprising: An overview by the late Stefan Welz of the significant role played by Jewish philanthropists, collectors, gallery owners and dealers in the development of the visual arts culture and industry in South Africa. Welz was for many years a leading figure in art dealership, highl

One of the considerations that will need to be taken, when the ANC International Relations Committee meets again at the elective conference, is whether the decision to downgrade the SA Embassy in Tel Aviv, is in fact constitutional.  Speaking at a symposium last week, Ms Thoko Mkhwanazi Xaluva, Chairperson of the Cultural Religious and Linguistic Commission (CRL Commission), noted that were South Africa to downgrade its embassy in Israel it would unfairly impact on the abilit

By downgrading its embassy in Israel, South Africa would in all likelihood undermine the important trade, tourist and scientific-technological ties between the two countries while doing nothing to advance the cause of Palestinian statehood. This was the message that came through clearly at a panel discussion held yesterday at Investec, Sandton. The discussion was hosted by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) as part of an initiative to bring to wider attention the negativ

The Gala Dinner held at the Lookout on the Waterfront provided an opportunity for the global Jewish leaders to interact with South African Jewish community leaders, government, parliamentarians, political parties, business people, academics and media. The World Jewish Congress National Directors’ Forum for 2017 was held in Cape Town.  Sixty leaders from fifty countries visited beautiful Cape Town for their annual conference, taking in this beautiful city and getting to know t

The World Jewish Congress National Directors’ Forum for 2017 was held in Cape Town. Sixty leaders from fifty countries visited beautiful Cape Town for their annual conference, taking in this beautiful city and getting to know this remarkable community. Sessions focused on issues facing world Jewry but also included focus on South African cases studies and local learning.

Sixty leaders from fifty countries visited beautiful Cape Town for The World Jewish Congress National Directors’ Forum 2017 conference, taking in this beautiful city and getting to know this remarkable community. The group were exposed to Jewish outreach visiting the Afrika Tikkun Centre in Mfuleni.

The WJC National Directors visited Herzlia High School to learn about Jewish education in South Africa.

SAJBD President Mary Kluk joined 16 Jewish leaders from around the world participating in a week long programme as guests of the Federal Republic of Germany entitled `Jewish Life In Germany’. Pictured here are the delegates, members of the Federal Foreign Office including Mr Felix Klein and Maram Stern Deputy CEO for Diplomacy WJC.

The WJC National Directors visited the Astra Centre which provides sheltered employment.  They visited the impressive workshop and had lunch at the Centre’s restaurant, Coffee Time.

The World Jewish Congress National Directors’ Forum for 2017 was held in Cape Town.  Sixty leaders from fifty countries visited beautiful Cape Town for their annual conference, taking in this beautiful city and getting to know this remarkable community. The opening event was held at Leewenhof, the magnificent residence of the Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille.

We are pleased to inform you that the Rosh Hashanah 2017 issue of Jewish Affairs has been posted to our website. To view previous issues from Pesach 2009, click here . The printed version will be mailed to subscribers shortly. As always, your assistance in widening the reach of the journal by forwarding these links to those who may be interested would be much appreciated. There are two main themes in this issue, both concerned with the two events that defined the 20th Century

View the Mngxitama Affidavit here:

The SAJBD wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Pretoria following a report of antisemitic graffiti on a noticeboard in the Humanities Building, including Nazi Swastikas and calls for all Jews to be gassed. The University responded to our letter, “The University of Pretoria condemns any form of discrimination and hate speech and will not hesitate to act against anyone found guilty of this type of behaviour. When the University became aware of a notice board that w

The SAJBD is appalled by the crassly offensive, demeaning and hurtful comment made this morning by Black First Land First (BLF) leader Andile Mngxitama. In a tweet, Mngxitama wrote, “For those claiming the legacy of the holocaust is ONLY negative think about the lampshades and Jewish soap.” With this ugly, jeering remark, Mngxitama has portrayed not just the deliberate murder of Jewish people but even the supposed reduction of their remains to everyday objects as something to

For the vast majority of South African Jews, the visit last week of a multi-party delegation of Israeli Members of Parliament (Knesset) has provided a welcome message of hope. It is a reminder that despite the destructive efforts of extremist factions aimed at perpetuating division and conflict, it remains possible for people of good will to find common cause with one another through dialogue and constructive engagement. Members of the Israeli delegation, which comprises Nach

A delegation of Israeli Members of Parliament (Knesset) is currently on an official visit to South Africa. The delegation has met with leaders across the South African political spectrum, including with the ANC, DA, Cope, ACDP, IFP & FF+. The delegation also met with Jewish and Christian organisations, as well as the Business community.  The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) and South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), representing the overwhelming majority of So

Since its initial conceptualisation in 1919, the historic Durban Jewish Club has been not only the centre of Jewish communal life in Durban, but a frequently used public space for the broader society. The building itself, "surrounded by bush, rippling dunes of corrugated white sand mingled with ochre earth", was officially opened on 4 May 1931. Since then, it has been host to generations of people, with a history that has witnessed wars and political unrest, conferences and p

Determining where the boundary lies between legitimate freedom of expression and prohibited ‘hate speech’ can never be an exact science. During the flurry of debate that took place around the controversial Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill earlier this year, this was something that came through especially strongly. Err too much on one side, and victims of genuinely hurtful and insulting verbal abuse are left without a remedy; err too much on the oth

“COSATU has got members here even on this campus; we can make sure that for that side it will be hell” “COSATU is with you, we will do everything to make sure that whether its at Wits University, whether its at Orange Grove, anyone who does not support equality and dignity, who does not support the rights of other people must face the consequences even if it means that we will do something that may necessarily cause what is regarded as harm…” “…The following things are going