Reports of violence, intimidation, and hate speech directed against lesbians, Jews and whites during the protests at Wits University yesterday are distressing. While the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) is sensitive to the myriad serious issues facing students in this country, it is never acceptable to target minority groups and inflame hatred. According to comments and photos on Twitter, a student claims: “They strangled me, choke-slammed me, threatened me. Aft

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has made a submission for this year’s Constitutional Review, focusing on issues of ‘hate speech’ and how the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) could be made more effective in addressing them. The SAJBD is of the view that racist hate speech is of itself damaging, and this is not fully covered by the current definition. Rather, the SAJBD believes that at present, the definition is overly narrow since it proscribes advocacy of

Over the past year, we have seen an escalation of hate speech being disseminated through social media. The authorities, to a large extent, have struggled to truly address this trend. It is for this reason that the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) supports the Portfolio Committee on Communications in its undertaking to amend the Film and Publications Act, 1996. However, the SAJBD is of the view that the extremely complex nature of the electronic media cannot be effectively

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies mourns the loss of Bertie Lubner, who passed away this morning. Bertie was an extraordinary man contributing to so many worthy causes. His vision and leadership were responsible for the creation and development of some leading South African NGOs such as Afrika Tikkun and the Field Band Foundation. Whether in the business, philanthropic, educational, Zionistic or Jewish communal fields, he has made a huge contribution to poverty allev

In a letter to its colleagues and students, the Senior Executive Team from the University of the Witwatersrand has described as “devious” the action of the Wits Palestinian Solidarity Committee’s booking of the lawns under the pretence of other activities. It was stressed that the students had deliberately misled the university management, and that this had far-reaching consequences: “This kind of disruptive, deceitful action cannot be dealt with through security,” the letter

Early this morning, the South African Jewish community lost one of its most loved and respected members with the passing, at the age of 98, of Advocate Jules Browde, an eminent member of the Johannesburg Bar and a long-serving human rights activist and Jewish communal leader. In the course of a career stretching over more than half a century, Browde acted for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, as well as other anti-apartheid activists, and was a founder member of Lawyers for Hu

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies notes that the Hawks have arrested four terror suspects on charges of contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism Act.  We further note that that included in the alleged targets were Jewish installations.  Terrorism is a global challenge that affects many countries, including our own.  We appreciate efforts by our authorities to monitor and prevent incidents of terrorism, and we will be monitoring the current situa

Following the horrendous terrorist attacks at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, the SAJBD today sent condolences to Turkish Ambassador Esener expressing our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with all the people of Turkey at this difficult time. The SAJBD condemns the heinous murder of innocent civilians at the Ataturk Airport. Our thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and our prayers with the injured for their full recovery. The SAJBD joins in the Turkish governme

The SAJBD congratulates Marlene Bethlehem, its Past President, on her election as President of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture held in Mexico on June 27th, South African Marlene Bethlehem communal stalwart, spanning over fifty years of service, was unanimously elected as President of this prestigious organisation. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Memorial Foundation for

Cape Council of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies held a colloquium to discuss whether women solo singers should sing at Yom Hashoah ceremony. Yesterday evening (20 June), the Cape Council of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies held a colloquium to discuss whether women solo singers should be included on the programme of Yom Hashoah, the annual Holocaust commemoration ceremony in remembrance of the Six Million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazi regime. Certain individuals withi

Two days before he died Melville Edelstein, chief welfare officer for the West Rand Administration Board, confided to his wife Rhona that anger among the black youth of Soweto over being compelled to study certain subjects in Afrikaans was reaching dangerous levels. He was strenuously opposed to the new regulation, which he regarded as being both unjust and likely to intensify deep-seated feelings of resentment in the black population. He had meticulously documented his senti

On the 40th Anniversary of the Soweto uprising a memorial plaque was unveiled commemorating the legacy of Dr Melville Edelstein who lost his life on the 16th of June 1976. The Edelstein family, dignitaries, friends, Rabbanim, representatives of the SAJBD and prefects from King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College attended this moving ceremony. Following the unveiling of the plaque Edelstein's grandson Levi celebrated his barmitzvah being called to the torah next to the memori

Students from King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College visit the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. The SAJBD with prefects from King David Linksfield and Yeshiva College laying a wreath at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto commemorating the 40th anniversary of June 16.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has made a submission for this year’s Constitutional Review, focusing on issues of ‘hate speech’ and how the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) could be made more effective in addressing them.  The SAJBD is of the view that racist hate speech is of itself damaging, and this is not fully covered by the current definition.  Rather, the SAJBD believes that at present, definition is overly narrow since it proscribes advocacy of ‘

The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) and South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) condemn the brutal terrorist attack in Tel Aviv last night Wednesday the 8th of June 2016.  The attack by armed men took place at a popular shopping area nearby a children’s playground. This act of violence resulted in the deaths of 4 innocent civilians and left 11 injured. This horrendous act highlights the reality that such terrifying atrocities are regularly committed against Isr

Early this morning, the South African Jewish community lost one of its most loved and respected members with the passing, at the age of 98, of Advocate Jules Browde, an eminent member of the Johannesburg Bar and a long-serving human rights activist and Jewish communal leader. In the course of a career stretching over more than half a century, Browde acted for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, as well as other as number of other anti-apartheid activists, and was a founder memb

The SA Jewish community joined the Africa Diaspora Forum in celebrating Africa Day in Yeoville on the 25th of May.

The responsibility of the SAJBD is to ensure that every Jewish person feels free and comfortable to be part of its events, especially Yom Hashoah, says Mary Kluk. The Sunday Independent last week carried an opinion piece on a court case that has been brought against the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Cape Council concerning the question of women singing solo at the annual Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Commemoration) ceremony. The sub headline read: “Hitler killed as many female

Jehuda Evron and other Holocaust survivors have fought for decades to correct a historic wrong. Seven decades after the Holocaust, survivors and their heirs are still seeking justice for the theft of their property. Join the SAJBD and the World Jewish Restitution in supporting a Call to Action urging European governments to provide timely and fair restitution or compensation for property confiscated during the Holocaust.  ‪#‎HolocaustJustice‬

Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is an opportunity for all of us to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, and also to seek justice on their behalf. Join the Call to Action, supported by the SAJBD and the World Jewish Restitution Organization, and urge European governments to provide timely and fair restitution or compensation for property confiscated during the Holocaust.  ‪#‎HolocaustJustice‬