Happy Chinese New Year!

Antisemitism in South Africa between October and December increased by 631% compared to same period last year. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola stated on BBC HardTalk that “There is no antisemitism in South Africa against the Jewish People.“ Read here 1. Here are the facts: • In 2023, antisemitic incidents in SA reached the highest levels since the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) began compiling detailed lists from 1993. For Oct-Dec 2023 there were 139 recorded incidents co

Statement by SAJBD and SAZF on the discontinuation of ELAL flights to SA ELAL Airlines has announced that they will be discontinuing their weekly flights between South Africa and Israel. During our meeting with El Al last year, it became apparent that operating a once-a-week flight was economically challenging for them. Unfortunately, even increasing the frequency to three times a week did not attract the expected passenger numbers. As a private company, El Al's operations ar

SAJBD Response to the ICJ Ruling at the Hague The SAJBD welcomes the International Criminal Justice’s (ICJ) recognition of Israel’s right to defend its citizens by denying the ANC Government’s request for a ceasefire. This court was never asked to determine the merits of the charge of genocide. It was only asked to provide interim measures, two of which were granted. The court’s call for the hostages to be freed is a fundamental requirement for the end of the conflict. It is

Hundreds of enthusiastic protestors gathered outside the headquarters of Cricket SA (CSA) this afternoon to vent their outrage at the removal of David Teeger as captain of the SA u19 cricket side and to demand his reinstatement. In a shock decision last Friday, CSA announced that Teeger had been stripped of his captaincy ahead of the u19 World Cup, citing security concerns. A campaign has been waged against Teeger following reports that he had made comments in support of Isra

Letter in today’s Business Day

SAJBD comments following meeting with Cricket SA, 16 January 2024 At a meeting held today, Cricket SA (CSA) categorically failed to provide credible evidence that there had been any real security threats to the upcoming Under19 World Cup tournament on account of David Teeger being captain of the SA team. This, together with CSA’s vacillating and contradictory responses to the questions put to them reinforces our understanding that the excuse provided for Teeger’s removal as c

We too are appalled that South Africa includes a notorious antisemite to join them at the Hague. Their choice of a man expelled from the Britsish Labour Party for antisemitism speaks volumes. The Board of Deputies of British Jews "The South African Government’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been perfectly summed up by their inclusion of Jeremy Corbyn as part of their delegation to the ICJ. "Mr Corbyn notoriously once described Hamas as his 'friends', as wel

The decision by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to relieve David Teeger of his Under 19 captaincy of the World Cup team starting next week in South Africa is an outrageous act of antisemitism. There is no basis for this decision, other than the fact that Teeger is Jewish. This is not the first time that Jews have been excluded from sporting bodies in our history. It is shameful that CSA is embarking on a path that is dangerously reminiscent of Nazi Germany, when Jews were actively

The decision by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to relieve David Teeger of his Under 19 captaincy of the World Cup team starting next week in South Africa is an outrageous act of antisemitism. There is no basis for this decision, other than the fact that Teeger is Jewish. This is not the first time that Jews have been excluded from sporting bodies in our history. It is shameful that CSA is embarking on a path that is dangerously reminiscent of Nazi Germany, when Jews were actively

SAJBD Letter to the President 10 January 2024 President Ramaphosa Republic of South Africa PresidentRSA@presidency.gov.za President Ramaphosa – clarification of meeting 13 December 2023 Dear President Ramaphosa We met with you in good faith last month to discuss with you extremely serious issues for South African citizens. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss: 1. The highest levels of antisemitism in SA including violence. 2. Boycott of South African Jewish businesses 3.

OPINION - Politicsweb Jew-hatred arrives in SA Charisse Zeifert says there has been an extraordinary surge in antisemitic attacks post October 7th The world changed on 7 October. At least it did for me. The images that came out of Israel, following Hamas’ brutal and barbaric attack on innocent civilians, evoked memories of the stories that my grandparents talked about, from their homelands of Germany and Eastern Europe. My grandmother, who hailed from Lithuania, would ruefull

Date: 11 January 2024 In the words of former Minister of Justice of Canada and human rights activist, Irwin Cotler, South Africa is inverting reality by accusing Israel of genocide. The fact that South Africa has bought into this inversion, to the extent that it has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), can only be interpreted as antisemitic. As unfortunate as this is, it is not unexpected, given South Africa’s close relationship with Hamas. The inclusion

The SAJBD’s response to the SA Government taking Israel to the International Court of Justice Issued Sunday 31 December The SA Jewish Board of Deputies mourns the loss of innocent life on both sides of the current Israel – Hamas conflict. The situation in Gaza is dire. During the meeting that the SAJBD had with President Cyril Ramaphosa in December (and not November as stated in their case), we expressed these views. We urged our government to play a role in talking to both s

Read article here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.z ...

Yesterday a pro-Palestinian March took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. We of course have no issue with South Africans right to protest, something enshrined in our constitution and that the SAJBD too has done in the past. However what we do take great issue with is when these protests are used as platforms to propagate hate as we have seen regularly in the past weeks, when protests marketed as pro-Palestinian degenerate into forums to threaten and hate SA Jewry. A ma

Naked Jew-hatred behind Kasrils’ feting of Hamas atrocities “A brilliant, spectacular guerilla warfare attack”. Thus has Ronnie Kasrils described the systematic butchery of over 1200 Jewish civilians carried out by Hamas on 7 October ( https://x.com/naeemjeenah/status/1728700438755639668?s=58&t=yfTSJWbHskZls3BB0cifPA ). Speaking at a BDS SA event over the weekend, Kasrils made no attempt to conceal his glee over the massacre, the worst mass slaughter of Jewish men, women and

Board slams Hamas supporting ex-mayor writes Siyabonga Sithole in the Star 23 November 2023

The SAJBD celebrates the release of South Africans, Aviva Siegel (64 years old) and Channah Peri (79) from Gaza. Both were captured by Hamas terrorists during their heinous and unprovoked attack on Israel on 7 October. Aviva is a kindergarten teacher and was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, together with her American husband, Keith, who is still being held. Channah Peri was from Kibbutz Nirim. The mother of three, one of her sons, Roey, was killed on 7 October. Her other son,

National Director Wendy Kahn writes about the skyrocketing levels of antisemitism in South Africa in today’s Citizen newspaper.