The theme of this year’s well-attended SAJBD Cape Council conference was ‘Thrive or Survive’, with keynote speaker Rabbi David Rosen focusing on global forces shaping the Jewish future while community members Lisa Klein, Alana Baranov and Yaron Wiesenbacher provided a local perspective on the future for Jewish life in South Africa. One of the distinguishing features of the Cape Council is the importance it has traditionally placed on fostering dialogue within the Jewish community, and providing platforms for its constituents to express their views and concerns. It was through this kind of process that it was possible to arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution to the question of women singing solo at Yom Hashoah ceremonies earlier this year. I congratulate Chairman Eric Marx and his team on all they have accomplished thus far and wish them continued success in the year ahead.
Recent Articles
SAJBD's Gabi Farber on why the UCT court case is something world Jewry should be watching closely
“In the aftermath of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, many university campuses that once prided themselves on being bastions of open debate and intellectual freedom have morphed into arenas of hostility, particularly for Jewish students and academics.”
Not consulting Jewry renders UCT resolutions 'unlawful'
“The irony is that Mendelsohn is on the side of UCT, and UCT isn’t,” lamenting that in court, the lawyer representing the institution “never represented UCT’s interests, only those of its chairperson and executive [Exco].”
Read article below about the University of Cape Town court case regarding councils adopted resolutions to boycott Israel and change the definitions of Antisemitism.
University of Pretoria to the University of Johannesburg 20th Anniversary celebration
From Pretoria to Johannesburg!
A day that began at the University of Pretoria and concluded at the University of Johannesburg 20th Anniversary celebration - a testament to the power of connection, collaboration, and community. The SAJBD remains committed to engaging with universities across South Africa, fostering partnerships and meaningful dialogue on behalf of the South African Jewish community. 🇿🇦🤝