Above Board in this week's Jewish Report
by Prof Karen Milner
Connection, recollection, condolence
This week has seen the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) continue its vital international engagements, fostering connections that strengthen our community on the global stage. Our national director, Wendy Kahn, joined her counterparts from 60 communities around the world at the World Jewish Congress (WJC) National Community Directors Forum in Bratislava, Slovakia. This gathering provides an invaluable space for open dialogue, where they share experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in a spirit of collaboration and mutual support.
Wendy had the honour of speaking on a panel addressing five pressing challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide: resilience, antisemitism and online hate, security, diplomacy, and youth engagement. Her address focused on diplomacy, drawing from the SAJBD’s successful efforts to engage with universities at various levels, yielding meaningful outcomes for our community.
The meeting was times to coincide with the “Day of the Victims of the Holocaust and Racial Violence” which marks the adoption of the 1941 “Jewish Code” the most extensive anti-Jewish legal measures of the wartime Slovak State. The code introduced a racial definition of Jews, leading to their exclusion, impoverishment and deportation. By the end of the war tens of thousands of Slovak Jews had been murdered in Nazi extermination camps. A solemn ceremony was held on the site where the synagogue once stood, forging a profound connection between the WJC’s ongoing work and the painful lessons of our history. Such moments ground us, urging us to remain vigilant and committed to remembrance.
I, too, have been immersed in reflecting on our people’s harrowing past. This week, alongside vice-president Mary Kluk, I attended the Claims Conference directors’ meeting in New York. The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, or “Claims Conference,” represents the world's Jews in negotiating for compensation and restitution for victims of Nazi persecution and their heirs. As a member organisation, the SAJBD holds a seat on its board, and it’s a privilege to contribute to this essential work. With the number of survivors dwindling each year, the Claims Conference’s role grows ever more crucial, ensuring that those who endured unimaginable suffering can live their remaining days with dignity and security. We owe it to them to honour their resilience and preserve their stories.
Our hearts are heavy with the tragic news of the deadly shooting at a bus stop in Jerusalem, which claimed at least six lives and left seven others critically injured. This senseless act starkly reminds us of the persistent and grave threats facing Israel’s citizens and the broader Jewish world. The hatred and violence that ignited the October 7 attacks linger as a constant shadow, both in Israel and beyond.
