Warmest congratulations to SAJBD past-president Marlene Bethlehem, who was confirmed as the new president of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture at its recent meeting in Mexico. That one of our own has been elected to head up this prestigious organisation s a signal honour not just for Marlene, but for the whole of South African Jewry. The MFJC was established after World War II with the primary purpose of rebuilding Jewish life in post-Holocaust Europe. It has since become a dynamic vehicle for grooming future Jewish leaders in all parts of the world, largely through its flagship Nahum Goldmann Fellowship Programme project. Graduates of the latter include a number of senior SAJBD professional staff members and lay leaders. The close fruitful relationship that exists between the Board and the Foundation has very largely been due to Marlene’s dedicated efforts over many years.
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. 🇿🇦🤝