Avi Mayer’s whirlwind visit to South Africa, during which he addressed various communal groups, gave workshops and met with a range of lay and professional leaders concluded this week. We are extremely grateful to him for all his efforts, and for the undiminished enthusiasm and ready helpfulness that he displayed at all times. Everyone who engaged with Avi, in addition to benefiting from his insights (particularly regarding using the social media) and knowledge of developments in Israel and the Jewish world in general, was uplifted by his enthusiasm and sheer positivity that he brings to everything he does. Avi in so many ways reflects the dynamic, “can-do” positivity of Israel, which is seeing it accomplish so much despite the many formidable challenges that confront it. It was a real honour and pleasure for the Board to have hosted Avi and we already look forward to his next visit here.
Recent Articles
Above Board 27 August
Desperate Dangor’s antizionist rant
In recent weeks, the SAJBD has observed a rise in increasingly hostile efforts to challenge the perspectives of our community organisations and silence “mainstream” Jewish voices. In this case, “mainstream” Jewish refers to community members who are traditionally Jewish in observance (be it orthodox or progressive), and Zionist in orientation. Yet, the discourse has shifted, increasingly framing Zionism itself as beyond acceptable bounds, thereby deeming aligned groups inherently problematic. What stands out, however, is that the campaign against mainstream Jewry is increasingly desperate, incoherent, and too often driven by a quest for attention rather than substantive dialogue.
Unpacking Holocaust Inversion: A Deep Dive into Jewish Plurality and Ideological Battles
Unpacking Holocaust Inversion: A Deep Dive into Jewish Plurality and Ideological Battles
Above Board 21 August 2025
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending and presenting at Limmud, an event that over the years has truly become a cornerstone of our communal calendar. It stands as the most invigorating platform we have for exploring the rich diversity of Jewish views and topics that shape our community, dealing with issues that simply aren’t addressed with such depth and openness in any other forum.