Human Rights Day 21 March 2025

Tim Flack: Pick n Pay Norwood’s passover display wasn’t “Zionist propaganda.” It was about respecting Jewish South Africans

Tim Flack defends Jewish religious expression

Editor BizNews

Published on: 16 Apr 2025, 1:50 pm

• Passover display was about religion, not political propaganda

• Protest targeted Jewish identity, not Israeli policy

• All faiths deserve equal respect in public, including Judaism

By Tim Flack

MAGEN DAVID’S ARE BACK UP.

The SAJBD have engaged with the leadership of Pick n Pay following their removal of the Magen David in the Pesach food aisle in the Norwood store. We shared with them the hurt felt by our community of the Magen Davids (Stars of David) and they expressed their deep regret that they were removed. They have subsequently returned the Jewish symbol to their rightful place. Pick n Pay further expressed that there was never an intention to cause hurt and they have unreservedly apologised to the Jewish community.

We look forward to working with Pick’ n Pay going forward as we have for many decades.

"Contrary to what is often claimed, no credible Jewish leader equate any criticism of the State of Israel with antisemitism, that is, hatred towards people of the Jewish faith and/or ethnicity. Pretty much without exception, all accept, as per the formulation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, that “criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic”.