At the time of writing, the month-long crisis on our university campuses remains unresolved. The next few days will probably be critical in determining whether the universities concerned will reopen in time to allow students to complete the academic year.

It was with a sense of déjà vu that the SAJBD witnessed South African Ambassador to Israel, Sisa Ngombane, being shouted down when trying to speak at a press conference last Friday.

Erev Rosh Hashanah this Sunday evening is the start of the Jewish festival season. It is a time of spiritual and moral stock-taking, when we reflect on how we have conducted ourselves during the year that has passed and through that process find the wisdom and inspiration to go forward into the year that has just begun.

The Rosh Hashanah issue of the Board’s journal Jewish Affairs has just been printed and will shortly be accessible on our website. It is a special bumper issue devoted to looking back on 175 years of Jewish life in South Africa, and provides a valuable addition to the growing literature on our remarkable community.

Speaking out against racism and prejudice wherever and whenever it occurs is part of the SAJBD’s mandate.

Last week, SAJBD National President Mary Kluk attended the annual meeting of the World Jewish Congress executive committee, on which she sits as the representative for SA Jewry. A key focus of the discussions was on ensuring the security of Jewish communities throughout the world.

Last Thursday, a series of cultural and educational events to mark 175 years of Jewish life in South Africa culminated in the opening of a superb new exhibition on what it has meant to be a Jewish South African over the generations.

On Tuesday, the long-awaited launch of the book The Jews of South West Africa Namibia – A History took place in Cape Town under the auspices of the African Jewish Congress (AJC).

Following on its written proposals submitted earlier this year, the Board gave an oral presentation on the Films and Publications Amendment Bill to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications last week.

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.