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Once again, we find ourselves reeling from horrendous antisemitic attacks last weekend in Melbourne, with three separate incidents. The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue was firebombed...
In a concerted effort, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), in close collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIFA),...
We’re all watching and holding our collective breath as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel appears to be holding. We mourn the dead, and pray for...
The past week has brought rapid and unsettling developments in the conflict in Israel, with Israel launching strikes against Iranian military and key strategic targets. We...
Over Shavuot, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies was well represented at various Tikkun Leil events in Johannesburg. I was honoured to be part of...
We are truly fortunate in South Africa to be supported by a vibrant network of robust organisations and dedicated leaders, each with a distinct and vital...
Last week, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies held two wonderful meetings with two remarkable men who both have important and captivating stories of courage...
Last weekend, we celebrated Mother’s Day. Our religion and culture brims with examples of powerful and influential mothers, both biblical and historical. From Yochevet, the biblical...
Last week, our community paused to observe Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut, a poignant transition from profound grief to resilient joy that always underscores the deep...
Last week, our South African Jewish community solemnly commemorated Yom Hashoah in Johannesburg. Adverse weather prompted a difficult but necessary decision to relocate the commemoration from...
We’re navigating a time when simple misunderstandings can spiral into harm, particularly for minority communities like ours. A recent incident at Pick n Pay in Norwood,...
This weekend, Pesach begins, a festival steeped in symbolism, its messages woven into every ritual. For me, Pesach distils a singular truth: freedom is precious, its...
This week, I had the honour of presenting at the conference of the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, where I serve as a...
The past week’s long weekend was marked by a number of intercommunal engagements, each underscoring the strength of our ties across South Africa’s diverse landscape. The...
There has been some confusion surrounding last week’s vote in the Johannesburg City Council regarding the proposed renaming of Sandton Drive. The vote rejected a motion...
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies was last week honoured to be represented at the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) “Never Is Now” conference, the world’s largest...
Our hearts were shattered once again last week when we received the bodies of Shlomo Mansour, 86; Ohad Yahalomi, 50; Tsachi Idan, 50; and Itzik Elgarat,...
Last week marked one of the most heartbreaking and grief-filled moments in our collective memory, as the bodies of Oded Lifshitz, Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel Bibas...
In the wake of the diplomatic fallout following 7 October 2023, the South African government announced the closure of its embassy in Tel Aviv and suspension...
On Saturday, we witnessed the release of three more hostages from Gaza, an occasion marked by relief at their return and profound horror at their condition....
Earlier this week, together with senior leadership of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), I had the opportunity to meet recently appointed Israeli Foreign...
I’m in Poland to attend the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz. It has been an absolute honour and privilege to represent the South African...
Every so often, we experience moments destined to leave an indelible mark on our collective memory. Last weekend was such a moment, as we witnessed the...
This is the first edition of the SA Jewish Report since the untimely passing of Olga Meshoe Washington, a dear friend of our community and an...
As this is the last Above Board for 2024, I thought it correct to use this opportunity for a retrospective on what has been an extremely...
This week marks the start of summer machanot, a cornerstone in the calendar of our Jewish youth movements and the canvas for so many formative experiences...
Over the weekend, we were shocked to learn of the horrific murder of the Chabad emissary in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Rabbi Zvi Kogan. Chabad...
It has been a poignant month for the Jewish community as a number of events have again showcased our vibrancy and importance in the greater South...
On Monday evening, 11 November, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies celebrated its 120th anniversary with a gala dinner attended by more than 300 guests,...
In 2017, responding to pressure from anti-Israel advocates to cancel a concert in Israel, Radiohead’s frontman, Thom Yorke, expressed frustration that artists he respected had questioned...
The first yahrzeit for more than 1 200 victims of the attacks on 7 October has just passed. It’s a moment that stands stark in our...
This week marks the first anniversary of the 7 October attacks. To honour this moment, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies organised a commemorative event...
Over the past week our community has witnessed a number of events that have shown a level of hostility to Jewish voices that differ from the...
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) last weekend hosted both its Cape and Gauteng conferences. In an unusual step, we chose to hold the...
This past week, our community was united in profound grief as we mourned the tragic recovery of six executed hostages. Synagogues across the country lit Yizkor...
Spring Day in South Africa typically heralds a season of renewal, with the opening of public pools and the blooming of flowers. Yet, 1 September was...
Last week marked a significant milestone with the hosting of the largest Limmud conference in our history and one of the most substantial globally. In the...
This past weekend was a momentous one for South Africa, marked by a series of victories that filled the nation with pride. It began on Saturday...
We had the honour of hosting Ellen Germain, the United States special envoy for Holocaust Issues, this week for an insightful breakfast discussion. The meeting, also...
Last weekend, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) hosted its bi-annual national executive conference (NEC). The NEC is always a highlight of our calendar,...