Rina King, Jessica Sherman
Last week, we commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day which marked the 71st anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Jews have a long history of being on the receiving end of racism, prejudice and hatred.
Jews- together with other religious people in many countries in the world – have been at the forefront of the fight for human rights and justice. It is after all the great sage Hillel who said: “Do not do unto others what is hateful to you; the rest (of the Torah) is commentary.”
In the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Jewish communities, organisations and individuals joined the cause for equal rights for blacks. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Herschel was famously on the front lines of the iconic march to Selma, Alabama, marching with Dr Martin Luther King.
Closer to home, Rabbi Norman Bernhard, as a member of Jews for Social Justice, Helen Suzman, Joe Slovo as well as many UDF (United Democratic Front) activists, were among the Jews who spoke out against apartheid and criticised the injustices of unequal treatment of people based on race.
Most South African Jews, being of Lithuanian descent, grew up hearing the stories of our families’ experience at the receiving end of East European anti-Semitism; we have a role to play in sharing our understanding of bias, prejudice and hatred with sections of society who are unable to fathom the dangers of racism.
And yet, the organised Jewish community – the SAJBD – has been heavily criticised over the years for not taking a stand against apartheid. This resulted in a moving apology by Rabbi Cyril Harris on behalf of South African Jews at the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) hearings.
Now is the time for the SAJBD, our shuls, Jewish organisations and individuals, to oppose the racism in South Africa which finds its way online and into daily conversations.
Imagine if being against racism was about actions rather than mere conferences. Imagine if never again was for everyone and not just for us.
Jewish Voices for a Just Peace
