JEFF KATZ
If there is any one aspect of our work that can be said to sum up the past 11 months, it would be that during this period, the Board made significant strides in making itself – and therefore the Jewish community – an active, visible presence in issues of broader national concern.
Our activities ranged from regularly making input into important new legislation in Parliament, through to ensuring meaningful participation by our community in such areas as the local government elections, public holidays and anti-racism initiatives. Because of this, we are increasingly being seen as important role-players who, while continuing to fulfil their core mandate of upholding the civil rights of South African Jewry, are simultaneously committed to contributing to the wider society of which they are part.
This year – in part because it was a Jewish leap year – saw our having to deal with an unusually high number of cases of university exams being set on Shabbat and Yomtov. That we were able to do so successfully is testimony to the dedication and hard work of the staff and lay leaders concerned, and especially our indefatigable National Director Wendy Kahn.
Through working closely with the Beth Din and Chief Rabbi’s Office, we were also able to assist Jewish medical interns seeking community service placements within reasonable proximity of an organised Jewish community.
The Board continued to monitor incidents of anti-Semitism and take action where required, including laying complaints with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and following up in the Equality Courts. Several cases before the SAHRC were satisfactorily concluded while others are still being pursued.
Overall, anti-Semitism levels in South Africa have remained constant over the past two decades, rising only during times of heightened unrest on the Middle East front, and in addition continue to be strikingly lower than those recorded in other Diaspora communities.
That being said, in the beginning of July we received a sobering reminder that our country is not, and cannot, be immune to the threat of global terrorism when four people in Johannesburg were arrested on suspicion of planning such attacks, including against an unidentified Jewish community installation.
As a result, much work and thought has gone into upgrading security at all our installations as well as in raising levels of awareness and personnel training in order to adapt to these new realities.
The year 2016 was a special one in that it marked the 175th anniversary of the birth of the Jewish community in this country. Various events were held to celebrate this milestone, particularly in Cape Town but also at our Gauteng Council conference, where it was the keynote theme.
During these troubled and uncertain times in our country, it was heartening to be able to look back at how much has been accomplished by our community over the decades. It also was a timely reminder of the many, sometimes even more formidable challenges, that have faced South Africa in the past and which were successfully overcome.
Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM every Friday 12:00 – 13:00.
