Our National Jewish Dialogue needs you

• What would our community look like if we started with a blank piece of paper and designed it from scratch?
• How would South Africa develop if we rid it of corruption, incompetence, its dark history, and attachment to antiquated, derelict ideology?
• If you were given the opportunity to speak your mind, would you be forthright and honest about your vision for the future, or would you couch your words in meaningless diplomacy and implied inuendo like our politicians did in the Oval Office?

Two weeks ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, with little fanfare, the commencement of a new, much delayed, National Dialogue.

The country was justifiably sceptical, for our president has a reputation for talking a lot, saying nothing, and doing even less. The last thing our country needs is yet another talk-shop that fails to tackle the real problems which confront our nation.

Many expressed the view that we were wasting time and money – a ridiculous R700m budgeted for it – because we know and understand our problems. What we need is strong, courageous leadership that implements the change we require for a better South Africa.

At the SA Jewish Report, we believe that a genuine national dialogue is well overdue so long as it creates an impetus for real change that addresses the fundamental issues that affect our nation, be they rampant crime; the proliferation of a gangster state; government corruption; stagnant growth; civil service incompetence; lack of service delivery; unprecedented unemployment; failing education; lack of economic opportunity for ordinary South Africans; inequality; the scourge of gender based violence; or racism. The list is long.

We believe that as a community, we have much to add to this dialogue, and let’s face it, it’s not as if our community lacks opinions, it’s just that often, people in positions of authority are too deaf or arrogant to listen.

So, it is with great pride that we dovetail with the president’s initiative, and announce the National Jewish Dialogue.

We want to hear from YOU, your opinions and views on matters that affect our community and our nation.

We want to hear from you about issues which affect you and your daily life; about the big national issues; about communal affairs; racism; antisemitism; our relationship to Israel; about the way we lead our community; about religious freedom; and our role and place in this country.

We will be asking 100 key Jewish thought leaders for their opinions, and will publish them online and through our regular newsletters, asking people to address the issues that are important to them. But we also want to hear from you.

We ask you to please send your submissions to admin@sajewishreport.co.za.

A few guidelines for your submission:

1. It can be as short or long as you want; but please make your points clearly;
2. It should paint a vision of the country and/or community you want to live in;
3. We want to know what should be bolstered, what should be scrapped, what should be innovated, and what should be decommissioned;
4. It should not be intended to offend people and/or organisations;
5. It should not be racist, sexist, or homophobic;
6. It should deal with ideas, not people;
7. It cannot deny the right of the Jewish people to national self-determination in their ancestral homeland, or be a grifter for those who seek to do damage rather than build our community;
8. It should contain your name. If you fear backlash or victimisation, you may request that the editor withhold your name, as long as she knows who you are;
9. It should be bold and visionary; and
10. It should desire to build a better country and community for all of us.

The last thing we want to do in the National Jewish Dialogue is to create an echo chamber where we reaffirm our own positions and don’t engage seriously with the fundamental issues which affect us all. We want to hear all legitimate constructive voices, some of which will be divergent views to the norm, and that’s okay.

We recognise that we make progress through dialogue, some views may make us uncomfortable, and some may give us comfort, but all in all, we’re looking for input which may open us to new possibilities and ideas in order to build a stronger more vibrant South African Jewish community.

Your opinion really does count. Please don’t pass up this opportunity to build a stronger, better society.

Howard Sackstein

Chairperson SA Jewish Report