Two meetings, two remarkable men

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 and resilience. First, we met Benjamin Pogrund, visiting us from Israel. As many may know, Pogrund is a titan in South African journalism. He used his pen at the Rand Daily Mail to expose apartheid’s brutality, notably through his coverage of the Sharpeville massacre and prison abuses. His work was, in part, a moral stand against oppression, earning him trials, imprisonment, and the respect of figures like Nelson Mandela and his very good friend Robert Sobukwe. His courage in amplifying black voices, when few others dared, reshaped narratives and challenged systemic injustice.

Today residing in Israel, Pogrund has remained active and has penned much work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most notably, his book, Drawing Fire, interrogates the apartheid label applied to Israel, drawing from his lived experience to argue with clarity and conviction.

Pogrund kept us captivated for hours, regaling us of stories of Sobukwe, his experiences of visiting Sobukwe on Robben Island, and his deep held emotions about Israel. Pogrund represents the best of journalism – integrity, honesty, and an unwavering commitment to shine light on the truth.

Following our meeting with Pogrund, we paid a call to Holocaust survivor Lyonell Fliss, who recently shared his testimony at the Yom HaShoah ceremony in Johannesburg. Unburdened by the constraints of time, Fliss opened up and, over two hours, explained his story of survival and triumph in spectacular and captivating detail.

It was enlightening to learn how important it was to him to have been given the opportunity to speak at Yom HaShoah, and to have his incredible story heard. Fliss is a remarkable man, and a true inspiration. He proudly displayed his medal and honorary citizenship from the town of Iasi. He is also to return to Romania this year for a university reunion where every attendee will be older than 90!

This week, I’m attending the World Jewish Congress (WJC) in Jerusalem, where our South African delegation shines among global Jewish leadership. I extend heartfelt gratitude to Marc Pozniak, who concludes two terms on the congress’s executive and as chairperson of the Jewish Diplomatic Corps. His selfless service to our community and the WJC is deeply appreciated.