The Jews of South Africa: Solel’s Next Lunch & Learn

We wore Yarmulkas to shul, we ate Kichels, Kneidlach and Kitke, we celebrated Hanukah in mid-summer, and we enjoyed seaside holidays at Muizenberg Beach — which earned itself the nickname Jewzenberg. We were part of a small community which despite its size continues to have a hugely significant impact on the South African economy and society. This Jewish history dates to the Portuguese voyages of discovery in search of a sea route to India when two distinguished Jewish astronomers supported and advised the early Portuguese explorers who first landed in Southern Africa at the end of the 15th century.

If you want to learn more about the Jewish community of South Africa, we hope you will join Brenda and me at the January 9 lunch and learn at 11:30 a.m. In our presentation, we will talk about the various waves of Jewish immigration and emigration including the arrival of our grandparents in the early 20th century, and our decision to leave South Africa for Canada in the early 1980s. We will highlight the role of Jews in the arts, culture, mining, farming, business, professions, social welfare, sport, recreation, politics, and even water divining — and we will also share a few tales of Jews and their misdemeanours. We will comment on periods of vociferous anti-Semitism, as well as the participation of Jews during the South African Anglo-Boer War and World War 11 We will look at these themes over three time periods: the early Jewish immigrants before 1950; Jewish communities during the 50’s, 60s, 70s and 80s; and Jews who were part of supporting the New South Africa, including the individual that Nelson Mandela fondly referred to as “My Rabbi”.

As in Canada, Jewish communities have concentrated in various parts of the country. Jews were also part of the founding of both Kimberly and Johannesburg, and at one time Johannesburg claimed to have had more Jewish mayors than any other city in the World. We will discuss the evolution of Reform Judaism and the early tensions between the traditional Orthodox and emerging Reform movements. And we will tell you about the Supreme Court of South Africa and two of its judges who are also currently members of the same Reform congregation in Johannesburg.

We will also highlight some of the many other colourful and significant personalities and leaders. They include Barney Barnato, Solly Sachs, Albie Sachs, Herman Kallenbach, Nadine Gordimer, Helen Suzman, John Schlapaboberski, the Oppenheimers, the Kentridges, and one of the many individuals labelled by the previous South African government as a subversive — Arthur Goldreich — who escaped from his jail cell before skipping the country disguised as a nun. We look forward to a conversation with you about this vibrant Southern Hemisphere Jewish heritage.

Filed under: President's Message

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