About Us

  • Our Team
  • What We Do
  • The Board
  • Our Affiliates

The Cape SAJBD is a forward-thinking Jewish organisation that through thoughtful, engaged and efficient leadership seeks connect our Jewish identity to projects and activity that have a positive impact on local Western Cape communities.

We mobilize our Jewish community and others in the pursuit of building a more inclusive society, encouraging networking, volunteering, advocacy and philanthropic opportunities in the work we do.

We believe in the power of citizens in a thriving democracy. And we lead our community in engaging with government, media and civil groups to promote respect for fundamental human rights for all South Africans.

The Team

stuart

Stuart Diamond

Director

A people’s person, Stuart leads with passion and is a proudly South African Jew. He believes that change happens from the bottom up and spends much of his time on the ground, working to make his community the best it can be.

gwynne

Gwynne Robbins

Deputy Director

Indispensable and erudite. Gwynne is an expert on the Jews of South Africa and Cape history, she is a fountain of knowledge that keeps us informed. Her background includes Social Worker. Prolific writer. Editor and much much more.
jodi

Jodi Goldberg

Projects & Operations

Super-efficient and highly resourceful Executive Assistant. Jodi is the glue that binds us and makes things magically happen. Her background includes Professional PA. Events co-ordinator and planner.

The Board

The Board 2017-2019

Reflecting the abundant diversity of our community, the Cape SABJD consists of Orthodox, Reform and Secular members.

This volunteer leadership works with the professional team to meet the needs of our community by providing resources and raising support as needed.

RAEL KAIMOWITZ
(Chair) 

VIVIENNE ANSTEY
(Vice-Chair)

MICHAEL DONEN
(Vice-Chair)

LESTER HOFFMAN
(Treasurer) 

MICHAEL BAGRAIM
(Past President of SAJBD, Ex-Officio) 

LEAZA COWAN

GLEN HENECK

 

PATSY FIVELMAN
(Chair: UJW Western Cape, Ex-Officio)

ROWAN POLOVIN
(Chair: SAZF Western Cape, Ex-Officio)

NATHAN ESRA
(Chair: SAUJS, Ex-Officio)

JONATHAN SILKE

DAVID KING

RAEL KOPING

MICHAEL KUSHNER

ADRIENNE JACOBSON

What We Do

Activism

We believe in the power of citizens in a thriving democracy. We lead our community in engaging with government, media and civil groups on issues of importance to our city and country.

Antisemitism

The Cape Board closely monitors and investigates all acts of antisemitic racism in South Africa. We work with our legal team and the relevant authorities to assist members of our community who have experienced discrimination based on their Jewish faith and/or identity.

Community Resources

We provide information on Western Cape Jewish life as well as the rich history. Including the SA Jewish museum and holocaoust centre based in Cape Town

Bursaries

The Board of Deputies administers bursaries for tertiary and post-graduate studies to Jewish students living in and studying in the Western Cape. In 2017, we awarded over R2.3 million in bursaries to 22 new students, 52 renewals and 15 post-graduate students.

Country Communities

Rabbi, Moshe Silberhaft, looks after the affairs of country communities and maintains their cemeteries, including those in towns which no longer have Jewish residents. For more information contact moshe@beyachad.co.za or thetravellingrabbi@gmail.com.

Media Representation

The Cape Board forms relationships with all major media outlets (radio, print and digital) throughout the Western Cape. We leverage the media to rally support for and engagement with community causes; we monitor the media for content of relevance to the Jewish community; and we serve as the public voice to the media on behalf of the Jewish community.