About
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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 Holocaust and Genocide 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.
About THE SAJBD
Positioning Statement
The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) proactively advocates for and ensures the rights, interests and values of the Cape Jewish community.
We are a forward-thinking Jewish organisation that, through thoughtful, engaged and efficient leadership, seeks to connect our Jewish identity to projects and activities that have a positive impact on local Western Cape communities. We actively advocate for and ensure the rights, interests and values of the Cape Jewish community. We lead our community in engaging with government, media and civic groups to promote respect for fundamental human rights for all South Africans.
We mobilise 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.
Vision
The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (“Cape SAJBD”) works to ensure the continuity, protection and resilience of a proud Western Cape Jewish community, in an inclusive and just society. It is committed to a South Africa where everyone will enjoy freedom from the evils of prejudice, discrimination and racism, one in which all are equal and share in her bounty.
Mission
The Cape SAJBD is the representative spokes body and civil rights lobbyist of the Western Cape Jewry. It robustly challenges all manifestations of antisemitism by engaging with leading figures in the political, media and administrative spheres. It identifies and connects with internal and external alliances to build coalitions that work to further human relations between the Western Cape Jewish community and all other people, based on justice, equality and mutual respect. It aims to protect the civil liberties of the Western Cape Jewish community by securing an environment for our community to express themselves; educating the greater public on the Jewish religion, history and culture; and, lawfully defending our community where necessary.
Values
Our Jewish values inform the work we do and guide the strategy and tactics of all of our programmes and activities, locally and nationally.
The Cape SAJBD aligns with the following values:
- Integrity in our every action and interaction;
- Accountability to our Western Cape Jewish community;
- Inclusivity of all members in our diverse Western Cape Jewish community;
- Our collective responsibility for the continued advancement of the Western Cape Jewish community; and
- Justice for all.
How We Work
The Board
Reflecting the abundant diversity of our community, the Cape SABJD consists of Orthodox, Progressive 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.
Get Involved
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.
Learn More
SA Jewish History
The South African Jewish community traces its origins to the early decades of the 19th Century, when small numbers of Jewish immigrants, mainly from the United Kingdom and Germany, began settling in what are today South Africa’s Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. This included three Jewish families who arrived as part of the large group of British immigrants subsequently known as the 1820 Settlers. In 1841, seventeen Jews organised the first Hebrew Congregation in Cape Town, called the Tikvat Israel Congregation. Thereafter, the community grew slowly, with further congregations being established in, amongst other cities, Port Elizabeth and Kimberley.
On the eve of World War II, the Jewish population numbered just over 90 000. It continued to grow steadily, reaching a peak of 118 200 in 1970. Thereafter, mainly as a result of political unrest, the community began decreasing, and today it numbers around 75 000 people. Most South African Jews today trace their origins to the arrival of East European immigrants. During the 1930s, there was a further influx from Germany as a result of Nazi persecution and from the 1970s, from Israel and a number of Southern African states, including Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.
As the community grew, both in numbers and influence, Jewish communal institutions began to emerge. The South African Zionist Federation was founded in 1898, and over the next eight decades was the dominant Jewish communal organisation. South African Jewry has long been noted for its strong support for Zionism and the State of Israel. The Transvaal branch of the Jewish Board of Deputies was established in 1903 and the Cape branch a year later. The two branches merged to form the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) in 1912.
Despite attrition through emigration, South African Jewry remains by far the largest Jewish community on the African continent. Most Jews today live in Johannesburg (50,000) and Cape Town (16,000), while the other main centres are Durban (2000) and Pretoria (1000). Originally, the community was spread throughout the country, but the rural communities began declining shortly after World War II and are today largely defunct.
The Jewish community is remarkably well-organised and cohesive, with a comprehensive network of welfare, educational, political and Zionist institutions in every major Jewish population centre.
The acknowledged Jewish civil rights organisation is the SAJBD which, amongst other things, monitors levels of antisemitism in the country and where necessary takes action. The SAJBD seeks to foster good relations with the Government of the day and meets regularly with key political leaders from across the political spectrum.
In the religious sphere, South African Jews are overwhelmingly affiliated to Orthodox congregations, comprising some 88% of the total. The Progressive movement accounts for most of the remaining affiliated Jews and there is one small Conservative congregation in Johannesburg.
Who we are
National Executive Committee
Our Board
Prof Karen Milner
National Chairperson
Shaun Zagnoev
National President
Zev Krengel
National Vice President
Mary Kluk
National Vice President
Marc Pozniak
National Vice Chairperson
Rael Kaimowitz
National Vice Chairperson
Susan Abro
National Vice Chairperson, President KZN SAJBD
Harold Jacobs
Chairperson Gauteng Council
Adrienne Jacobson
Chairperson Cape Council
Dr Doron Goldstein
Chairperson Pretoria Council SAJBD
Geoff Herman
Chairperson Port Elizabeth SAJBD
Our Staff
Wendy Kahn
National Director
011 6452570
wendy@sajbd.org
David Saks
National Associate Director
011 6452536
david@sajbd.org
Charisse Zeifert
Head of Communications
0116452547
charisse@sajbd.org
Roseanne Rosen
National Office Administrator
011 6452521
rosy@sajbd.org