Extracts from a speech delivered at the Cape SAJBD’s 120th anniversary celebrations
By Adrienne Jacobson
The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) celebrates a remarkable milestone – 120 years since our founding in 1904.
The blessing of “living to 120” – or in Yiddish, ad hundert und zwanzig – is deeply symbolic for us today. It signifies not only longevity but vitality, resilience, and the strength of purpose that has sustained this democratically elected body for over a century.
Our mandate has always been twofold: externally, to protect the civil and religious rights of the Jewish community in the Western Cape and to combat antisemitism; and, internally, to enhance the quality of Jewish life, support cultural expression, and foster a thriving, diverse Jewish community.
A rich history of leadership and challenges
As I delved into the history of the Cape SAJBD, I was humbled by the extraordinary leadership and vision of those who came before us. These individuals tackled challenges that shaped not only the Board but the Jewish community at large.
History of the Cape SAJBD
120 years ago, the first Chairman of the Board was Morris Alexander, a young Cambridge-trained lawyer and Yiddish-speaking immigrant, who rallied a delegation of 13 synagogues and Zionist groups in the Western Cape to successfully argue Yiddish’s status as a European language to the Attorney- General. This after the British passed a xenophobic immigration law in 1902 requiring literacy in a European language. Alexander’s efforts inspired the formation of the Jewish Board of Deputies in 1904 to safeguard Jewish cultural, religious and legal rights.
Over the past 120 years, our community has faced significant challenges, including the horrors of the Holocaust, the struggles of Apartheid and, more recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these events tested our resilience, yet through it all, the leadership of the Board was steadfast and unwavering.
District Six, once the heart of our community, serves as a poignant reminder of the vibrant tapestry of cultures that defined Cape Town. In those days, Jews lived side by side with their neighbours, contributing to a harmonious coexistence that symbolised the very best of our society. Today, as we reflect on the pain of displacement and loss, we also celebrate the rich legacy these early immigrants left behind – a legacy of diversity and unity.
Building relationships across faiths and communities has always been central to our mission. Leaders like Lester Hoffman, Mickey Glass, Gwynne Robbins and others, ensured these partnerships endured, fostering understanding and mutual respect. The impact of the Board’s work is evident as I look across the venue seeing so many of our friends here this evening.
When focusing on our internal mandate within the Jewish community, we must acknowledge the role the Board has played in establishing important organisations such as CSO, Staffwise, Mensch, Entrepreneurs’ Network, and others – all contributing to the growth of not only our community but to the broader Western Cape community – as we share knowledge, skills and best practice to offer opportunities to all who live in this amazing province.
Today’s challenges
The events of October 7th have reshaped our global Jewish reality.
It has been one year since the global Jewish community shifted on its axis, one year in which we have been grieving not only the losses of October 7th and the ongoing war but our own sense of safety in the world. In this year we have experienced an alarming and painful rising tide of contemporary antisemitism against a global power play of international foreign policy, warfare and political electioneering that feels at times as if the entire world is reverberating.
As a South African Jewish community, we are at an intersection of unprecedented challenges.
In the Western Cape, hostilities towards Israel and the Jewish community have manifested through targeted protests, boycotts, and hateful rhetoric.
Yet, the Cape SAJBD has risen to meet these challenges, protecting civil rights, ensuring communal security, and promoting understanding. I would like to convey my thanks to our National Board under the leadership of Zev Krengel, Mary Kluk, Professor Karen Milner and Wendy Kahn, for their unwavering support.
I think that there is a key difference between understanding contemporary antisemitism at this point in history as opposed to the antisemitism seen in previous years. We are doing the work now that we didn’t do then to combat antisemitism… and never before has this been more crucial. We understand now that antisemitism is not just a Jewish issue but that its tropes and narratives and othering are a threat to democracies and constitutional order across the world. That Jewish people and all people have every right to contribute to communities, societies and countries as citizens, not as ‘others’, and that hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric will not be tolerated, and that we can express our Judaism in a free and safe environment – as proud South Africans.
We have also seen extraordinary acts of friendship and solidarity from other communities, NGOs, and political leaders. Your support has been a beacon of light in dark times, embodying the spirit of Ubuntu and reaffirming that South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
The Cape SAJBD also seeks to promote an active and diverse Cape Town Jewish community, and our strategies of Educate, Engage and Empower are seen in our projects that contribute to the growth and well-being of the Western Cape as we have played an active role in anti-hate solidarity networks, civil society events and discussions, social justice initiatives, hosting of our own events, and working across the spectrum with Provincial governments, educational institutions and NGOs.
Moving Forward
As Winston Churchill once said, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
As we stand at this crossroads, we draw strength from our past while embracing our future. Together with our Council, professional team, led by Executive Director Daniel Bloch, and with the support of our community, we will continue to build a vibrant, inclusive Western Cape–
a place where the values of tolerance, respect, and growth flourish.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. Together, let us embrace the challenges ahead and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of our Jewish community in the Western Cape. Here’s to the next chapter—may it be as remarkable as the last 120 years.
Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies website: www.capesajbd.org, Instagram, and Facebook page.
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