Subscribe Now
Home Blog

Cape SAJBD takes Thomas Torr to Equality Court for antisemitic hate speech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

23 April 2025

Cape SAJBD Takes Thomas Torr to Equality Court for Antisemitic Hate Speech

Cape Town, South Africa — Today marked a significant milestone in the fight against antisemitism. The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) appeared in the Equality Court in Cape Town, seeking a finding against local comedian Thomas Leyland Torr for hate speech against the Jewish community.

Over the past 18 months, Torr has posted a series of videos online.  It is the Cape SAJBD’s contention that the videos contain antisemitic language and images and accordingly constitute hate speech as prohibited by the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000.

The court heard expert testimony from Professor Milton Shain, who provided historical context and explained why Torr’s comments contain tropes that are well known from the long history of antisemitism, including numerous instances of blood libel and dehumanisation of Jews. Eduard Fagan SC, who appeared for the Cape SAJBD together with Eshed Cohen, argued that Torr’s antisemitic publications are extensive, depraved, vile and vicious, and said that Torr – who did not appear in court for the hearing – had shown no remorse, but had on the contrary shown only disdain for the legal process.

Presiding Judge Le Grange reserved judgment, and said that a written judgment would follow in the next two to three weeks which will outline the legal reasoning and evidentiary basis for his decision.

The Cape SAJBD remains steadfast in its mission to protect the Jewish community and confront antisemitism in all its forms. The organisation is currently pursuing three additional hate speech cases, set to be heard in the coming months.

Statement made by:
Daniel Bloch
Executive Director, Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies

For media enquiries contact Sajbd2@ctjc.co.za

Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies | www.capesajbd.org | Instagram | Facebook

Jonathan Freedland at JLF 2025!

As a kick off to the Jewish Literary Festival we will host Jonathan Freedland, award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster (on zoom from the UK) as he speaks to Gus Silber (who will be with us) at the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the Gardens Community Centre, on Thursday 24 April, 2025, at 6.30pm. Jonathan and Gus will discuss his book as well as being a journalist in the current whirlwind of world events.

Freedland writes a weekly column for The Guardian, hosts a contemporary history series on BBC, and co-hosts the Unholy podcast alongside Yonit Levi of Israel’s Channel 12 News. He is a past winner of an Orwell Prize for journalism and is the author of 12 books, the latest being The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World, which was hailed by Sir Antony Beevor as ‘an immediate classic of Holocaust literature’ and went on to become a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.

As the venue has limited capacity, booking is required. If you already hold a JLF ticket, you simply need to let us know by emailing us at info@jewishliteraryfestival.org.za whether you will be attending on Thursday 24th, and we will keep a place for you.

If you are not attending JLF but want to come, the cost of a ticket is R150 and you can also email us at info@jewishliteraryfestival.org.za to arrange your purchase.

Jewish Literary Festival www.jewishliteraryfestival.co.za

Cape Jewish Seniors Association: March news

Milnerton Seniors enjoying a morning at Exotic Birds.

Diana Sochen, Executive Director 

Our members had the opportunity to enjoy the warm sunny days of summer and participate in some wonderful outings during the first months of the year. We’ve seen the penguins at SanCob, the roses and magnificent gardens at Vergelegen, enjoyed a walk around Kalk Bay, had tea at Little Streams, and hosted guest speaker, Glynnis Breytenbach, at a special lunch.  Our arts, crafts, exercise and card days are getting larger and, apart from the enjoyment of spending time together, members are meeting and forming new friendships which is great at any age.

Social and Personal

We congratulate our members who have had joyous occasions during the last month.

Births: Janice Bloch, Joan Freeman, Adrienne Meyer – Great Granddaughters
Barmitzvah: Charlene Lipshitz – grandson
Special Birthday: Cecily Kaplan
Get Well wishes: Maureen Pizzi, Fay Shagam, Dorothy Bagraim, Stella Kope,
Death: Wishing Long Life and wishes of strength to the family of our member Cynthia Garb
Wishes of Long Life to Simon Sussman on the passing of his mom Ann.

Southern Suburbs members enjoying an outing to SANCOB.
Sea Point Art member celebrated her special birthday on an art morning.
Milnerton Member Marlene Lyons enjoying the morning at Vergelegen
Milnerton Members enjoying Kirstenbosch Gardens
West Coast members enjoying the game of Charades
Sea Point members enjoying the sunshine at Kirstenbosch.

Cape Jewish Seniors Association
Director: Diana Sochen, 021 434 9691, director@cjsa.org.za
Admin: Amanda, 021 434 9691, admin@cjsa.org.za
CJSA on Facebook

April 2025 issue

Enjoy the April issue as a flipbook, or open the digital PDF in a new browser window.

The JLF 2025 programme is out!

Andrew Robert Wilson, Nadia Bilchick, Joanne Jowell, Jonathan Ancer and Michael Cardo

The month of the Jewish Literary Festival is finally here, and our much-anticipated schedule of sessions is available. It’s not too late to buy tickets. 

You don’t need to have read the books to enjoy learning about fascinating topics and be inspired. Diarise the public holiday Monday, April 28, for your literary feast. 

We bring you reflections on being Jewish after October 7th in the form of a haunting photobook by photographer Ilan Ossendryver and a book of personal essays by American writers represented by Zibby Owens and Rabbi Rebecca Jablonski. If you are interested in technology and business, hear Lara Rosmarin talk strategies for success with Prof Sandra Vandermerwe, author of Distinguishers: Winning Customers at Speed Scale & Lower Costs, and former CNN news anchor and keynote speaker Nadia Bilchik, author of Own Your Network. JLF stalwart Gus Silber talks to technology expert Arthur Goldstuck about his book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AI – A Handbook for all. 

We also delve into the lives of iconic figures in South Africa’s business history. MP Michael Bagraim will talk to former MP Michael Cardo about his book on Harry Oppenheimer and the Oppenheimer dynasty.Another mogul we explore is Isidore Schlesinger, the wealthy American who came to Johannesburg and built and then lost a movie empire. Ted Botha, who wrote Hollywood on the Veld, discusses Schlesinger in his book about the glamour and chaos of the film industry in the early 20th century with filmmaker Ari Kruger.

For those who still like novels, the JLF’s own Beryl Eichenberger will be chatting to authors Irene Berman, Angela Rothbart, Joelle Searle, and Debbi Rozowsky about the challenging journey of self-publishing and how and why they published their own books. Also, author Lisa Lazarus talks to fiction writers Barbara Ludman, Karen Lazar, and (a second) Lisa Lazarus about choosing the narrator and perspective for their stories.

On a more solemn note, biographer Joanne Jowell, who wrote I am Ella, about SA’s oldest concentration camp survivor,and author Andrew Robert Wilson, who just released The Fourth Boy, will betalking about their Holocaust-related work with publisher and author Karina Szczurek. Clinical psychologist Connie Valkin talks to academic and writer Nechama Brodie, author of Domestic Terror, and psychologist Adrian Perkel, who wrote Unlocking the nature of human aggression, on the roots of human rage; and violence and terror in the world today.

A new venture this year is our virtual room with authors Dr Peter Friedland, Roy Isacowitz, Peter Godwin, Zibby Owens, and others (Google them if you haven’t heard of them!). And, as the climax of the day, our international keynote speaker, author, and comedian David Baddiel will entertain all attendees at the plenary session in his conversation with Nadia Bilchik. 

Your ticket entitles you to a choice of five of the 25 sessions on offer, plus the plenary session, lunch, a complimentary coffee, water and fruit. Seating is unreserved. An added benefit included in the JLF ticket price is a virtual session on Thursday
24 April with Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist: The man who broke out of Auschwitz to warn the world, in conversation with Gus Silber.

So much to enjoy, and this is just a taste of what you can expect at our day of literary feasting – a world of words awaits you at the JLF 2025. ●

Jewish Literary Festival www.jewishliteraryfestival.co.za

Family stories on display

Finalists and Honourable Mentions

From 24 March to 6 April, visitors to the SAJM can view My Family Story, a collection of student-driven artworks that express each person’s interpretation of his or her family’s story. The projects on display were submitted by Grade 8 pupils from Herzlia High School.  

A flagship initiative of the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel, My Family Story is a partnership with international Jewish museums to host a gallery of creations from their local Jewish schools. Young learners (aged 9-14) are invited to take a trip back in time and delve into their family history.  Each learner’s discoveries become the inspiration for an engaging artistic installation that introduces their family, genealogy and traditions. 

Part of the beauty of My Family Story is that it fosters intergenerational conversations between family members to ensure that their stories are not lost. Each artwork and the accompanying artist’s statement reflects those unique conversations. When viewed together, they highlight the shared heritage of Jewish families in South Africa and around the world.

At the opening event on 19 March, a panel of judges announced the top three projects that will enter the international competition for 2025. 

Honourable Mentions

Anabella Rabinowitz – for a very creative approach to telling the story of your great-grandfather Louis.

Charlie Yankelowitz – for a fascinating story of your grandmother Veronica Hornung.

Kate Roytowski – for the beautifully transcribed letters & and period-specific postage stamps.

Hannah Minnie – for creative use of animation.

Jonah Borstrock – for a really well-made diorama

Jake Berkal – for sharing some truly precious family heirlooms & memories 

4 finalists 

Jayden Stein – who put together a well-researched family history, creatively presented with archival documents to give your family history extra gravitas. 

Jake Flax – for a different approach, merging a very modern podcast format, but linking it to its roots in radio.   

David Harries – for an exceptionally creatively well thought out concept and use of symbolism.

Isabella Stein – for the sheer amount of research and hard work and commitment to the project. ●

David Harries
Jayden Stein
Jake Flax
Isabella Stein

For more information please go to www.sajewishmuseum.co.za

The UJW has been busy! 

JCS welcomed us to the Tikvah Foodbank for their year-end function.

The end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 has been very busy, filled with giving and supporting many organisations within both the Jewish and broader community.  

Fundraisers have included a peaceful morning practising yoga, a fun morning of bowls, 60-minute cutting-edge talks and jumble sales. 

Our ECDs have been supported with food every month via the Mensch sponsorship. 

Challah bakes and Hamantaschen bakes were held. Tons of children’s books were donated to school libraries all over the Western Cape. Backpacks filled with stationery were donated by Kesher Group and donors to our ECD project graduates.  

In the spirit of Mitzvah Day, we hosted a Learn and Share for the staff of the ECDs we support. 

A sukkah lunch was held for our group members and volunteers. 

The Giving Bag donated personalised bags to children and families in Phoenix and Joe Slovo. 

The Flower Group’s stunning gifts are available at Stonehaven  year-round to purchase.  

Our ECDs all hosted Christmas parties and Graduation ceremonies which included an outing for the pupils. 

We hosted our Appreciation Party to express our gratitude to all our volunteers and partner organisations for their collaboration in 2024. 

Thank you to everyone who dropped off or donated items for our projects.  

Chag Sameach! 

UJW exec members joined the Women’s Action Campaign of South Africa outside parliament in support of their campaign against conflict-based sexual violence.
Our Housekeepers’ Appreciation Day was a tremendous success, enjoyed by everyone!
On World Premature day we delivered baby bags to moms of premature babies at both Somerset and Tygerberg Hospitals.
White and Blue Illustrated Motivational Animated Quote Poster – 3

Visit the Union of Jewish Women website, and follow UJW on Facebook

A Blooming good Covid idea

Rasta and Leon in their garden on Bay Road, Green Point

Cape Town’s Leon Boyd, 80, unwilling to remain housebound for an extended period during Covid lockdown, came up with a wonderful idea that would allow him to enjoy the outdoors and keep him occupied during the uncertain days we faced in 2020.

The original concept has since expanded significantly, becoming an ongoing project that brings a great deal of pleasure to both him and other residents of Mouille Point.  

Leon, a retired businessman who has always enjoyed gardening, explains that he cleared a small patch of municipal garden space on the pavement in Bay Road behind Mouille Sands, the block of flats where he and his wife, Glenda, live. “There was a flower bed but it had nothing planted in it, so I started digging a little patch and planting small pieces of plants. As these plants took, I added a few more, and I cleared the existing dead growth, and the area grew a little more.” 

And the small patch has become much bigger over the years. As Leon explains, “Next to us is the building Vantage, and their chairperson approached me to continue the garden all the way to the end of their building, which I have done. And, on the other side of us, is Aquarius, and their chairperson also approached me to extend to the end of their building. So, the garden is now the length of three blocks of flats.” 

Numerous passers by walking along the pavement in Bay Road appreciate the beauty of the garden. While the Cape Jewish Chronicle was there to take photographs, a tourist from the UK stopped to chat about it. She was thrilled to meet Leon, the man behind the whole concept.

Although Leon did not get formal authorisation for his project from the municipality, it’s clearly been accepted, since Parks and Gardens has responded positively to Leon’s requests to remove garden refuse from the project. 

Beyond requesting Leon to extend the area under cultivation, neighbours from the other apartment blocks have been supportive, allowing him to use water from their buildings to water the garden. “Sometimes, residents from the blocks give me money towards the project – I use those funds to purchase plants. I also buy plants myself, and cultivate new plants from cuttings from existing plants.” 

While Leon does the bulk of the work himself, he has been assisted for most of the time the project has been running by a homeless man named Rasta. Leon explains: “Right near the beginning, he walked past while I was busy working in the garden, and I asked him if he would like to work. He said that he wanted to help, and he has been with me ever since – for about five years now.” 

And Rasta has benefited tremendously: he earns a small income, and receives food and other things from the Boyds and other residents. In addition, he has expanded his knowledge and skills.  

Neighbours from the other buildings nearby are very appreciative of the work undertaken by Leon and Rasta. Reina Fabian, for instance, comments: “Leon’s garden is so beautiful and planted exquisitely – uplifting a large section of Bay Road. It’s a pleasure to walk by and enjoy the magnificent colours of the flowers!” For Merle Furman, what stands out is how the plants have flourished. “They’ve responded to real love and care,” she says. “The mix of different plants and shrubs makes such a gentle natural show.” Merle also comments on the fact that a retiree and a formerly homeless person have found greater purpose in their daily lives. “They are able to enjoy the dignity of work and the benefit of being occupied in meaningful activities,”
she says. 

Leon encourages others to take a look at the garden. “It’s particularly beautiful at the moment,” he says, “so pop round to Bay Road to come and enjoy what we’ve created.” ●

Glenda recalls the day a car parked near to where Leon was working. A woman approached him aggressively, calling him out for not looking after the pavement garden near her apartment block. It turned out that she assumed Leon was doing the work on behalf of the Municipality!

Is there a solution?

Rabbi Osher Feldman

Pesach message: Rabbi Osher Feldman

Life is about finding solutions. It is easy to focus on the problems.

But being human is about using our gift of intelligence and ingenuity to break new ground.  

Owing to global events, and specifically in the aftermath of October 7, our community is facing challenges, the likes of which are often staggering and overwhelming.  

For example:  

How do we relate to the many differing voices within our community regarding the ongoing conflict while remaining united as a community?

How should we think about fellow citizens and leaders whose worldviews and values seem so fundamentally different to our own?  

How can we secure the safety and well-being of our community while maintaining a Jewishly proud and robust community?  

One of the most beloved elements of the Pesach Seder is the Mah Nishtanah, the Four Questions. While the Four Questions are categorised and easily identifiable in the Haggadah, the same cannot be said about the answers.  

Why?  

A primary difference between slavery and freedom is that a slave follows the instructions of his master with complete obedience. A slave does not ask questions. In a similar vein, a person who cannot think beyond pre-existing paradigms or ways of being is a person enslaved to the status quo.    

Freedom is about asking questions. Freedom is about challenging the way things are. Freedom is about imagining possibilities for how different things can be.    

This is the empowering message of the Haggadah. 

The Pesach experience invites us to look inwards and ask questions that will drive us, both in our individual spiritual growth and in our collective community building, forward and higher.    

Yet, solutions to complex issues are never as clear-cut as the problems. This is why the answers to the Four Questions are not defined systematically in the Haggadah. To be sure, they are all there in the Haggadah narrative, but they are more generalised perspectives that require work to unpack and apply for each generation.   

The work of the Seder is the work of Freedom. And the methodology of the Seder itself shows us how to use our freedom effectively.  

It is through consultation and discussion with others around the table.  

It is through the diverse personalities that make up the community (the ‘four sons’).  

It is through having a clear understanding of history and the events that have led us to today.  

It is through living life with humility and gratitude (Dayeinu). 

It is through studying the foundational values of the Torah that are at the heart of how we see the world and that guide our decision-making.  

It is through having trust and faith in G-d, celebrating his miracles, and strengthening our commitment to his Torah and way of life.   

These are the ‘Seder Tools’ that unleash the true power of freedom, helping us find genuine, long-lasting solutions for the future.  

This Pesach, may we all experience a Festival of Freedom that leads towards the greatest solution of all: a brighter, more prosperous, peaceful and harmonious future for us all. ●

Pesach Greetings

Wishing you a joyful and meaningful Pesach. May this season of freedom bring you peace, happiness, and renewal. Chag Sameach!

123...460Page 1 of 460

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

About us

The Cape Jewish Chronicle is a monthly print and digital publication that focuses on the Cape Town Jewish Community. The print edition arrives in most Jewish homes in the city in the first week of every month. The website is updated when the print edition goes to post. A voluntary subscription of R450 per year is requested to help cover costs.

The Chronicle includes local organisational and social news (including family announcements and photographs of simchas), editorial material, commentary on local and international issues and stories of interest. Advertising includes both commercial and classifieds.

If you live in Cape Town and do not receive our print edition, please contact the CJC office: 021 464 6736 (09h00-13h00)

Cape Jewish Chronicle

Important links

Popular categories

© Cape Jewish Chronicle 2025. All rights reserved.