If the members of the recent international Jewish delegation were initially sceptical about the prospects for meaning Jewish communal life taking root in Africa, their whirlwind tour of this country will certainly have dispelled those doubts. Even those delegates who had previously visited South Africa were astounded by the vibrancy of its Jewish community and the strength and scope of its communal institutions. More broadly, they were also given first-hand sight of a country where the institutions of democracy are treasured, continually developed and scrupulously safeguarded. 

65 delegates representing the Congress of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations (COP) and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) made up the delegation, described as the most high-level ever to visit this country, and indeed the African continent. The packed itinerary was put together by the SAJBD, which pulled out all the stops to expose its guests to as many important aspects of South African politics, history and legal infrastructure as possible, combined with in-depth exposure to the nuts and bolts of Jewish communal affairs.

Alan Solow described South Africa as a country undergoing rapid change and facing many pressing challenges, particularly in the health and educational sphere. At the same time, he was impressed by the general level of cooperation amongst its peoples, the solidity of its democratic institutions and the sense of enthusiasm over the country’s future prospects that he had witnessed.

Long-serving COP CEO Malcolm Hoenlein, a regular visitor to South Africa, said that the visit had succeeded beyond expectations. Every member of the delegation will have come away deeply impressed by the level of competence of the Jewish leadership and the outstanding Jewish institutional network that had been set up by the community, despite the pressures it was under, he said. 

The programme commenced on Monday with a visit to the Apartheid Museum, followed by a tour of Soweto. Next came a visit to SAFA’s headquarters, where Nomfantelo Magwentshu, Chief Operating Officer for the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee, conveyed something of the enthusiasm that the upcoming tournament is generating throughout the country. At the Constitutional Court Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke, accompanied by other Justices, gave an eloquent address on the South African Constitution, and the role of the Constitutional Court in upholding it. The day culminated in a dinner, hosted by Investec, with leading Gauteng Jewish businessmen. Speakers included Gill Marcus, Governor of the Reserve Bank, and Investec CEO Stephen Koseff. 

The following day’s programme commenced with a breakfast hosted by Edward Nathan Sonnenberg. Cyril Ramaphosa spoke about Black Economic Empowerment initiatives, as well as sharing his personal experiences of helping to negotiate the transition to democracy and develop the new constitution. From there, the delegation was taken to historic Lilliesleaf, headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe during the early 1960s and today a memorable museum and shrine to the freedom struggle. Amongst the senior ANC leadership they met with there were Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe, Deputy Secretary-General Thandi Modise, Treasurer Mathews Phosa, Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Dorothy Mahlangu. Discussion focused largely on Middle East issues, with an honest and respectful exchange of views and ideas from all participants.

The Gauteng Jewish communal leadership had an opportunity of meeting the delegation at a luncheon at Beyachad. Short presentations on aspects of local Jewish communal life were made by SAJBD Chairman Zev Krengel (political overview), SABJE Chairman Cecil Wulfsohn (education), SAZF Chairman Avrom Krengel (Zionism), Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein (religious life), Colin Datnow (welfare) and Rabbi Robert Jacobs (Progressive Judaism). Rabbi Goldstein stressed the essential unity that was one of South African Jewry’s key strengths. Rabbi Jacobs, for his part, expressed unhappiness over aspects of discrimination against Progressive Jews, particularly in the day schools.

Tuesday evening was Cape Town Jewry’s turn to meet the delegation, which took the form of a cocktail function. SAJBD Cape Council chairperson Li Boiskin gave an overview of the local Jewish community and some of its key challenges.

On Wednesday, veteran MaAfrika Tikkun stalwart Ann Harris showed the delegation around one of the organisation’s flagship projects in the Western Cape, the community centre in Mfuleni. Delegates were shocked at the conditions they witnessed in the poverty-stricken township, but at the same time were impressed and greatly encouraged by the Jewish community’s efforts to help alleviate them.

Following this was a meeting with US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gibbs, followed by a meeting with an African Jewish Congress delegation. The latter included AJC President Mervyn Smith, CEO and Spiritual Leader Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft and representatives from Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.  

The dinner with the Cape Town Jewish business leadership at the Albow Centre on Wednesday evening was a glittering occasion, from the décor, entertainment and food through to the quality of the speakers. Kahn was effusive in her praise of the hosts, Eric and Sheila Samson, for the extraordinary lengths to which they had gone to make this possible. Graca Machel delivered the keynote address, which included a message of welcome from her husband Nelson Mandela. (The event in fact took place on the eve of the 20^th anniversary of Mandela’s release). 

The delegation had a much-needed chance to catch their breath on Thursday, where the day was spent touring the Western Cape area. In the evening, there was a rousing Hachnasat Sefer Torah at the Claremont Wynberg Hebrew Congregation. The occasion was the presentation of a new Torah to the congregation by EAJC President Alexander Mashkevich in memory of Jewish communal leader, philanthropist and businessman Mendel Kaplan. Speaking at the ceremony, Mashkevich paid tribute to his famous colleague, who had likewise done much to revive Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union. He further spoke in glowing terms of the South African Jewish community, describing its members as “vibrant, inspired and in love with being Jewish”.

Friday was probably the most important day of the visit, commencing with a breakfast meeting with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and International Relations Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe, and followed up by meetings with Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe, former State President FW de Klerk and Western Cape Premier and Democratic Alliance Leader Helen Zille.

Motlanthe (whose address was subsequently released to the general media) stressed that South Africa remained committed to lasting peace and security in the Middle East and condemned violence from any quarter.

“I remain an optimist and I do see peace being implemented in our lifetime in the Middle East! All that is required is compromise and conciliation from both sides of the conflict” he said.

De Klerk spoke about the history of South Africa from the Afrikaner’s perspective, recounting how the recognition that the old system of white minority rule had led to a negotiated transition to non-racial democracy. While explicitly not presuming to impose a South African solution on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, he nevertheless emphasised that negotiations without preconditions and a degree of serious risk taking was needed if the conflict was to be resolved.

The delegation’s visit concluded with Shabbat in Cape Town. Over lunch, Israel Ambassador to South Africa Dov Segev-Steinberg spoke about existing Israel-South Africa relationships and the difficulties he personally was experiencing in this area. A number of delegation members addressed congregants in the different synagogues. Speaking in the Beth Midrash Morasha, Ann Harris recounted her experiences, with her late husband, Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris ztl, in participating in South Africa’s transition to democracy from the late 1980s onwards.