Gauteng Council Conference

A little over three weeks remain until the SAJBD’s Gauteng Council conference, to take place in the Sandton shul hall on 15 August. While the programme has still to be finalised, the overall theme will primarily be on looking back on and celebrating 175 years of organised Jewish life in South Africa. Highlights will be an address by Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth and a DVD presenting a whistle-stop journey through our community’s colourful history. A special presentation will be made to the Edelstein family to pay tribute to the late Dr Melville Edelstein, one of the unsung heroes of our community who tragically lost his life during the 1976 Soweto Uprising. We will also be presenting a new award, for services in the realm of social upliftment on behalf of the wider society. Fittingly, it is named after the late Bertie Lubner, who throughout his remarkable life rendered such outstanding service in this area.     

We hope to see as large a turn-out as possible for what we are sure will be a  memorable celebration of our Jewish community and what it has achieved. For more information, contact Roseanne on sajbd@sajbd.org.

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On Monday evening, 11 November, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies celebrated its 120th anniversary with a gala dinner attended by more than 300 guests, including ministers; deputy ministers; the heads of parliamentary portfolio committees; representatives from eight political parties; members of the diplomatic corps; a 16-person delegation from the American Jewish Council; two chief rabbis; more than 40 journalists; student leaders; interfaith community representatives; industry leaders; and prominent figures within the South African Jewish community. The broad spectrum of attendees underscored the Board’s continuing significance in South Africa, highlighting its mandate and its role as a pillar for the community and a bridge to wider society.