A ‘revitalised, representative’ SAJBD Gauteng Council

Menashe Selamolela wants to ensure that the Jewish community continues to fight antisemitism and contribute positively to South Africa.

He is a member of the Lemba community, a proud Jew, and a brand new member of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) Gauteng Council as of this past weekend.

Selamolela believes it’s time for us to deal with the challenges of our history in a constructive way. “As a Jewish community, we must continue to highlight our positive ongoing contribution and commitment to South African society,” he says. “We must strengthen our identity through proper education, knowledge, and tikkun olam, so that we can be a strong contributor to our society and be recognised as such as we move to new heights.”

Selamolela is one of the three first-time members of the 15 newly-elected members of the council announced on Sunday. Their names were shared in a livestream by Harold Jacobs, the vice-chairperson of the council.

Selamolela joins Shaun Matisonn, who is head of international markets for the Vitality Group, a division of Discovery, and a director of the SA Jewish Report; and Rabbi Dovid Hazdan, the rabbi of Great Park Shul and the dean of Torah Academy, in bringing new blood to the council.

They bring diverse knowledge and skills to an already impressive group of people. These include, among others, the owner and director of Goodman Gallery and executive producer of Oscar-winning film Tsotsi, Liza Essers; business maverick Reeva Forman; Lesley-Anne Gatter, the head of people at Investec; and Professor Karen Milner, associate professor of psychology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Although the SAJBD typically elects council members after a nomination process, no formal election was held this year, SAJBD National Director Wendy Kahn, told the SA Jewish Report.

“This year, an election wasn’t required as 15 nominees qualified for the 15 available places,” she says. “Gauteng has had elections in the past. This year, an online election process had been put in place for the elections should they have been required.”

The election process for the SAJBD is governed by the Gauteng Council Constitution and the SAJBD National Constitution, she explained. All affiliate bodies to the Gauteng Council are entitled to vote proportionally according to the number of their members.

“Shuls, schools, youth organisations, women’s organisations, and other Jewish communal organisations in Gauteng are registered communal organisations,” Kahn says. “From six weeks prior to the election, each affiliate organisation is informed of the election and conference and are encouraged to put through nominations for the council.”

The newly-elected members told the SA Jewish Report they looked forward to investing their time and effort in the community.

“It’s a privilege to be given the opportunity to participate in the umbrella leadership of our unique Jewish community,” says Hazdan. “Particularly in these extremely challenging times, we have all seen and benefited from the outstanding role that the SAJBD has played in and beyond the Jewish community.

“I hope that my experience in rabbinic leadership and in education can add spiritual and Torah input into the deliberations and decisions of the Gauteng Council.”

Hazdan looks forward to adding to the exceptional unity and camaraderie that exists in the Jewish community and to working on building more bridges to address the broader needs of our fellow South Africans.

Selamolela is equally determined to make a positive mark on the community. He believes he is able to contribute a perspective that isn’t typical to the South African Jewish community.

“I’m able to talk about current issues from a much broader worldview and experience than, perhaps, most other members of the community,” he says. “The key to a successful future in South Africa is truly being able to live together while respecting each other’s differences and recognising that we have a shared future. I believe I can bring this to the table with a fresh and dynamic energy.”

Selamolela studied Judaism at the Ohr Torah Stone Yeshiva in Israel, and is a member of the Hyde Park Shul led by Rabbi Mendel Lipskar. He takes pride in his Jewish heritage, promoting Judaism as a faith of tolerance and understanding, and intends to bring this to bear on his new role.

“It’s a great honour for me and the Hyde Park community to which I belong,” he says. “When I was approached a few years ago to stand for the seat on the board, it meant a great deal to me, but with humility, I turned down the offer for various reasons that made it impossible at that time. However, having seen what this organisation has done over these past few years and continues to do, it’s clear to me that I belong here.”

Selamolela says the challenge is to make South Africa the type of society we all envisioned 25 years ago. “The Jewish community has always played an outsized role in South Africa, and has contributed immensely to the development of this country,” he says. “For me, this will be an opportunity to make South Africans realise that as a Jewish community, we can provide a light unto this nation.”

Matisonn believes communal involvement is essential to our community. “Where a person has time and capacity, community involvement is one of the most crucial things they should pursue,” he says. “Everyone needs to make their own contribution where appropriate. The community is much stronger for it. For some, it means Hatzolah, for others it’s the CSO [Community Security Organisation]. Yes, the board needs to deliver on its mandate, but the community needs to make its voice heard as to what it needs, and get involved.

“There are generations who came before us who built our community, and those to whom we will leave it, so it’s incumbent on all of us to make our own contribution to this Jewish community.”

Matisonn has served on a few community-oriented boards over the years, giving him opportunities to engage with the community and develop organisational skills central to communal upliftment.

“We’ve seen throughout lockdown how vibrant and strong our community is, but we’ve also noticed what our weaknesses and challenges are. I hope to make some contribution to steering us through those challenges and capitalising on our opportunities,” he says.

The council’s strategy will be discussed and determined by incoming members as its new executive is elected and the new council meetings convene.

Kahn believes the nominations this year reflect the diversity of Gauteng Jewry.

“The nominees put forward include representatives from the business and legal communities, academia, the rabbinate, and the professions,” she says. “The council is also representative of the Orthodox and Progressive communities, and is 50% women. This representation, diversity, and broad skill set will enrich deliberations, decision making, and leadership on the council.

“The broad range of organisations that made nominations will ensure that the community will be represented on this important body,” she says.