Beyachad community security briefing

JEFF KATZ

Both the chairman of the CSO and I will be speaking, followed by a question and answer session. As explained in our letter of invitation, the aim of the meeting is to appraise the communal leadership of the current global terror situation, and how it affects South Africa and SA Jewry. 

We believe that in light of recent developments, both at the local level and internationally, have made it imperative for us to relook our existing security structures and practices and identify where and how these should be adapted to meet our needs in the environment in which we find ourselves today.

It is a global reality that Islamic State (IS) has metamorphosed from a Middle East-based operation to one that now seeks to carry out terrorist attacks everywhere in the world. South Africa is not immune from this threat, and while we have to date mercifully been spared any IS-inspired attacks in our country, recent events – including the warnings issued by the US and other countries during the last few months, the reality that at least some South Africans have left the country to join IS and last week’s arrests of four people in Johannesburg on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks – underline how important it is for us to monitor our ever-changing environment and adapt our strategies accordingly.

Ultimately, each one of our organisations has to take responsibility for improving its own security, working in conjunction with all the other security organisations. The upcoming meeting will brief our affiliates on the current situation, make appropriate recommendations and provide guidelines as to how each organisation can implement them.

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 August 15. 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.

• Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM every Friday 12:00-13:00