News
Board calls for action on “repugnant attacks”
Kahn “shocked and angered” at Soweto xenophobia & decries claims of criminal motivation. These were “hate crimes based on nationality,” says Wendy, slamming authorities who suggest it was “criminally motivated” & calling on “authorities to prosecute those responsible & do all they can to ensure the safety of those who have suffered.” Board also launches appeal. SA Jewry “responded very generously to the SAJBD’s appeal during the 2008 xenophobia crisis,” says Kahn, hoping to see “similar generosity this time round.” PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN…
ANT KATZ
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“As a result of this xenophobic persecution, SA Jewish Board of Deputies’ national director Wendy Kahn said in an emotive appeal to SA Jewry this week, “many people have been robbed of their livelihoods and now find themselves destitute.”
The Board, says Wendy, “appeals to the Jewish community to contribute to a fund it is setting up to help ease their plight and assist them in getting back on their feet.”
Kahn says the SAJBD has set up an appeal fund and they are hoping SA Jewry will respond with similar generosity that it showed during, and in the aftermath of, the 2008 xenophobic violence. “We, as a community, can do our part in assisting the victims,” says Wendy. “Scores of innocent people who came to our country in the hope of bettering their lot have been victimised and deprived of their livelihoods simply because they were born elsewhere. “
SA Jewry responded very generously to the
Board’s appeal after 2008 xenophobia crisis
Wendy Kahn’s letter to the community read as follows:
Dear Community Member
Along with so many of our fellow South Africans, the Jewish community has been shocked and angered by the recent attacks against foreign nationals and their property in Gauteng. Scores of innocent people who came to our country in the hope of bettering their lot have been victimised and deprived of their livelihoods simply because they were born elsewhere. Despite certain claims that the violence and looting was essentially criminally motivated, the reality is that only businesses owned by foreign nationals were targeted. For that reason, such actions can only be regarded as hate crimes based on nationality.
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies has condemned these repugnant attacks, while also calling on the authorities to prosecute those responsible and do all they can to ensure the safety of those who have suffered.
As a result of this xenophobic persecution, many people have been robbed of their livelihoods and now find themselves destitute. The SAJBD therefore appeals to the Jewish community to contribute to a fund it is setting up to help ease their plight and assist them in getting back on their feet. The Jewish community responded very generously to the SAJBD’s appeal during the 2008 xenophobia crisis. We hope very much that its members will respond with similar generosity this time round so that we, as a community, can do our part in assisting the victims of the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence.
Details for donations to Xenophobia Relief fund:
Section 18A certificates are available on request from those who wish to get the tax benefit of their donations.
Account name: SA Jewish Board of Deputies – Bank: Standard Bank Killarney – Account number: 200305190 – Reference: Your name+Xenophobia
nat cheiman
January 28, 2015 at 5:31 pm
‘The potential contributors should contribute to jews first, in need. Not to others that are either in the country illegally and/or have no empathy with jews.These foreigners have indeed suffered and it is the governments fault. We as jews cannot take on our shoulders the burden of the foreigners unless they are jews.
Condemning these attacks is one thing but donating to Somalis, Zimbabweans, Ukrainians, Libyans, Syrians etc who have suffered human rights abuses too, is not the responsibility of the jewish community. We need to help ourselves first’
SomeBodyElse
January 28, 2015 at 11:46 pm
‘Just proves what many have been saying for years but nobody will acknowledge because it is politically incorrect: the indigenous population is far more racist than the whites ever were’
Russell Fig
February 25, 2015 at 10:21 pm
‘Shame on [those] South African blacks [who are guilty of] Xenophobic attacks on other Africans? Have you forgotten that it is world opinion that helped liberate you from Apartheid? What is the matter with you?
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\n I am a White South African Jew living over here in America and [some of] you blacks are lacking in so many other areas that you need we whites to return. How can you encourage someone like me to return when you behave so ignorantly.
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\n Remember you South African blacks that it had been other African Countries that hosted South African Exiles during the days of Apartheid. Do [those] ignorant people [who are guilty of Xenophobia] have such short memories?
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\nEdited for legal reasons, Russell. To speak badly of an entire racial group is Racism. Eg, you can say \”What is the matter with you Jews who support Zionism?\” That would be expressing an opinion about a specific group of individuals. But if you say \”What is the matter with you Jews?\” then you are expressing an opinion about a whole race. -ED
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Russell Fig
February 25, 2015 at 10:24 pm
‘I agree with you SomeBodyElse. [Some of] our blacks need to be taught to accept people for who they are? If it were not for we Whites they woud go down the same road as Zimbabwe and yet they are intolerant of other Africans. Incredible isn’t it?
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Edited for legal reasons, Russell -ED
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