Cape Jewish Board poll free and fair

SUZANNE BELLING

This was cleared to the SA Jewish Report by chairman Eric Marx, following the organisation’s biennial conference at the Albow Centre, the Gardens, on Sunday.

“Our elections are totally democratic,” Marx emphasised.

He explained the two part voting system and that it comprised a public ballot or postal vote for three new people chosen from five candidates, who had been “properly nominated” and voting at the actual conference for a further 12 members, who were democratically nominated and voted for by delegates from about 80 community organisations, including shuls and women’s groups.

There were also automatic office-bearers on the Cape Council, by virtue of their positions, namely chairman of the SA Union of Jewish Students, the Union of Jewish Women, Bnoth Zion Wizo and the Cape Zionist Federation.

The keynote address on “Combating Modern-Day Anti-Semitism” was delivered by Ido Daniel, director: Israeli Students Combating Anti-Semitism (ISCA).

The first session was on Defining the Challenge: Racism, Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism, with Professor David Bilchitz as the moderator. Speakers were Karam Singh and Professor Milton Shain.

The conference was divided into breakaway groups, with various facilitators.

The new council comprises Lester Hoffman; Michael Donen; Rael Kaimowitz; Viv Anstey; Jonathan Silke; Glen Heneck; Beverley May; John Zieff; Li Boiskin; Greg Flash; Rabbi Nissen Goldman; David King; Caryn Gootkin; Michael Barr; and Stanley Zive. The last three candidates were chosen by postal vote.

The executive will be elected at the first council meeting of the Cape Board.