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Could South Africa go the French route?
One effect of the cringe-worthy circus Parliament became last week during President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, was to revive the whinge-sessions many whites – Jews and others – frequently indulge in. “How terrible it is here! The crime, corruption, Eskom switching off the lights, potholes in the roads which never get fixed, Nkandla…”
GEOFF SIFRIN
Taking Issue
The well-known script usually ends like this: “The country is going down the tubes! If only we had left for Australia, the UK, Israel or other places as our relatives and friends did years ago!”
Zuma’s gleeful face as EFF parliamentarians were physically thrown out of the Chamber didn’t help. He seemed contemptuous of the effect this spectacle had on citizens.
In stark contrast, European Jews’ desire to leave countries like France, is not about whether they are well-run, but fear for their safety. European countries are experiencing their worst levels of anti-Semitism in decades, including killings, desecration of Jewish graves – some 300 in France reported this week – and rabid hate speech on social media.
In the UK, an all-party Parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism, is suggesting that on social media like Twitter and Facebook, prevention orders like those restricting sex offenders’ access, could be used to ban users spreading racial hatred.
People who carry out hate crimes could be prevented from using social media, increasingly a hotbed for anti-Semitism and other bigotry. The report said the terms “Hitler” and “Holocaust” were among the top 35 phrases relating to Jews during last year’s Gaza conflict. The hashtags “Hitler” and “genocide” featured with “high frequency”. The “Hitler Was Right” hashtag spread worldwide in July 2014.
In a bizarre reaction to the fear European Jews live in, in the wake of the recent Paris and other killings, an Israeli salon is producing a hair-based kippah as a camouflage for Jews who don’t want to stand out in public – they could wear this “kosher” kippah, but outsiders would see only hair.
South Africa is not Europe, but we live in dangerous times. The vigour which South African Jews spend whining about the country would be better spent getting involved in improving things. The need is enormous.
There is so much anger under the surface due to poverty, unemployment and racism, that it doesn’t take much to ignite a xenophobic rampage like we saw in 2008 against foreigners perceived to be stealing jobs from South Africans. A Malema-like populist could channel the rage into sinister directions to suit his own agenda – including fostering hate against Jews or others.
Nurturing interfaith links is crucial to counter this. They must be strong, so when trouble comes there is something to lean on.
An intriguing example of interfaith co-operation happened recently in Bradford in the UK, where for the first time a Muslim was co-opted onto the governing council of the Bradford Reform Synagogue. Established in 1880, it is the oldest Reform shul outside London, located in the heart of the Muslim community, who has helped look after it.
Jani Rashid, a Muslim, raised funds last year to repair the roof of the historic building when subscriptions from the 45-strong Jewish congregation were insufficient. He will help make decisions about the building’s day-to-day running, though not the religious aspects. The incident reflects a pocket of unusually close links between Jews and Muslims there, in stark contrast to what is happening in Europe generally.
Rudi Leavor, the synagogue’s 87-year-old chairman, said: “We want to show the two religions and communities can and will stick together.”
Could this sort of thing happen in South Africa? Could a historic synagogue in Cape Town or Johannesburg have a Muslim on its board? Or could a historic mosque be assisted by a Jewish benefactor? Interfaith co-operation has a proud history here, and through all the recent bad times, relations between Muslims and Jews have remained relatively good.
But in these times, complacency is dangerous, particularly with the appalling standard of our national leaders, as we witnessed in Parliament. We need to keep thinking out of the box to ensure South Africa never goes the route of France.
Geoff Sifrin is former editor of the SAJR. He writes this column in his personal capacity.
Myron Robinson
February 19, 2015 at 12:04 pm
‘I remember as a kid in the mid 1960’s visiting the East London Mosque as part of an Habonim group. The East London Jewish & Muslim communities always had a good relationship. The problem has begun with our Govt. taking an overtly anti Israeli (read Jewish) stance even misquoting Madiba on the Palestinian issue. Its time that the SAJBD & the SAZF went on the attack against the ANC & the SA Govt. & not only made reactive statements.’
Rosemary Dianond
February 20, 2015 at 3:39 am
‘as usual Geoff Sifrin,s column is most interesting and hitsthe nail on the head. We are living through most diffficult times world-wide and must be vigilant at all times. We have already by-passed the pre-messianic era and are experiencing what is known as the war of Gog ad Magog acoording to our sages who already knew that this era was coming. Keep writing Geoff – I enjoy your insights. Have a good shabbos.1’
Choni
February 20, 2015 at 8:50 am
‘Yes, and not so long ago Sifrin stated that we are blessed to be living in S.Africa.(as opposed to where Geoff?).
Until we acknowledge that a Jew is ‘cursed’, and not blessed to be living outside Israel, we will continue to live ‘counterfeit’ Jewish lives, without a Jewish government, army, and everything else as a Jewish nation in it’s own Land.’
abu mamzer
February 20, 2015 at 12:52 pm
‘and a Jew on the governing council of our Houghton mosques?Jeff I nominate you.’
Gary Selikow
February 22, 2015 at 8:04 am
”could a historic mosque be assisted by a Jewish benefactor?’
What so they can continue preaching hate speech against Jews and Israel-and Jews will finance this?’
Gary Selikow
February 22, 2015 at 8:55 am
‘Muslims in Britain have [Sorry Gary, you’ll have to quote a reference link to this before we can allow you to say it here -ED] 1400 British children in the town of Rotherham alone and are doing this in every town in Britain. They declare sharia zones and [Ditto -ED] who walk through these zones. They ban people from walking their dogs in public parks as [Ditto -ED].
\nAre British Jews sure they want to align with this?
\nThey’ll be causing a lot of unnecessary hate for themselves if they ‘stick’ with Muslims in Britain
\nI find this bonding between British Jews and Muslims disturbing’
Gary Selikow
February 22, 2015 at 9:39 am
‘Here’s the references,
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\nONLINE EDITOR’S NOTE – Gary\nhas provided the following links to verify his accusations:
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\n- · \n A Telegraph\n story about a Report\n on sexual exploitation which refers to a conviction in 2010
- · \n Another Telegraph\n Opinion\n piece referring to the same report; and
- · \n A four-year-old\n MailOnline report about an attempt to set up Sharia\n law controlled zones in British cities which, by all accounts we can find,\n never got off the ground.
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While we are happy to post these links for those who\nwant to read the stories, which do indeed make for interesting reading, we believe\nthat under media law and this website’s policies, they do not substantiate the\noriginal comments as factual.
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\nIf British Jews want to bond with the perpetrators of this they are bringing anti-Semitism on themselves, says Gary.’
Gary Selikow
February 22, 2015 at 3:50 pm
‘
Im not scared of being labelled ‘racist’ or ‘Islamophobic’ I\nam interested only in truth and respect for life.
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This video captures what happns in British towns daily
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http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=263_1370971628\n
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If this does not make you angry you are not human
‘