Lenk’s farewell message: Don’t stand on the sidelines

PETA KROST MAUNDER

These sentiments were pervasive at the community farewell party hosted by the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF), Board of Deputies (SAJBD), Israel Centre and IUA-UCF. Lenk Is seen as a strict, but every-welcoming sage whom people in the South African communal leadership would go to for sound advice and guidance.

“He always has a response to us and is not an ambassador who sits in his ivory tower in Pretoria. So many of us had the opportunity to work with him,” said Ben Swartz, chairman of the SAZF.

“You simply needed to say: ‘Arthur, we need to engage with you’ and the embassy doors were opened wide and he was there to bounce ideas and get direction and endorsement.”

Swartz maintained that while the goal of Israel’s enemies in South Africa is to stop this country and others on the continent doing business with Israel, the opposite is happening. “The Ambassador reminds me that business between the countries continues to grow and no doubt that is as symptom of the work Arthur has done here,” he says.

SAJBD Gauteng Chairman Shaun Zagnoev agrees, saying Lenk had changed many South Africans’ perspective on Israel. “There is a vein of support for Israel, which Arthur unlocked and tapped into to show Israel beyond the controversy.”

Despite that, Zagnoev adds, Lenk didn’t shy away from the hard political reality that engulfs Israel and her relationship with South Africa.

Lenk spoke about the memorable moment when he was proved right that South Africans were not all anti-Israel, in fact there were many supporters. He recalled the 12 000 South Africans, more non-Jews than Jews, who gathered at the Solidarity Peace Rally at Huddle Park in August 2014.

People came in their droves to support Israel during the Gaza War. “One of the things I had been saying from the beginning became very clear to everyone – the Jewish community and Israel weren’t alone and that it is a misconception that all South Africans are against Israel.

“Going around South Africa and visiting Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Eastern Cape, you see we all have insane amounts in common and there is an incredible amount of friendship, fellowship and partnership.”

He said that as Israel and the South African Jewish community, it was important to reach out to the rest of South Africa and find friends and partners.  

“And if we want to change the politics of this country, we have to be the change,” Lenk said. “We have to get involved in politics and in the economy, creating jobs and opportunities. We have to show what value add the South Africa community and Israel have for South Africa.”

To do this, he insists, one cannot stand on the sideline. “If the ANC invites us to events, show up to those events. If they don’t invite us, show up anyway.

“Tell them our story. Our story is a good story, it is a great story, the world’s oldest one. Do it every day.

“You have a great legacy in South Africa, a complicated but a great one. In Israel we also have a complicated but great legacy.

He says that the ANC and South Africa is interested in Israel, whether it is a real interest or because they want to see Israel fall, is irrelevant. “We have a stage, so don’t let people tell bad stories, let’s tell them good stories. Ours is a worthy story.”