ANT KATZ

If ever there was anyone deserving of titles such as “Friend of Jewry” and even “Honorary Jew” by association and by value beliefs – it was Nelson Mandela. He was part of the Jewish community from the time he arrived in Johannesburg.

His friends and supporters were Jewish and his personal and professional mentors were Jewish. It was members of the Jewish community who financed and organised Madiba’s political and revolutionary ideals. Who harboured him and his revolutionary ilk – from his earliest days, through the Struggle years, and into turning his post-freedom ideals and goals into tangible realities.

The writer had two remarkable private meetings with Madiba in the early Nineties and has published extensively on the relationship between the most remarkable man of our time and his relationship and friendship with SA Jewry.

Some of the related stories published digitally by the writer over the past five years include:

Stories published on SAJR Online

• 20/11/2013: Jews should get back into South African politics
• 02/12/2013: Ossendryver’s classic makes Madiba museum
• 18/11/2013: 60% of white treason trialists were Jewish

Stories published on MyShtetl

• 17/07/2013: Happy Birthday Tata Madiba
• 17/07/2013: Who has pics & vids with Madiba?
• 15/07/2013: Get well soon, Madiba, say Our Parents’ Home residents
• 10/07/2013: Challah of love for Tata Madiba
• 03/07/2013: Chief Rabbi’s Prayer for Madiba
• 30/06/2013: “Asimbonanga Mandela” 
• 30/06/2013: Mandela family’s message to SA Jews
• 15/07/2012: Bet David does Madiba proud! 
• 20/09/2011: Zev: Bibi not a Mandela or De Klerk
• 23/08/2011: Craig Joseph’s Mandela memory
• 27/07/2011: We’re proud of our “rogues’ gallery”!
   
  
  24/07/2011: Madiba’s “first white friend” to be laid to rest this morning 
• 22/07/2011: Board’s book on Madiba & SA Jewry
• 19/07/2011: Madiba shares birthday with us
   
• 10/082011: Jewish Memories of Mandela – By NICHOLAS WOLPE 
• 28/06/2011: Zapiro: Jiving with Madiba

Much more coverage to come!