SAUJS at Tuks off to a promising start

DIANE WOLFSON

Together with a number of Jewish students, they were motivated to put this organisation on track due to the lack of Jewish unity on campus, problems with tests on Shabbat, with no structural support for Jewish students and to bring Jewish awareness to the university.

According to Pretoria University legislation, a minimum of 60 signatures are required to start an organisation. An amazing 30 students turned up at the first meeting. After advertising to the Jewish students “free coffee for a signature”, 67 students signed on! 

RIGHT: The SAUJS committee at Tuks: Chavah Barit (vice-chairman); Jaden Kramer (national director); Chad Posner (chairman); Natan Pollack(SAUJS national chairman); and Taryn Bortz (treasurer)

The first event held was a “Fallafel Tasting” where T-shirts and bags were handed out and students on campus were educated about Israel and the Jewish community, thereby increasing public relations on campus. 

Approximately 70 non-Jewish students expressed interest and signed up at this event. More events are being planned for the upcoming months.

After personally battling with the university over exams on Shabbat and Yomtov for approximately four months, Posner felt it was necessary to give the Jewish students a support structure. 

Posner, as chairman of Tuks SAUJS, has been in regular contact with Wendy Kahn of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies who helps make arrangements with the university to ensure that they it does not violate the rights of Jewish students.

* Anyone wishing to find out more, can log onto the Facebook page, “Tuks SAUJS” and any Tuks student can sign up through contacting Posner by e-mailing tukssaujs@gmail.com