School’s Habonim camp cancellation on shaky ground

The Habonim Dror campsite in the Western Cape has for years been used by a range of groups from schools to non-profit organisations, as it provides top-class facilities in an idyllic location. But, for the first time, a school – the International School of Cape Town (ISCT) – has chosen to cancel a camp there after some parents objected to it being held at a Jewish youth movement’s campsite.

Sarah Smith*, a parent at the school, isn’t Jewish but was deeply concerned at the decision. “By relocating the camp with no discussion, the school validated the toxic notion that Jewish spaces are inherently controversial, unlike those of other faiths or cultures,” said Smith, who asked to remain anonymous on the specific request of her children, who anticipate a backlash at school. “This echoes historic marginalisation of Jews, and rewards those who weaponise anti-Zionism to target Jewish identity.”

Smith is married to an Israeli, has lived in Israel, and has children identifying as Jewish. The camp in question is a Year 8 (Grade 8) camp that was to take place in the last few days of January. The school has since moved it to a different site, and parents now need to pay a higher fee.

“It is clear that this decision was made as a result of external pressure,” Smith said. She feels the school “capitulated astoundingly quickly” to “pressure from a set of parents with strongly held and public beliefs”.

Said Habonim Dror National Chairperson Brad Gottschalk, “Our beautiful campsite has hosted tens of thousands of South Africans from all walks of life over the past 20 years. Habonim has contributed much to the South African fabric. Our members fought in the anti-apartheid struggle and have been involved in vital non-governmental organisation work across the country. The school should have engaged with campsite management before making uninformed decisions.”

“This incident is the latest in a documented series of antisemitic events at the school, spanning years,” said Smith. “However, it’s easily the most troubling. ISCT is stating that the choice of a Jewish campsite is controversial. This reflects deeply ingrained antisemitism.”

Addressing parents about the decision to cancel the Habonim booking, ISCT Head of High School Philip James, stated, “We are deeply committed to inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and respect for all our students and families. These principles guide every decision we make, including school activities. We are aware of the current context surrounding the Middle East crisis and the sensitivities it entails.

“The selection of the Habonim campsite was made without any intention to align the school with any political stance,” he said. “The decision was based solely on the logistical suitability of the camp.”

Smith noted that the school has held camps at venues associated with the Christian community, but is now allowing parents to dictate that events cannot be held at Jewish community sites.

“A procedural failure has taken place,” she wrote to James. “To make this decision, no community engagement took place, no due process was followed, and the decision wasn’t transparent. It was made under pressure of a vocal group. It has rewarded those who conflate Jewish institutions with geopolitical conflicts, a tactic long used to ostracise Jews.

“If inclusivity is truly a core value of the school, then the school must demonstrate equal respect for all cultural affiliations, including those tied to Jewish heritage,” she emphasised. “Failure to do so will confirm that this decision was about appeasing prejudice.”

Smith is also concerned that a “disturbing and dangerous precedent has been set, incredibly easily. It is clear that prejudice against the state of Israel, and Jewish organisations, has been normalised at ISCT.” She also noted that the school made the decision to move the camp without consulting Habonim or the Jewish community.

She requested comprehensive changes at the school, including reversing the camp relocation decision, antisemitism-awareness training, formal oversight with Jewish community representation, and measures to prevent future incidents. The school asked for time to implement these measures.

After Smith wrote to school leadership, ISCT held a hastily-convened meeting with parents to share the process when planning school activities. Smith asked Principal Kascha Reed in verbal communication to provide a mediator for the discussion or to allow time to consult with Jewish groups before making a decision about the camp. Both requests were denied.

At the meeting, the school explained and apologised to parents for initially choosing the Habonim campsite. Smith experienced the meeting as “profoundly hostile and one-sided”, and was accused by other parents as being “unnecessarily divisive”.

While the school said that political viewpoints wouldn’t be discussed at the meeting, Smith said political statements were made freely until she objected. Habonim was referred to in disparaging terms that implied “duplicity”, while parents used veiled language about “affiliations” and “culture” to reference Jewish or Israeli connections without stating their meaning clearly.

Smith notes that the school allowed this ambiguity to continue. “You neither contained the discussion nor required people to be clear about their positions,” Smith wrote to Reed. “Organising this meeting with less than half a day’s notice and no mediator has only created further harm. Your failure to see the need for mediation to protect all participants reflects a continued fundamental misunderstanding of the issues at stake.”

Writing to Smith, Reed stated that “We are deeply committed to inclusivity and will actively explore ways to ensure we act in accordance with this. I will raise this with our Board of Governors and directors in our next board meeting to receive feedback on the best way for us to do this.”

Speaking to the SA Jewish Report, Reed said, “When it came to our attention that the campsite has a political association, we reassessed the situation. After careful consideration, we decided to relocate the camp to ensure it remained an inclusive experience for all students.

“This decision was made with the logistical constraints and timeframe in mind and with the best interests of our students at heart,” Reed said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering an environment enriched by diversity, where every individual feels valued and respected.”

Moving forward, “We will continue to engage with all parents, including our Jewish families, to refine our processes and strengthen our mission of inclusivity,” Reed said. “We welcome constructive dialogue as we continue to embrace our diversity and build inclusive spaces.”

Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies Executive Director Daniel Bloch said, “We are investigating the matter further and are engaging with all affected parties.”

*not her real name