Two Jewish MPs talk on their roles in Parliament

MOIRA SCHNEIDER

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOIRA SCHNEIDER

CAPE TOWN

Pictured: Michael Bagraim

“We all have the Ethics of the Fathers in our DNA – we believe in fairness and justice,” Bagraim replied when asked if his Jewish identity had played a role in his foray into politics. He revealed that he had not belonged to a political party until a year ago and had in fact never voted.

What had actually prompted his entry into politics had been a “fight” between him and party leader Helen Zille after he had “painstakingly” drafted the DA’s policy and the party had controversially voted against it and in favour of employment equity legislation last year. Zille said to him that it was “all very well to shout from the outside”, but he should rather advocate his position from within. 

Bagraim noted that there was in fact a third Jewish MP – Glynnis Breytenbach, formerly of the National Prosecuting Authority and now DA shadow minister of justice, whose mother is an Orthodox Jew and whose grandparents came from Lodz.

“She wears a Magen David everywhere she goes,” added Bergman.

Asked whether he sees a responsibility to the Jewish community in his current role, Bergman said he did, adding, however: “The Jewish community has a responsibility to me too. Are we doing Joshua Broomberg justice?” he asked, referring to the uproar the deputy head boy of King David Victory Park had sparked by posting a photograph of himself on Facebook in a keffiyeh in support of the Palestinians.

“As Jewish people, unfortunately we seem to cannibalise our own people more than our enemies. If we’re not even tolerant in our own community, how can we be tolerant of cultural diversity (in the wider community)?” he questioned.

Is Israel a priority in South African policy and should the DA be taking sides? “No,” Bagraim said firmly. “The government does not see it as a priority – they are getting enormous pressure from our country cousins to make it a priority and they’re not.”

Should Jews’ votes be based on a political party’s position on Israel? “Jews have to vote for service delivery first,” Bergman maintained. “Muslims voted for the DA (in the Western Cape) knowing that (ANC premier candidate Marius) Fransman attacked the party for a full year before the elections,” added Bagraim.

“It was thought Jews would vote for the ACDP – they didn’t. Outing them as Zionists was the kiss of death for their campaign,” he opined, referring to that party’s loss of support in the May 7election.

He admitted there was “very strong tension” towards the pair from other MPs. “Every single person knows we’re Jewish and Zionist.”

Bagraim commented that there had been a “strong Jewish representivity” in politics in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, with the Cape Town City Council being at one stage almost 25 per cent Jewish. “Somehow we’ve managed to opt out of this and turned inward,” he said, describing the phenomenon as “quite weird”.

“The Board and particularly the Zionist Federation are our insurance policy in South Africa, but the Fed doesn’t have 400 employees or a (big) budget. We need more – we all have to get involved; there is no excuse not to,” he said pleading for greater Jewish involvement in politics.

“We’ve got Pirkei Avot to sell – why aren’t we there doing it?”

Bergman paid tribute to the selfless individuals on the Board, saying that political parties and Jewish organisations should be working together, as exemplified by the Board having acted as election monitors. “We need to be sharing information – we might need you to get a message out and vice versa,” he said.