South African Union for Progressive Judaism

We Jews, in particular, ought to know what it is like to be victims of mob violence

Rabbi Greg Alexander
COMMUNITY NEWS
We Jews must help
xenophobia victims
A Jewish person reading the headlines can't help but think of the many times in our history that we were branded "outsiders, foreigners, different".

It wasn't hard for the perpetrators of the pogroms, the riots, the concentration camps to find reasons to see us as a threat, a people to be removed, punished, killed.

Thirty-six times in the Torah we are commanded to be kind to the stranger, to care for their needs and to love them. "You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul of the stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Ex 23:9)

We were strangers then, more than 3000 years ago when we suffered as a nation under Pharaoh in Egypt. We were strangers in 1492 when we were expelled from Spain despite having lived and thrived there for hundreds of years. We were strangers in Europe when we were rounded up and burnt, gassed and shot. We "know the soul of the stranger."

Let us turn that knowledge into action, whether through helping to support the many Jewish and non-Jewish organisations that are gathering food, blankets and money for the victims, or whether through helping to change the attitudes of ourselves and others to the "strangers" who live among us.

Do you know all the people who work in your office, the parents at your child's school, the people who sit around you on Friday night at shul? Do they know you? Have you ever found out their story, their journey and do they know yours? The more we know about each other, the less we will be strangers.

"There shall be the same law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you." (Ex 12:49)

Bet David response 'overwhelming'

THE initial Gauteng drop site for donations to victims of the violence was Bet David in Sandton. The response was so overwhelming that there was not enough room to store all the donations, including food, clothing and blankets, under cover. As a result, the Sandton Shul on the other side of Rivonia Road, which has more space, has taken over.

Glynnis Kanar of Bet David reported that donations came from both Jewish and non-Jewish communities. Donations were then passed on, via the Union of Jewish Women and the Red Cross, to the various temporary shelters for victims of the violence.

Published by the South African Union for Progressive Judaism, Johannesburg.
PO Box 1190, Houghton 2041, South Africa Tel: (+2711) 646 7903 Fax: (+2711) 646 7904
email: saupj@worldonline.co.za

Donation points for
Jewish community

THE SA Jewish Board of deputies issued this statement:

AS the Jewish community, we would like to extend a helping hand to our fellow human beings who are in need, and to this end are coordinating the collection of clothing, blankets, non-perishable foodstuffs and any other basic necessities for the victims of the recent violence. We appeal to all members of our community to assist us in this endeavor.

Donations can be made at the following collection points:

Bank deposits can be made into the following account:

Name of account holder: SA Jewish Board of Deputies
Name of Bank: Standard Bank - Killarney Branch
Account Number: 2003 05 190
Branch Code: 007205

Reference: Please write: "Alex Relief" alongside your name or organisation.
Deposit slips can be faxed, Attention Shirley, SAJBD, to +27 11 645 2559