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Euroasian Jewish News
The EAJC delegation took part in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Council of the Representatives of the Re
12.09.2003
Republic of South Africa, Johannesburg, Cape Town
On Sept. 5-9, events devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Council of the Representatives of the Republic of South Africa took place.
The representatives of Jewish organizations of 15 countries gathered in Johannesburg, and among them was the delegation of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), under the leadership of the EAJC general secretary, the chairman of the Vaad of Russia, Michael Chlenov, the chairman of EAJC general council, the chairman of the Vaad of Ukraine, Josef Zissels, and the EAJC Executive Director Fedor Osinin (Kazakhstan).
The events in Johannesburg and Cape Town were organized at the highest level. After the joint meeting of Shabbat, participants met for a conference that marked the anniversary of the South African Jewish Community.
Israel Singer gave a speech on behalf of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Israel in the Republic of South Africa Mrs. Tova Gertsl spoke on behalf of the Israeli government, Malcolm Hoenline spoke on behalf of the Conference of Presidents of the Basic Jewish organizations in the USA.
The culminating moment of the event was when the president of the Republic of South Africa, Tabo Mbeka, made a speech. He expressed his gratitude to the Jews of the SRA for their participation in the democratic process and their contribution to the cultural and economic life of the country. Speaking on behalf of the EAJC President Alexander Machkevich, members of EAJC delegation presented a picture of the restored synagogue in Kyiv as a gift to the Jews of South Republic of Africa.
Participants of the conference were acquainted with the situation in South Africa’s Jewish community, the situation with human rights, and they also listened to the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Toni Leon.
The report of Martin Luther King III, the son of the well-known African-American activist, occupied a special place. Visitors were present during elections, the result of which was the rotation of leaders of the Board of the Jewish Council of Representatives. Leaders were also present during the distribution of Noble Prizes to Eric Samson and Mendel Kaplan, veterans and leaders of South Africa’s Jews.
Mendel Kaplan and Phillip Kravits acted as tour guides of Jewish Cape Town, where they acquainted visitors with the Jewish institutes, including the unforgettable museum to which Mendel Kaplan donated significant amounts of money and energy. He received the sincere gratitude of visitors. Representatives of the EAJC presented informational materials, reflecting the EAJC’s activities, to the leaders of Jewish museum in Cape Town and made memorable records in the book of visitors.
During the events, participants visited the center devoted to the memory of victims of the Holocaust and the well-known prison on Robben Island, were Nelson Mandela served time during the Aparteid period. Visitors also attended a reception in the house of the sponsor of the Jewish Community of Cape Town, the businessman and gracious host Sessil Jowel.
EAJC Public Relation and Media Department
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