Encyclopaedia Judaica
Jews in South Africa 07: Jews in public life
Jewish cultural places - activities and positions - cultural work
from: South Africa; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 15
presented by Michael Palomino (2008 / 2010)
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[The problem of Jewish cultural places - reluctant introduction of Jewish content into the activities]
<Formal instruction of young people has been supplemented by the Zionist youth movements, which muster large followings, and by the smaller synagogue youth groups. However, the community has been slow in developing clubs and similar facilities for young people such as those provided by the community centers or synagogue centers in the United States, and there is a need for congenial meeting places which offer Jewish cultural, social, and recreational programs.
One reason for the lack of these facilities may be the existence in abundance of Jewish sports and country clubs - which cater, however, less for youths than for adults. They illustrate that Jewish group life has tended increasingly to assume secular forms and that Jews generally seek their social and recreational associations with fellow Jews. The clubs are usually open also to non-Jews, although in most cases the membership is largely Jewish. While, to that extent, they bolster Jewish solidarity, they have been reluctant generally to introduce a Jewish content into their activities. Like Jews everywhere South African Jews have felt the impact of opposing forces, some tending to undermine and others to preserve group life. The community has shown many signs of vitality in its ability to cope with its problems and to strengthen its links with world Jewry, and particularly with Israel.
PUBLIC LIFE.
[Jewish political activities and positions]
Apart from a few exceptional situations (referred to under Legal and Social Status), opportunities to participate in all aspects of civic and political life have been open to Jews at all levels - national, provincial, and local. An impressive number of Jews regularly participated in local government as elected councilors, both in the large cities and in the rural villages (until the exodus into the cities). Many were elected to the position of mayor. The provincial councils and parliament also have always included Jewish representatives, who have belonged to diverse political parties.
Henry S. *Gluckman attained cabinet rank. The Jewish community collectively - as distinct from individual Jewish citizens - has played no part in politics (except in situations where Jews felt that their status as full and equal citizens was being threatened). All the main political parties have their Jewish supporters.
In espousing political causes and in their party affiliations, Jews act as individuals in accordance with their personal beliefs and convictions, and not as members of the Jewish group. While it is probable that they are influenced in certain respects by their faith and membership in the Jewish community, in the absence of anything like a "Jewish vote", there are insufficient data on which any general conclusions regarding Jewish political attitudes can be based.
On the (col. 201)
whole, however, they show a predilection for middle-of-the-road policies and avoid extremism, whether on the right or the left.
RACIAL POLICIES.
Relations between the white and non-white sections of the population form the warp and woof of party politics in South Africa, and there has likewise been no collective Jewish attitude in regard to these. Because of the great diversity of opinions among individuals, and the complexity of the racial and political problems of the country, the Jewish community has found it impossible to advocate any specific group policy. The majority have espoused moderate policies. Some Jews have been among the foremost protagonists of the non-white sections of the population, and have been prominent in protesting against official policies. One of the best-known was Helen *Suzman, the sole representative of the Progressive Party in the South African Parliament. Their activities and those of other Jewish liberals have led to tensions with the non-Jewish white community.> (col. 202)
[[The real discrimination of the blacks and the native peoples in South Africa by the Whites is never mentioned in the Encyclopaedia Judaica]].
[[...]]
<CULTURAL LIFE.
[Jewish cultural workers and artists - Jewish writers also in English and in Afrikaans - newspapers - painters - and others]
Jews have participated actively in all aspects of the cultural and artistic life of the country. Their word is recognized as part of South African culture. That they are Jews may not be irrelevant to their work, but does not determine the nature of their contributions. In the literary field, they have produced an imposing list of writers and artists, some of the first rank, including South Africa's foremost novelist, Sarah Gertrude *Millin. Also from South Africa are the Jewish novelists Dan *Jacobson and Nadine *Gordimer. Since for the most part Jews have been living in the cities where English is the dominant language, it is not surprising that they have had a greater share in English culture than in Afrikaans, although several have made worthy contributions to Afrikaans literature and more and more Jews are becoming fluent in both Afrikaans and English (see *South African Literature).
One of the founders of the Rand Daily Mail was a Jew, and Jews figure prominently in journalism. As patrons of art, music, and literature, they have provided stimulus in many aspects of the cultural life of the country, notably, perhaps, in musical and dramatic enterprise.
Jewish painters include Irma *Stern and John Henry *Amshewitz, and among sculptors of notable standing is Moses *Kottler.
South African playwrights, composers, musicians, producers, and actors have contributed largely to the cultural scene. While Yiddish was still in vogue among substantial numbers of the community, several South African writers made worthy literary contributions in that medium. There has also been literary creativity in Hebrew.> (col. 202)
Sources
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 183-184
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 185-186
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 187-188
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 189-190
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 191-192
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 193-194
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 195-196
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 197-198
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 199-200
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 201-202
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 203-204
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 205-206
Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971: South Africa, vol. 15, col. 207-208
