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August 16, 1985

South African Jews today are holding a “prayer for peace.” It may not seem like much amidst the televised images of racial anger, violence and brutality, but in the context of South African Jewry, it is one more step in a process of seeking change that has been growing over the past year.

“For the first time, the Jewish community is actually speaking out,” says Suzanne Belling, editor of Jewish Times, South Africa’s independent Jewish newspaper. “But this is only in the last year. For the past 37 years they have avoided making a point. In May, this all changed when they took a resolution rejecting apartheid.”

That resolution was passed by the South African Board of Jewish Deputies, the chief organization of the country’s 120,000 Jews. And last week, the Conference of Jewish Women also passed a resolution expressing dismay at the current violence, and calling for a climate of peace and the removal of all laws of discrimination against people on the basis of race or creed.

Furthermore, when President Pieter W. Botha delivered a speech last week in which he refused to budge on apartheid, he was criticized by the Jewish community.

The general feeling is one of disappointment, indicated Dr. Israel Abromowitz, president of the board of Jewish deputies. “We thought [Botha’s speech] would be more positive, more definitive … There was a lack of incisiveness. It was a bit of an anti-climax. Time will tell. There was a wonderful opportunity and it was missed.”

For many years, individual Jews criticized apartheid, and Jewish students protested along with other radical white students.

Jews “are not passive onlookers,” says a South African official who prefers to remain anonymous. “They have been vocal in their criticism of the apartheid system. They have been activist in trying to get a change.”