Putting in the SA in SAUJS - Ilan Solomons - http://chutzpahonline.blogspot.com/2010/03/putting-in-sa-in-saujs-ilan-solomons.html
The South African in SAUJS 2010
The South African Union of Jewish Students or SAUJS stands on three pillars Judaism, Zionism/Israel and South African affairs. These values are what hold us together as a student movement on and off campuses across the country. It is often a difficult and complex balancing act but these core values have held us together for many years and will be our guiding principles for the foreseeable future as well.
SAUJS has been in the recent past mainly associated with its first two pillars, which are without doubt two vital aspects of our culture and tradition. The third principle, i.e. South Africa has to some extent been overshadowed since the end of the days of Apartheid when SAUJS was one of the few ‘white’( as we were classified by the NATS) organizations that openly opposed the unjust and inhumane system that oppressed the overwhelming majority of the country. There have been various books and articles written on this particular subject and SAUJS is actually in the process of compiling its own history into a book, which should be ready some time this year hopefully.
The issue now is what is SAUJS’s vision for how to reignite the spark of patriotism and South African activism for which it was once known? Last year we were able to co-host with the Progressive Youth Alliance – which consists of the South African Students Congress (SASCO), the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), and the Young Communist League (YCL) – an event where prominent Jewish South Africans like Janet Love and Howard Sackstein, spoke about their involvement in the struggle both as Jews and as humanitarians. It was a fantastic and enlightening discussion which showed the important role Jewish activists played in the struggle, and even how SAUJS leaders like Howie Sackstein took brave decisions to stand up to members of his own constituency including the Board of Deputies and the Sydenham Highlands North Shul committee who hosted PW Botha on one occasion when he was involved and responsible for some of the most egregious acts of Apartheid oppression. These are the types of Jews that make us proud and I hope that if Heaven Forbid the current leadership of the Jewish community had to be associated or even supportive of oppressive racist elements that we as SAUJS would stand up to them.
Just this past week we co – hosted Moeletsi Mbeki with the Association of Black Securities and Investments Professionals Wits Chapter(ABSIP), Mr Mbeki is the brother of the former President of South Africa – Thabo Mbeki. He is a leading Economist, Journalist and Political Analysis. He is also a major critic of the government namely on its policy towards the economy, HIV/AIDS and Zimbabwe. He spoke about the release of his latest book and some of the important issues that the book mentions. It is important that South African students are always made aware from a plurality of views about the challenges that our country faces and how best we can overcome them and turn them into opportunities for a better South Africa.
It is my sincere hope that the campus committees of SAUJS ensure that events like the Jewish Anti-Apartheid Hero week happens this year, and that more collaboration between various organizations of different faiths, creeds, backgrounds and the like occur. As the National committee of SAUJS we are committed to improving ties with our Non-Jewish friends and exploring the loads of diverse cultures that this country has blessed us with. Opening up avenues of communication and dialogue with members of the Islamic faith is another challenge which we hope to tackle in some shape or form during the course of this year.
We truly hope that this year in which we host the Soccer World Cup that not only Bafana Bafana will put in a respectable performance, but that the message of fair play and tolerance is embedded in the minds and souls of all our countryman during and after the tournament itself.
Please feel free to contact me or any member of the SAUJS National Committee about interesting initiatives or suggestions for projects we can do to help further strengthen our South African - or any other aspect of the movement for that matter – affairs portfolio.
Am Yisrael Chai, Ayoba 2010 Ayoba!!!!
Feel free just to leave comment on the blog or contact Ilan on Liaison@saujs.co.za
The South African Union of Jewish Students or SAUJS stands on three pillars Judaism, Zionism/Israel and South African affairs. These values are what hold us together as a student movement on and off campuses across the country. It is often a difficult and complex balancing act but these core values have held us together for many years and will be our guiding principles for the foreseeable future as well.
SAUJS has been in the recent past mainly associated with its first two pillars, which are without doubt two vital aspects of our culture and tradition. The third principle, i.e. South Africa has to some extent been overshadowed since the end of the days of Apartheid when SAUJS was one of the few ‘white’( as we were classified by the NATS) organizations that openly opposed the unjust and inhumane system that oppressed the overwhelming majority of the country. There have been various books and articles written on this particular subject and SAUJS is actually in the process of compiling its own history into a book, which should be ready some time this year hopefully.
The issue now is what is SAUJS’s vision for how to reignite the spark of patriotism and South African activism for which it was once known? Last year we were able to co-host with the Progressive Youth Alliance – which consists of the South African Students Congress (SASCO), the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), and the Young Communist League (YCL) – an event where prominent Jewish South Africans like Janet Love and Howard Sackstein, spoke about their involvement in the struggle both as Jews and as humanitarians. It was a fantastic and enlightening discussion which showed the important role Jewish activists played in the struggle, and even how SAUJS leaders like Howie Sackstein took brave decisions to stand up to members of his own constituency including the Board of Deputies and the Sydenham Highlands North Shul committee who hosted PW Botha on one occasion when he was involved and responsible for some of the most egregious acts of Apartheid oppression. These are the types of Jews that make us proud and I hope that if Heaven Forbid the current leadership of the Jewish community had to be associated or even supportive of oppressive racist elements that we as SAUJS would stand up to them.
Just this past week we co – hosted Moeletsi Mbeki with the Association of Black Securities and Investments Professionals Wits Chapter(ABSIP), Mr Mbeki is the brother of the former President of South Africa – Thabo Mbeki. He is a leading Economist, Journalist and Political Analysis. He is also a major critic of the government namely on its policy towards the economy, HIV/AIDS and Zimbabwe. He spoke about the release of his latest book and some of the important issues that the book mentions. It is important that South African students are always made aware from a plurality of views about the challenges that our country faces and how best we can overcome them and turn them into opportunities for a better South Africa.
It is my sincere hope that the campus committees of SAUJS ensure that events like the Jewish Anti-Apartheid Hero week happens this year, and that more collaboration between various organizations of different faiths, creeds, backgrounds and the like occur. As the National committee of SAUJS we are committed to improving ties with our Non-Jewish friends and exploring the loads of diverse cultures that this country has blessed us with. Opening up avenues of communication and dialogue with members of the Islamic faith is another challenge which we hope to tackle in some shape or form during the course of this year.
We truly hope that this year in which we host the Soccer World Cup that not only Bafana Bafana will put in a respectable performance, but that the message of fair play and tolerance is embedded in the minds and souls of all our countryman during and after the tournament itself.
Please feel free to contact me or any member of the SAUJS National Committee about interesting initiatives or suggestions for projects we can do to help further strengthen our South African - or any other aspect of the movement for that matter – affairs portfolio.
Am Yisrael Chai, Ayoba 2010 Ayoba!!!!
Feel free just to leave comment on the blog or contact Ilan on Liaison@saujs.co.za
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