At Trinity, I am actively involved in Hillel. I have learned that the Jewish Diaspora has spread Jews far and wide. Last March, I participated in Hillel’s Alternative Spring Break to Colombia, where I learned that Jewish communities thrive in Medellin and Bogota. When a session was offered about Jews in South Africa, I jumped at the opportunity to attend.

There are 70-80,000 Jews in South Africa. In 1970, there were about 120,000. Numbers have declined because of emigration to the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Jews first arrived in the 1820s, when the British sent settlers to South Africa. In 1841, seventeen Jews founded the first Hebrew Congregation in Cape Town. Today, it stands at the entrance to the Jewish Museum in Cape Town’s downtown. When diamonds were discovered in South Africa, more Jews arrived from Europe. Many became extremely wealthy and founded successful companies. One of these was Sammy Marks, who eventually served as senator for the first Parliament in South Africa.

Successful Jewish business in South Africa

Between 1880 and 1914, the Jewish population grew from 4,000 to 40,000 with the arrival of immigrants from Lithuania, who were escaping pogroms. Because of their similar cultural backgrounds (they spoke Yiddish and were generally pro-Zionist, for example), they were quickly able to create a tight-knit Jewish community in Cape Town. Despite discriminatory policies that labeled them as “aliens,” Jews became involved in South Africa’s industrialization. They worked in clothing, textile and furniture manufacturing; hotel management; advertising and entertainment. In most cases, they were able to rise to middle class or upper-middle class status.

When apartheid was instituted in 1948, many Jews supported the anti-apartheid movement. In fact, Jews were largely represented among the white citizens who were arrested for involvement in anti-apartheid activities. Nelson Mandela wrote: “I have found Jews to be more broadminded than most whites on issues of race and politics, perhaps because they themselves have historically been victims of prejudice.” His defense attorney, Isie Maisels, was Jewish.

Today, the South African Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center stand as sites that commemorate Jews in Cape Town. Together they help keep Jewish history alive in the Mother City.