<<           >>

Encyclopaedia Judaica

Jews in South Africa 08: The racist Free Mason anti-Muslim Herzl Zionist movement

Strong racist anti-Muslim Herzl Zionism in South Africa - fund raising channels - projects in racist anti-Muslim Herzl Israel - students in racist anti-Muslim governed Israel - non-Jewish support from South Africa for racist anti-Muslim Herzl Zionism and racist anti-Muslim governed Israel

from: South Africa; In: Encyclopaedia Judaica 1971, vol. 15

presented by Michael Palomino (2008 / 2010 / 2020)

<THE [[racist Free Mason anti-Muslim Herzl ]] ZIONIST MOVEMENT.

[Zionism unifies the widely scattered communities - donations for Zionism by South African Jews]

The greatest influence, however - itself part of the Lithuanian heritage - has been exerted by the Zionist movement in the evolution of South African Jewry. Lithuanian Jewry's support of *Hibbat Zion was continued by the emigrants to South Africa. There was at first lukewarmness, and even active opposition, from some of the older anglicized groups, some right-wing (col. 197)

Orthodox ministers, and also a small group of *Bund members and socialists. In time, however, the Zionist outlook achieved an unchallenged position.

Even before the first Basle Congress in 1897, there were a few Hovevei Zion societies in the country. An association of Zionist societies in the Transvaal, formed in 1898, convened a countrywide conference which led to the creation of the South African Zionist Federation, the first all-national Jewish body. The first all-South African Zionist conference was held in 1905.

[[Supplement: Zionism has it's base on Herzl's book "The Jewish State" which claims that the Arabs can be driven away as the natives of the "USA" have been driven away. The dream of a "Greater Israel" has it's border at the Euphrates as it is described in the Bible in First Mose chapter 15 phrase 18. So, Zionism is a racist movement and many Jews were torn into this without knowing about any detail. Palestinians and Arabs who should be driven away are never mentioned in the Encyclopaedia Judaica]].

Although the fortunes of the Zionist movement fluctuated in the post-Herzl era, its strength was revealed during World war I, when the first South African Jewish congress was held in Johannesburg, in April 1916, convened jointly by the Zionist Federation and the Board of Deputies in order to mobilize public opinion for the Jewish claim to Palestine. Zionist activity expanded greatly in the post-*Balfour Declaration period, owing much to its effective leaders, among them, Samuel Goldreich, Jacob *Gitlin, Idel Schwartz, A.M. Abrahams, Rabbi J.H. Hertz, Rabbi J.L. Landau, Benzion Hersch, Isaac Goldberg, Joseph Janower, Lazar Braudo, Katie Gluckman, Nicolai Kirschner, Bernard Gerling, Simon M. *Kuper, Joseph *Herbstein, Leopold *Greenberg, Edel J. Horowitz, and Israel A. Maisels. Its most influential officials included Jack Alexander, Zvi Infeld, and Sidney Berg.

The Zionist Movement acted as a counterforce to weakening religious observance, and also unified the widely scattered communities. It has been claimed that contributions per capita to Zionist funds have been higher in South Africa than elsewhere, even though the country's laws do not allow tax reductions for such donations.

[Functions of the South African Zionist Federation]

The South African Zionist Federation has been held up as a model of an all-embracing territorial Zionist organization. It takes the lead in, and coordinates, a many-facete program. Its activities range from fund raising, the promotion of aliyah,  tourism, and other forms of assistance to Israel, to youth work, adult education, and the fostering of Jewish culture generally. With its national headquarters situated in Johannesburg, it has officials in the main provincial centers and also an office in Tel Aviv, which carries out many varied functions in Israel itself.

The strength of the Zionist movement lies particularly in its women's and youth sections. Organizations affiliated to the Zionist Federation include: the Women's Zionist Organization of South Africa, comprising hundreds of branches, with a membership of about 17,000 (1969); its fund-raising projects are directed mainly toward the needs in Israel of women and children and land reclamation.

The South African Maccabi Association, with a membership of about 6,000 (1969) promotes sport with Israel and is responsible for South Africa's participation in the *Maccabi Games. The South African Zionist Youth Council has a membership of 6,800 (1966) from the age of eight upward; the largest movements are the Ihud-Habonim (53.2%); Benei Akiva (21.8%); South African Betar (21.8%); and Ha-Shomer ha-Za'ir (3.2%).

In addition, many Zionist Societies and numerous synagogues are affiliated to the Federation.

[Fund raising channels for Herzl Israel]

Fund raising is conducted through various channels, mainly through the biennial Israel United Appeal campaign, of which the South African Jewish Appeal (which supports educational, charitable, and relief projects in Israel and elsewhere) is a partner. Additional funds are raised for the Jewish National Fund, the Magen David Adom, South African Friends of the Hebrew University, the Israel Maritime League, and other causes. The executive council of the Zionist Federation, elected by a biennial conference, is constituted on the basis of a rather intricate formula which provides representation for the recognized Zionist parties (*Poalei Zion, *Revisionists, *Mizrachi), (col. 198)

and also for the "non-party" United Zionist Association and individuals who take a non-ideological position. It also includes representatives of the Women Zionists, Youth, Maccabi, and Medical Councils, and of other bodies within the Zionist movement.

[South African Zionists sponsoring projects in Herzl Israel]

South African Zionism has been noteworthy for its practical character, and the many projects which it has sponsored in Israel, among them the South African Palestine Enterprise (Binyan Corporation Ltd.) 1922, which granted mortgage loans at low interest rates; the African Palestine Investments, which participated in the Palestine Cold Storage and Supply Co.; and the Palestine Shippers Ltd.

The South African Jewish Appeal promoted an important hosing project and the building of the garden village in *Ashkelon. The Women's Zionist Council erected and maintains the Wizo Mothercraft Center. The Union of Jewish Women endowed the first dormitory for women students at the Hebrew University and is responsible for the maintenance of the Parasitology Laboratory. Significant endowments made by individuals to the Hebrew University include the Bialik Chair of Hebrew, the Ruth Ochberg Chair of Agriculture, the Cootcher Museum of Antiquities, the Joffee Marks wing of the Jewish National and University Library, the Silas S. Perry Endowment for Biblical Research, and the Percy A. Leon building in the geology complex.

[1948-1969: South African Jews settling in Herzl Israel]

Comparatively large numbers of South African Jews settled in Israel. By 1948 they numbered about 200, and by the beginning of 1969 the figure was in excess of 6,000. Former South Africans who achieved high distinction in the state are Abba Eban, Michael Comay, Louis (Aryeh) Pincus, Arthur Lourie, and Jack Geri (who for a time was minister of commerce). In periods of crisis many volunteers from South Africa spontaneously left for Israel.> (col. 199)

[[...]]

[Jewish students from South Africa in Herzl Israel for "higher learning"]

An increasing number of students continued their studies at various seats of higher learning in Israel. The Jewish Day Schools send large groups of pupils to Israel for extended courses, and great numbers of tourists visit Israel regularly. Increasing contacts between South African Jewry and Israel have enriched the content of Jewish life and strengthened Jewish consciousness in South Africa.

NON-JEWISH SUPPORT FOR ZIONISM.

[Afrikaans speaking South Africans and South African statesmen support the "Zionist ideal"]

From its earliest days, the Zionist idea elicited goodwill and understanding (col. 199)

from non-Jews in South Africa, especially from the Afrikaans-speaking section. The Old Testament orientation of the latter led them to sympathize with the efforts of Jews to return to the Promised Land. They also saw analogies with their own cultural and national aims in the Jewish struggle for national revival.

South African statesmen of all political parties have declared their support for the Zionist ideal. Jan Christiaan Smuts was a member of the British cabinet in 1917, which issued the Balfour Declaration, and he later supported the Zionist case in various crises. In 1926 the Pact government (Nationalist and Labor Coalition) adopted a formal resolution in support of the establishment of a Jewish National Home. Smuts' United Party government in 1948 gave de facto recognition to the State of Israel. Its successor, the Nationalist government of Daniel François Malan, accorded de jure recognition to the state.

Israel was placed in a preferential position under the country's foreign exchange control regulations. During the 1960s, however, attitudes to Israel underwent a change, because of the statements and votes by Israel representatives at the United Nations, which were critical of South Africa's racial policies.

[[This Israeli statement is not trustworthy: At the same time the Jewish regime of Herzl Free Mason CIA Israel is applying harsh racism against Palestinians with expulsions, destruction of villages, and since the 1970s with desert concentration camps, and with the atomic bomb headed against the Arabs]].

The reactions at times caused considerable tension between the South African government and the Jewish community. When the Israel-Arab war broke out in 1967, however, public sympathy was strongly on Israel's side.> (col. 200)

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

<<         >>

^