Jewish Democratic Initiative
@jdi-sa.bsky.social
Building a home for South African Jews.
Pro-Peace, Pro-Democracy.
Striving for free and just societies in 🇿🇦🇮🇱🇵🇸.
Pro-Peace, Pro-Democracy.
Striving for free and just societies in 🇿🇦🇮🇱🇵🇸.
The mass starvation of an entire population of Palestinians cannot save them. Our safety cannot be found through violence and destruction; it can only be found through justice.
March 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The mass starvation of an entire population of Palestinians cannot save them. Our safety cannot be found through violence and destruction; it can only be found through justice.
The part of the story we usually brush over is when, in the name of protecting our own people, another group is brutally murdered. So, as ever, we are back to discussing Gaza. The remaining hostages, living under brutal conditions, can only be brought home through negotiations.
March 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The part of the story we usually brush over is when, in the name of protecting our own people, another group is brutally murdered. So, as ever, we are back to discussing Gaza. The remaining hostages, living under brutal conditions, can only be brought home through negotiations.
Purim is a holiday marked with great joy, full of costumes and treats.
This year however, the joy is harder to summon, as we are forced to reflect not just on our peoples’ survival, as recounted in the Megillah, but on what happens after.
This year however, the joy is harder to summon, as we are forced to reflect not just on our peoples’ survival, as recounted in the Megillah, but on what happens after.
March 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Purim is a holiday marked with great joy, full of costumes and treats.
This year however, the joy is harder to summon, as we are forced to reflect not just on our peoples’ survival, as recounted in the Megillah, but on what happens after.
This year however, the joy is harder to summon, as we are forced to reflect not just on our peoples’ survival, as recounted in the Megillah, but on what happens after.
even though the Chief Rabbi himself, in the video, quoted the Talmud saying that leaders must listen to criticism. He said it in relation to President Cyril Ramaphosa, but clearly he himself is sheltered from criticism from within the community.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
even though the Chief Rabbi himself, in the video, quoted the Talmud saying that leaders must listen to criticism. He said it in relation to President Cyril Ramaphosa, but clearly he himself is sheltered from criticism from within the community.
jdi_movement
5m
The Jewish Report declined to run this piece on the grounds that “we cannot take him [the Chief Rabbi] on publicly”. Editor Peta Krost said it was “too divisive in an already divided community”,
5m
The Jewish Report declined to run this piece on the grounds that “we cannot take him [the Chief Rabbi] on publicly”. Editor Peta Krost said it was “too divisive in an already divided community”,
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
jdi_movement
5m
The Jewish Report declined to run this piece on the grounds that “we cannot take him [the Chief Rabbi] on publicly”. Editor Peta Krost said it was “too divisive in an already divided community”,
5m
The Jewish Report declined to run this piece on the grounds that “we cannot take him [the Chief Rabbi] on publicly”. Editor Peta Krost said it was “too divisive in an already divided community”,
His rejection of diversity and inclusion? His hatred for trans people and migrants (at least those who are not white)? His famously unethical business practices? His cynical use of religion?
Or maybe it is just his support for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
Or maybe it is just his support for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
His rejection of diversity and inclusion? His hatred for trans people and migrants (at least those who are not white)? His famously unethical business practices? His cynical use of religion?
Or maybe it is just his support for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
Or maybe it is just his support for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.
His treatment of women? The way he mocks the weak and disabled? His abuse of state power to chase down his rivals? His pursuit of media that criticizes him? His and his cabinet’s rejection of climate change, science and modern medicine?
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
His treatment of women? The way he mocks the weak and disabled? His abuse of state power to chase down his rivals? His pursuit of media that criticizes him? His and his cabinet’s rejection of climate change, science and modern medicine?
jdi_movement
4m
If we followed the likes of President Trump, he suggests, we would also be highly successful. Which part of Trump’s behavior would you have us mimic, Chief Rabbi?
4m
If we followed the likes of President Trump, he suggests, we would also be highly successful. Which part of Trump’s behavior would you have us mimic, Chief Rabbi?
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
jdi_movement
4m
If we followed the likes of President Trump, he suggests, we would also be highly successful. Which part of Trump’s behavior would you have us mimic, Chief Rabbi?
4m
If we followed the likes of President Trump, he suggests, we would also be highly successful. Which part of Trump’s behavior would you have us mimic, Chief Rabbi?
Rabbi Goldstein criticizes South Africa’s relationship with the “murderous terrorist state” of Iran. But he does not criticize President Trumps’ switch from an alliance with the democracies of Europe to the tyranny of Russia, nor what this means for democracies such as our own.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Rabbi Goldstein criticizes South Africa’s relationship with the “murderous terrorist state” of Iran. But he does not criticize President Trumps’ switch from an alliance with the democracies of Europe to the tyranny of Russia, nor what this means for democracies such as our own.
How can he presume to speak on behalf of black South African land rights, if he does not care for Palestinian land rights?
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
How can he presume to speak on behalf of black South African land rights, if he does not care for Palestinian land rights?
If he is so opposed to the expropriation of land without compensation, why does he not apply this to the ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land and destruction of Palestinian homes on the West Bank and East Jerusalem?
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
If he is so opposed to the expropriation of land without compensation, why does he not apply this to the ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land and destruction of Palestinian homes on the West Bank and East Jerusalem?
Rabbi Goldstein is very critical of the ANC government and he is quite entitled to be so. But if he is to do it with any credibility, he needs to find a way out of his own contradictions.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Rabbi Goldstein is very critical of the ANC government and he is quite entitled to be so. But if he is to do it with any credibility, he needs to find a way out of his own contradictions.
Something is very wrong when a Chief Rabbi sings the praises of political and business figures without mentioning their neo-Nazi affiliations. The Jewish community’s religious leadership has abandoned its moral compass and is floundering in a morass of confusion and contradiction.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Something is very wrong when a Chief Rabbi sings the praises of political and business figures without mentioning their neo-Nazi affiliations. The Jewish community’s religious leadership has abandoned its moral compass and is floundering in a morass of confusion and contradiction.
He called them “highly successful” and Musk “one of the greatest business creators of all time”, without any qualification or recognition that they might have values, beliefs and friends that should raise the eyebrows of any caring human being, let alone a Jewish communal leader.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
He called them “highly successful” and Musk “one of the greatest business creators of all time”, without any qualification or recognition that they might have values, beliefs and friends that should raise the eyebrows of any caring human being, let alone a Jewish communal leader.
This week, South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein sided with these two friends of white supremacists. “Thank you, President Trump,” he said in a video statement. Sounding more like an amateur economist than a serious spiritual leader, Rabbi Goldstein thanked them for caring for South Africa.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
This week, South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein sided with these two friends of white supremacists. “Thank you, President Trump,” he said in a video statement. Sounding more like an amateur economist than a serious spiritual leader, Rabbi Goldstein thanked them for caring for South Africa.
Again this is in keeping with other expressions of his view, where he has dined with, praised and defended neo-Nazis.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Again this is in keeping with other expressions of his view, where he has dined with, praised and defended neo-Nazis.
Trump made it clear that his concern was racially based: he was worried about and offered refuge to Afrikaners, one of the wealthiest demographics in the country, and showed zero concern for the majority of impoverished South Africans.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Trump made it clear that his concern was racially based: he was worried about and offered refuge to Afrikaners, one of the wealthiest demographics in the country, and showed zero concern for the majority of impoverished South Africans.
Trump said white South Africans were threatened with expropriation without compensation of their assets, even though there are no examples of this happening and the new law goes no further than US law on the power of the state to seize land, and is subject to judicial oversight and review.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Trump said white South Africans were threatened with expropriation without compensation of their assets, even though there are no examples of this happening and the new law goes no further than US law on the power of the state to seize land, and is subject to judicial oversight and review.
In early February, Donald Trump relied on blatant disinformation to criticize South Africa and justify action against our government.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
In early February, Donald Trump relied on blatant disinformation to criticize South Africa and justify action against our government.
In a world where neo-Nazi politics – targeting migrants and trans people – has shifted from the periphery to the centre, Musk and Trump have been prime movers.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
In a world where neo-Nazi politics – targeting migrants and trans people – has shifted from the periphery to the centre, Musk and Trump have been prime movers.
It was consistent with other expressions of his views. He also gave his support to the far-rightwing Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), which has neo-Nazi links, and the far-rightwing Reform Party in Britain.
February 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM
It was consistent with other expressions of his views. He also gave his support to the far-rightwing Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), which has neo-Nazi links, and the far-rightwing Reform Party in Britain.
The Jewish Democratic Initiative and our members extend our sincere condolences to Imam Muhsin’s family, colleagues, and faith community.
February 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The Jewish Democratic Initiative and our members extend our sincere condolences to Imam Muhsin’s family, colleagues, and faith community.