A Tale of Harmless Mutiny

I've been following with interest a story that has been bubbling under in the Community. A story of a young man, named Daniel (aka the Danimal), who so happens to be my friend and intellectual ally. Daniel has written an article for a Columbia University Journal on Jewish Life called "The beloved country: Minority Politics and South African Jewry", which can be found at the following address: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/current/articles/summer2008/greenberg.html.

Without getting into a detailed analysis of the article, suffice it to say, that the piece focuses on the current South African climate and the implications that issues like Crime, Hiv/Aids and Zimbabwe have for South African Jewry. However, it also lays some blame on the role, or lack thereof, that the Jewish Board of Deputies has played, with their major focus, as Dan argues, being on the protection and sustainability of the Jewish Community within this climate, as opposed to leading Jewry towards working to the greater good of South African Society. Daniel says that a silent acceptance of Government policy, and a general fear of what involvement means for the well being of South African Jewry, is a key factor in South Africa being a potentially inhospitable country for Jews.

What is most interesting about this article is the response that it has garnered. The article has recieved 4000 hits, and responses have been recieved from, ex and current South African, who for the most part have engaged in a civil manner with Daniel's argument. However, most compelling is the response that Daniel's article has recieved from the Board itself. The one form of response that I will mention in this article, and which rang alarm bells for me, is that at a recent lecture launching a historical picture book on South African Jewry, Daniel Greenberg's name was mentioned by a representative of the board in the context of being one of those who criticise the board. Daniel, who is a 20 year old student at Columbia University in New York, was signalled in public as an outspoken critic of the work that the board does. For those look to the leadership of the Board for direction, the member's statement immediately shapes Dan into the enemy, the outsider, for having a view that is contrary and different to the idea that the Board has done a century of sterling work in securing the community in the national context.

I will concede that the board has done well in turning Johannesburg into a thriving centre of Jewish orthodoxy, that they have done much to ensure the continued wealth and security of the community. However, I would like to share Daniel's opinion that the board has not done enough to work towards the greater benefit of South African society. The Board has not done enough to mobilise Jewry towards making a marked difference in society, and has not done enough to mobilise rich Jewish businessman to invest their money in effective service delivery to the poor as opposed to investing in religious organisations and Jewish outreach programs. True, the board has responded to short term problems such as the Boxing Day Tsunami and Xenophobic Violence, but in the lack of any other considered contribution to South Africa, how can this be seen as anything more than a large scale public relations exercise?

In fact, the Board's obession with public relations is the only thing they are really good at. They are superb at scouring newspapers, websites and e-mails for anything that dare offer an alternative view or criticism, and use underhanded, humiliating tactics to alienate their own, especially future gems like Daniel Greenberg, who is one of the 3 founding editors of "Consilience", the first ever Sustainable Development journal to ever appear in the American college circuit and has the backing of renowned economists like Jeffrey Sachs and others.

So, here I am - a 23 year old Jewish change management consultant, putting my voice and support behind a 20 year old Jewish student at Columbia University, standing in opposition to a Communal Leadership that wishes to alienate those who offer an alternative view, through tactics of gossip and public humiliation. Call me a pariah, call me a Board Basher, gossip about me, speak about me in public, do what you will - I will use my voice to declare that I want to live in a community that engages with the issues of its constituents in a mature and well thought out manner, that reflects on criticism, does what it can to address social ills, and isn't obsessed solely with Public Relations.

Why? Because Daniel rocks....and y'all should recognise.