Text of the letter written by members of the Jewish community to the Union of Jewish Women:
Diane Levine
Chairperson
The Union of Jewish Woman of South Africa
By email
5 August 2014
Dear Ms Levine
WITHDRAWAL OF INVITATION TO STEVEN FRIEDMAN
We have been informed that Professor Steven Friedman's invitation to speak on South African affairs at the Union of Jewish Women on 15 September has been withdrawn. We understand that this is because of his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
If our information is correct this would be an act of grave intolerance. The South African Jewish community has diverse views on Israel. Our community's public intellectuals are for the most part critical of Israel and the occupation of Palestinian territories. If our official bodies take it upon themselves to stop critics of Israel from speaking on community platforms it will impoverish the quality of discussion in the Jewish community and leave its most respected public intellectuals excluded from its activities.
Please can you confirm whether we have been correctly informed. If not (and we hope not) please could you explain why Professor Friedman's invitation was withdrawn. However if our information is correct we trust that you will reconsider this misguided decision.
Yours sincerely
(in alphabetical order)
Kathy Barolsky
Yoni Bass
Graeme Bloch
Jonathan Bloch
Heidi-Jane Esakov
Judy Favish
Marc Feldman
Meghan Finn
Daniel Friedman
Nathan Geffen
Mark Gevisser
Heidi Grunebaum
Joey Hasson
Allan Horwitz
Doron Isaacs
Gilad Isaacs
Avril Joffe
Mitchel Joffe Hunter
Rina King
Barbara Klugman
Dana Labe
Karen Lazar
Brenda Leibowitz
Loran Levy
Daniel Linde
Janet Love
Rosa Manoim
Lily Manoim
Gilbert Marcus
Stephen Marcus Finn
Louis Marcus Finn
Samuel Musker
Saul Musker
Marian Nell
Tehillah Niselow
Ruth Nowosenetz
Laura Phillips
Laurine Platzky
David Sanders
Effie Seftel
Simone Shall
Leonard Shapiro
Janet Shapiro
Jessica Sherman
Sandy Shoolman
Pat Sidley
Carol Steinberg
Brett Steingo
Ilan Strauss
Shereen Usdin
Sheila van der Plank
Jodi Wishnia
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
