In the early hours of 7 October 2023, the world shifted for Jews everywhere. As Hamas unleashed one of the most brutal terror attacks in Israel’s history, the ripple effects were immediate, reaching not just the kibbutzim of southern Israel, but the synagogues, campuses, and living rooms of South African Jewry. In that moment, and every day since, one institution has worked tirelessly to steady the ship: the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF).
For many, the federation’s work is visible only during rallies, public statements, or commemorative events. But the truth is that much of what it does – especially during wartime – remains behind the scenes. In this climate of relentless media hostility, political antagonism, and growing antisemitism, the federation has operated like a wartime command centre, balancing advocacy, diplomacy, and defence, often without applause and often without the luxury of publicity.
When the South African government announced that it would spend more than R132 million in legal fees to pursue its controversial case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the SAZF spoke up. It condemned the “appalling misuse” of taxpayer funds, and rightly pointed out that this wasn’t a step towards peace but a political attack on the Jewish state. In doing so, the federation did what so few in our country have the courage to do – it stood up for the truth.
That courage was tested again during the recent escalation with Iran. As the Islamic Republic launched more than 300 drones and missiles directly at Israel – an act of naked aggression condemned by much of the international community – South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation effectively took Iran’s side. Instead of condemning this clear act of war, our government justified Iran’s actions as “retaliation”, and failed to acknowledge Israel’s right to defend its civilians. It was a chilling moment of moral inversion. Once again, it was the SAZF that stepped forward, criticising the injustice, standing with Israel, and speaking the truth to hundreds of contacts in the media world.
Throughout these months, and before, the federation has shown up wherever the battle lines are drawn. Whether countering false “apartheid” narratives, or publicly rejecting the dangerous moral equivalence drawn between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas, the SAZF has offered clarity in chaos. Its leadership has spoken at vigils; helped organise solidarity campaigns like #IAmBibas, in memory of the youngest victims and hostages of 7 October; worked with our non-Jewish allies; and reminded our broader community, and our government, that Jewish suffering cannot be ignored, and Jewish self-defence is not a crime.
But the visible work is only part of the story.
What most people don’t see is the federation’s tireless engagement with international Zionist institutions, its co-ordination with allies in government, diplomacy, and the media, or the countless hours spent crafting responses to inflammatory statements from public figures and institutions, in and out of the courtroom. It has worked to ensure that South African Jewish voices are heard at the World Zionist Congress, successfully protecting the six mandates allocated to South Africa – an outsized influence for a small community and a sign of deep international respect for our activism.
Behind closed doors, the SAZF has done the delicate work of holding off crises before they erupt; correcting damaging narratives before they go viral; and quietly supporting those targeted for their supportive views of the world’s only Jewish state. It has helped defend communal institutions from intimidation; addressed rising antisemitism in schools and universities; and monitored concerning rhetoric from public officials. In a year in which antisemitic incidents rose from 67 in 2022 to 182 in just 11 months post 7 October, that vigilance isn’t just important, it’s vital.
In recent months, SAZF leadership has also played a central role in ensuring that Israeli speakers and special guests – some of whom are survivors, first responders, or deeply connected to the events of 7 October – have been welcomed and honoured on South African soil. Working with communal partners, the federation helped arrange speaker tours, educational engagements, and meaningful moments of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel. The hunger for connection, truth, and unity is real, and the federation and its affiliates have consistently risen to meet it.
There is, of course, a reason why some work must remain unspoken. Discretion becomes a necessary and unfortunate shield. But let no-one mistake quietness for absence. The federation isn’t idle, it’s strategic.
At a time when the world is polarised and our own government has positioned itself at odds with Israel, even siding with Israel’s enemies, we cannot afford to take our institutions for granted. The Zionist federation and its affiliates aren’t simply an administrative body, they are a political fortress. They absorb the blows so our community doesn’t have to. They say the things others are too afraid to say. And they do the work – loudly, when possible, silently when necessary – that keeps South African Zionism alive, as is our democratic right.
As the conflict continues, the need for a strong, unified, and unapologetically Zionist federation has never been more urgent. This is the moment to support it, and to ensure that future generations inherit not only a proud history of activism, but an unbroken chain of South Africa Jewish resilience.
