Postcolonial Views on Antisemitism: South Africa as an example

hosted by International Institute for Education and Research on Antisemitism (IIBSA) and Amadeu Antonio Foundation (AAS).


With
Karen Milner, South African Jewish Board of Deputies
Klaas Mokgomole, Africans for Peace
Benji Shulman, South African Zionist Federation

The event will focus on antisemitism and the experiences of Jews in South Africa, as well as the role of South Africa as a reference point for global antisemitism. In recent years, antisemitic boycott campaigns have been repeatedly legitimized internationally through the example of South Africa, and particularly its Apartheid system. What does this mean for South Africa and its Jews today? How are antisemitism and racism articulated in South Africa today? What role does the colonial past play in dealing with this issue? How does antisemitism affect Jews in South Africa today?
We want to discuss these and other questions at our online event.

Background
The question of the relationship between postcolonial perspectives and antisemitism has triggered numerous debates. The recurring issue is the extent to which perspectives that locate themselves postcolonially argue antisemitically. We want to turn the question around to look at antisemitism from perspectives of postcolonial contexts. To this end, we are hosting two online events. The speakers will each focus from different angles on the relationship between postcolonial societies and contemporary antisemitism. The first event covered the MENA region. The second event in December 2021 will focus on South Africa.

The event took place as part of the “Education and Action Weeks against Antisemitism 2021”.