Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Jewish Board Describes Rise of Anti-semitic Agitation in South Africa

August 19, 1927
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The past two years have witnessed an unusual activity on the part of anti-Jewish elements in South Africa, states the South African Jewish Board of Deputies in its Biennial Report submitted to the Seventh Congress of the Board.

“Shortly after the last Congress there began what, judging from its huge dimensions and remarkable unanimity of sentiment and even similarity of language employed, can be described as a huge press campaign against Jewish immigration led by the leading newspapers in this country. Clippings from all over the country reached the Board’s offices containing adverse comments, some more, some less guarded than others, whilst some of the expressions used were extremely violent–all against ‘Lithuanian’ immigration, expressing great alarm at this ‘undesirable’ infiux.” the report stated.

“So greatly was this tide of anti-Semitism increasing in volume and in virulence, that in April, 1926, the Board decided to take advantage of the presence in Johannesburg of the Minister of Justice to draw the attention of the Government to it. The Executive interviewed Mr. Tielman Roos, drawing the Minister’s attention to the manifestations of anti-Semitism in this country, to the fact that by their excitement of the populace against Jewish people they constituted a danger to the preservation of public peace and order, and suggesting that the Sedition Bill then before Parliament should make it illegal for such violent attacks to be made on a Community. The Minister gave the deputation a sympathetic hearing and the Executive came away fully satisfied with the interview.

“A period of comparative quiet followed. But within the last few months a certain newspaper in the Free State has again been indulging in anti-Jewish articles and repeating the trumped-up charge and exploded myth of interested Jewish organizations providing immigrants with financial assistance.”

23 YIDDISH THEATRES TO OPEN NEXT SEASON

Twenty-three Yiddish theatres will function in New York and other American cities during the coming season, according to an annuncement of Rubin Guskin, manager of the Yiddish Actors’ Club. Two hundred and eighty actors will be engaged by these theatres.

The club has a membership of 345.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement