The position of the Board of Deputies of South African Jews in relation to national party politics was outlined here today by M. Kuper, chairman of the Board, in reply to an attack by Minister of Justice C.R. ####art, against participants at a political meeting who included, according to Swart, certain Communists and members of the Jewish Board of Deputies, one of them being Mr. Cooper."Asserting that he was taking this opportunity to set forth the Board’s position on politics, Kuper said that the body takes no stand whatever in party politics, which is outside its province. The Board is concerned only with the protection of the Jewish community against discrimination and with interference with the civil rights of Jews, he added.
The position of individual Jews is different, Kuper insisted. It is both the Jew’s right and duty to participate in the political life of his country in line with is own point of view and party affiliation, Kuper declared. He also said that he hoped that Jewish citizens would take their political responsibilities more seriously order to make a full contribution to the progress of South Africa.
"What I have said regarding the individual Jewish citizen applies equally to he freedom of political action of members of the Board of Deputies in their individual capacities," Kuper emphasized. "We pride ourselves that the Board, as a representative body, comprises members supporting every shade of political opinion. We could strongly resent the suggestion that actions of individual members should be interpreted as the official policy of the Board."
Concluding his statement, Kuper revealed that the Cooper mentioned by Minister ##wart was not a member of the Board of Deputies.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
