The Jewish population of Cape Town is about sixteen thousand. Most of them are descendants of Eastern European refugees who fled discrimination and pogroms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Jews of South Africa faced few legal obstructions because British law protected freedom of religion. However, in the 20th century there would be instances of anti-Semitism.

Nazi Influences

In the years before WWII, the Nationalist Party, then the official opposition, came under heavy influence of Nazi Germany. Nazi ideology was being pumped into Cape Town and other South African urban centres by German propaganda offices. A “British-Jewish conspiracy” was blamed for all white Afrikaner problems. The Nationalist Party adopted strong anti-Semitic policies to protect “the original white population.” It is one of the ironies of history that in 1947, on the eve of taking power, the party that would introduce apartheid denounced anti-Semitism, and a year later recognised the newly created state of Israel.

The South African Jewish Museum

The story of South African Jewry, going back to the beginning 160 years ago, is told in the South African Jewish Museum. This is one of the most fascinating permanent exhibits in Cape Town. It is partially housed in South Africa’s first synagogue, which was built in 1863. After seeing the Old Synagogue, visitors cross a gangplank to the upper level of a new two-storey building. This is a symbolic re-enactment of the arrival in Cape Town of the first Jewish immigrants in the 1840s. The museum employs multi-media interactive displays, Judaic artifacts, and models. Visitors follow three thematic threads: “Memories” looks at the roots and experiences of the Jewish pioneers; “Realities” describes their integration into life in Cape Town and South Africa; “Dreams” examines the many views about the role of Jews in South Africa, and their place in the international community. Some displays examine anti-Semitism, apartheid, and Nelson Mandela’s relationship with the South African Jewish community.

The Holocaust Exhibition

The Holocaust Exhibition, which opened in 1999, is one of the most remarkable museums in Cape Town. It is house in the Holocaust Centre, in the same complex as the Jewish Museum. The message of this museum is a dramatic one, in a country that has only recently emerged from an era of racial discrimination. Film clips, sound tracks, video, and an intriguing range of displays lead visitors from the ghettos to the death camps. Here you can trace the history of anti-Semitism in Europe right up to Hitler’s Final Solution. The story includes South Africa’s Greyshirts, who were driven by fascist idealism and Nazi propaganda, and who later merged with the National Party. It also tells of the Jewish survivors of the Holocaust who settled in Cape Town. Next door to the Holocaust Exhibition is the Great Synagogue. This is one of Cape Town’s most outstanding religious buildings. It was completed in 1905, and features an impressive dome and two high Baroque towers. You must get permission to see the interior.

Author Bio: Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made Cape Town holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Category: Society
Keywords: Cape Town