South African Jewish immigrants still struggling to be accepted in Australia

Australian Jews,particularly in the eastern suburbs of Sydney have isolated south African Jews,offering very little acceptance with the exclusion of Jewish schools.I am of the opinion that they are intimidated by us maintaining such a high level of Jewishness(Sydney) Sad,as we have so much more to offer. Come home South African Jews to a country that you don't have to spend your life justifying your right to exist there.south Africa made us great and it continues to offer our children infinite potential to grow,as Jews and Real people.Australia is a police state where it's subjects are treated like children in school. Makes you wonder why! I lived there for a while and am very happy to be back living in Cape Town,living in a beautiful home and able to offer my children a complete Jewish life and room to explore life.Fools Paradise?Really,life is too short to spend it in Australia being ordinary and struggle. So many south African Jews want to come home but can't because they have nothing!Great achievement!

This article made me think of Greg Sher, a South African immigrant who integrated with Australia, initially via the public school system, as a proud Jew. Through this experience he developed a love of Australia, its people and every opportunity it gave him. He then integrated with the country at the highest levels by choosing to serve in the Australian Defence Forces to defend people from the same terrorists that call for the destruction of Israel. In the ADF he was accepted, liked and respected by his peers as a proud South African, Australian, Jewish soldier. Here is an ex South African that made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia. May his dear soul rest in peace.

They are not complexed by religious issues. Everyone is welcome and difference levels of observance, without discussion, are accepted. They are all knowlegible about Jewish traditions, even if they are not all fully Orthodox. They are very nice people... In my view, they have the only true Jewish community spirit among Jews in the West. It is a community in an organize manner, and all Jews are welcome, as it should be.

The Kehillat Masada Synagogue in St Ives was established some 25 years ago by expat South Africans. It is part of the Masada College complex and was rebuilt and enlarged in 2003 and has recently been rebuilt again after a devastating fire. The congregation has traditionally comprised of South African migrants but that is changing with families from Israel, the United States, UK etc joining. In addition there is a new generation fo Australian born Jews joining the shul. The refusal of the Eruv in St Ives was cloaked in the aesthetic argument but there's no doubt that the real reason was one of prejudice based on a fear of a change in the demographic of the area and an effective campaign waged by some rednecks in the community. In daily life there are few problems and South African Jews are welcomed by all Australians, Jews and Gentiles alike

As a 5th-generation Aussie Jew who married an ex-pat South African Jew, let me go on record as saying that Dan Goldberg's article is spot on. Whilst playing an important role in the Aussie Jewish community, many former South Africans have also discovered that their attitudes and mannerisms have not been welcomed by other local Jews. IFor all my sins, in the past I was one of those individuals who would make comments about former South Africans. I objected to their manner of speech - their use of phrases that grate on the Aussie ear (Just now, Lekker, Bru, China, Ya, etc.) - as well as their mannerisms (eg going into a store and saying "Give me X"). It was unfair of me to have shown any prejudice to ex-SA's on this basis and I am glad (and lucky!) to have moved on from my prejudices and to have married a former SA. However, I stand as living proof of the attitudes of some Aussie Jews towards SA immigrants, so Mr Goldberg is not far from the truth when he says that there is an undercurrent of antipathy...

I have been living in Australia for 24 Years. I have never experienced any antipathy towards myself or any other ex South African Jews. This article is far away from reality

Sounds like the lot of them: condesce

First let me acknowledge that Jewish South African's were significant players in the anti-apartheid movement (Helen Suzman included). But, given Jewish South Africans were classified as white and given the close relationship that persisted for some years between the minority regime in Pretoria and Israel, how exactly did South Africa's Jews suffer under apartheid and why did they wait for it to fall before emigrating?

The issue has nothing to do with religion, it's a Cultural clash. Yes the South Africans are arrogant, brash and agressive as far as Australians are concerned. There is a saying here that "the second most arrogant people in the world are the Dutch, the most arrogant are the Dutch Afrikaans". "If you are not one of us you don't count" is the attitude Australians find most offensive, it used to be called apartheid!

I am australian and i have no problem with the south african jews at all, who is giving them trouble?I am christian, this is the first i have heard of it seriously

I was born in SA, lived for a number of years in Aus and now live in Israel. I think its important for new people to "integrate" wherever they move, you are after all going to someone elses country, hoping to make it your own, so a certain amount of "blending" is required. Having said all that, Its also important for the receiving country to welcome in new people, understand that they are different, and keep an open mind. Both sides can learn a lot from each other, it just requires patience, an open mind (and ears!) and a willingness to let things change a little on both sides and create a new Jewish culture for Australia. It has happened, and continues to happen on a daily basis here in Israel, there is no reason why it should not happen, and with generally good results, in the galut as well

Let me point out an alternate and contradictory point of view. Those that say they left because they were against apartheid can be judged by the date they left. Anyone leaving before 16 June 1976, turned their backs on apartheid. Anyone leaving after 16th June, left because they saw the writing on the wall, namely, the beginning of the end of Apartheid and the end of their privileged place as white South Africans.

Why didn't they go to Israel?

Dan Goldberg is about 10 years behind the times. There are over 40000 ex South African Jews in Australia who have made this wonderful country their home and enriched it in numerous ways. Professor Rutland's comments have always been divisive and in total contradiction to the enormous contribution made in almost every communal organization and the business world. Not everyone is perfect, but don't paint everyone with the same brush.

I'm an ex South African Jew who has lived in Australia for 27 years and I have never experienced any negative sentiment from Australians and Australian Jews. The North Shore Eruv story is not about anti semitism but purely about the aesthetics of having a number of poles erected.

One could easily say, their plight is kind of like the Arab, Ethiopian, and other ethnic/religious minorities in Israel..