| 1 |
JewishGen Southern Africa SIG |
JewishGen |
This Southern Africa Special Interest Group page is a portal to basic information research, as well as a research community focused on the subject. It also provides access to their journal. |
| 2 |
Kaplan Centre archives |
Kaplan Centre, UCT |
This is one of the largest collections of historical material relating to Jewish life in South Africa. Contains personal papers as well as congregational and organisational records. Other resources are also listed here. |
| 3 |
South African Jewish Rootsbank |
Kaplan Centre, UCT |
A comprehensive database of records and information relating to Jewish immigration to and Jewish life in South Africa. Searchable by births, cemeteries, communities, congregations, marriages, deaths, military records, naturalisations, societies, shipping manifests, and volunteers in Israel. |
| 4 |
South African Jewish Museum archives |
South African Jewish Museum (SAJM) |
An online collection that captures the rich history of South African Jewry in thousands of photographs, films, voice recordings, videos and documents that have been gathered from Jewish families around southern Africa and the world. |
| 5 |
Jewish life in South African country communities |
South African Friends of Beit Hatefutsoth |
After 30 years of research, six regional books have been published and the seventh and final one is in progress, thus covering the whole country. Over 1550 places, including towns, villages, railway sidings and farms have been documented. Books and information available from museum@beyachad.co.za. List of places covered. |
| 6 |
South African Jewry Yearbooks of 1929 and 1967-8 |
Jeremy Hodes |
The South African Jewish yearbooks of 1929 and of 1967-68 have been expertly transcribed and digitised by Dr Jeremy Hodes. There are 3204 biographies (779 from 1929 and 2,425 from 1967/8) and several longer articles. Every word in the biographies and articles is searchable through the search box. They provide an invaluable snapshot – forever frozen in time – of South African Jewry and its immense contribution to South African life. |
| 7 |
Bibliography of South African Jewry |
Veronica Belling |
The objective of this bibliography is to provide the researcher with a comprehensive guide to the South African Jewish experience, as reflected in writings by and about South African Jews and Judaism. |
| 8 |
South African Jewish Cookbook Project |
Gavin Beinart-Smollan |
Dozens of digitised cookbooks reveal far more than simply how to cook. South African Jewish women expressed their aspirations, formulated Jewish identity and practice, and carved out a place for themselves as women in the community and in their homes. |
| 9 |
Compilations of David Solly Sandler |
David Solly Sandler |
Sandler has compiled an enormous number of memoirs, essays and articles on Jewish life in South Africa and its Litvak heritage. Starting with the orphans in Arcadia (Johannesburg), the Ochberg Orphans, Oranjia (Cape Town) and the Pinsker Orphans, the histories/memories of about 400 children take us back to the horrors in Eastern Europe between the world wars. Books are obtainable from Solly via email. |
| 10 |
Several Jewish-related articles |
South African History Online (SAHO) |
Articles on antisemitism, on activists and individuals: Percy Yutar, Issie Maisels, Adrian Leftwich, Solly Sachs, Jennifer Davis, Harry Heinz Schwarz, Vera Ponnen. |
| 11 |
The YIVO Encyclopaedia of Jews in Eastern Europe |
YIVO |
This encyclopaedia provides the most complete picture of the history and culture of Jews in Eastern Europe from the beginnings of their settlement in the region to the present. It makes accurate, reliable, scholarly information about East European Jewish life accessible to everyone. |
| 12 |
The Jacob Gitlin Library, Cape Town |
Jacob Gitlin Library |
Both a lending library with current books, CDs and DVDs of Jewish interest and also a valuable resource and research centre with archival material and reference books.
The entire collection can be searched on the online data base. |
| 13 |
South African Jewish Board of Deputies Report, 1933-1935 |
South African Jewish Board of Deputies |
Includes executive committee members, constituent bodies, finance, anti-Jewish activities, deputations to the government, immigration, naturalisation, education, visits to constituents, etc. |
| 14 |
South African Jewish American Community (SAJAC) |
South African Jewish American Community |
Established in San Diego in 1987 to enjoy the richness, vibrancy, and spirit of their South African heritage, while integrating into their new homes in the Jewish American community. Nearly 400 people attended their first braai. They hold events and Zoom presentations and publish an annual journal. |
| 15 |
The Making of a South African Jewish Community on the Rand |
Riva Krut (2024) in Jewish Historical Studies, 55 |
New immigrants, imperialism and racism, leadership including Jewish Board of Deputies, clubrooms and the commercial world, prostitutes and Peruvians. |
