Gavin Morris, the director of the South African Jewish Museum, will give a brief history of Jewish life in Cape Town and provide some insight into contemporary Jewish life in South Africa.
Cape Town was the first "European" city in sub-Saharan Africa. Settled by the Dutch East India company in 1652 as a way-station for the company's ships as they sailed to and from India.
Jews were only allowed to settle in South Africa after the British took over the then colony in 1804. A Kol Nidre service held in 1841 marks the beginnings of Jewish religious and cultural life in Cape Town and South Africa. Today, 180 years later, there are Jewish schools, synagogues, old age homes, over 100 communal organisations and a rich fulfilling Jewish cultural life.
Jews have made Cape Town their home and left an indelible mark on the city in doing so. Despite their relatively small number, they have played an important and disproportionate role in shaping the city and region, whether it be in business, the arts, academia, medicine, law, politics and sport.
Gavin Morris has a BA degree in History and Jewish Civilization and MBA both obtained at the University of Cape Town. Following an early career in film and advertising, he became the director of the SA Jewish Museum in 2012 where he has overseen the development of numerous exhibitions, a digital social history archive and educational and cultural diversity programmes.
