Speaking back to power on Women’s Day

Formal response to the SABJD

Dear Mr Bloch,

This is a formal response to your unsolicited email dated 25th July 2025.

The Open Mosque, like other Islamic houses of worship in South Africa, has been seared by the bitter legacy of colonialism, slavery and apartheid. These historic tribulations are entrenched in the collective memory. It reminds us that liberty – all human freedoms – should be cherished. At the Open Mosque, this ingrained tradition of just struggle against all forms of tyranny, persecution and iniquity – be it Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Hindu or otherwise – is embedded in the Muslim psyche.

After over three centuries of systemic racism and injustice as well as purposeful subjugation and humiliation, Cape Muslims have acquired a resolute ‘never again’ mentality in confronting all types of racism and bigotry, here and abroad. For most Muslims, the establishment of a Jewish ethnic state in Palestine built upon colonised, confiscated and conquered territory is sadly reminiscent of apartheid South Africa, where the indigenous inhabitants were either exterminated or expelled, to become subservient to European overlords. Similarly, to justify their own creation of Israel, Zionist leaders peddled the ludicrous legend of ‘a land without a people for a people without a land’. That slogan was a calculated, palpable falsehood. [For details, refer to noted Israeli scholars like Ilan Pappe, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine; Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World; Benny Morris, The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem; Tom Segev, One Palestine: Jews and Arabs under the British Mandate.]

So, it is hardly surprising that ever since its inception, the trailblazing Open Mosque has not sanctioned or endorsed any type of ethnic cleansing, racial supremacism or institutionalised discrimination. Moreover, it has never acquiesced to any pressure, intimidation or bullying from whatever quarter, whether from the despotic Muslim Judicial Council or from any other agency.

Therefore, for the SAJBD to peremptorily intervene in the internal affairs of the Open Mosque is not only intemperate but also impudent. Has the Open Mosque ever taken umbrage at your independent body’s selection of invited guests and speakers (however problematic and/or distasteful)? No! It upholds the prerogative that each religious community or social group has the constitutional mandate to govern itself and operate within the ambit South African legislation.

Whenever the Open Mosque hosts public events, it always invites individuals of different beliefs and backgrounds without reference or consultation with their religious associations or places of worship. These invitees are welcomed in their personal capacity and speak as individuals from their own perspectives.

The Open Mosque’s exceptional interfaith forum on Women’s Day to discuss gender-based violence showcases the widest spectrum of South Africa’s religions on 9th August. This extraordinary effort brings together all sectors of society to boldly address GBV, one of the most pressing problems facing the country. It is unfortunate that this year, this occasion falls on Saturday, but that is the officially designated public holiday (which the Open Mosque heeds). Next year, Women’s Day will be held on Sunday and the year after, it will be celebrated on Monday.

In view of the continuing carnage in Gaza and egregious Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank, the Open Mosque’s Executive took the principled decision not to platform anyone who one-sidedly dismisses, justifies, equates or belittles the escalating daily atrocities in the Holy Land. The Jewish women that were approached to participate in our interfaith forum were unfortunately uncritically supportive of Netanyahu’s ultra-conservative Israeli government and therefore not suitable for the non-racist, pro-justice Open Mosque. Incidentally, this is the exact rationale why the Open Mosque also consciously excludes all Muslims fanatics, Hindutva apologists, Christian zealots, Black racists and other fascists from speaking at the Open Mosque. Since Megan Choritz is a staunch advocate for inalienable Palestinian human rights, she was carefully chosen to present the non-Zionist point of view on this burning subject that bedevils gender relations in South Africa.

The Open Mosque is proud of its unique track record in promoting universal justice and its implacable opposition to all forms of racism, chauvinism and segregation, both at home and abroad. It is especially scathing of venal Islamic fundamentalism as well as the toxic religious extremism of Wahhabi, Salafi, al-Qaida, Taliban, Hamas and other misguided militants who subvert authentic Islam. The Open Mosque distinguishes what is true religion (Islam) and what is theological opportunism (Islamic fanaticism). So, should devout Jews also not differentiate between Judaism and Zionism?

Contrary to what apologists expediently assert, the two are not synonymous. The former is a respected noble creed while the latter is a contested political ideology. Ordinary non-Zionists Jews globally are recoiling in ever growing numbers from this biased, controversial (mis)representation of Jewish history and its insidious propaganda, first initiated by Herzl and then implemented by his successors.

The Open Mosque is familiar with the findings of the Dinah Project and unequivocally condemns the bloodshed and barbarism inflicted by Hamas militias on 7th October 2025. But it is duplicitous and disingenuous for anyone to claim that simply that assault alone triggered the current conflagration. Any knowledgeable impartial observer knows that it originated with the Nakba in 1948 when Zionist contingents forcibly removed 750,000 Palestinian Muslims and Christians from their ancestral towns and villages to establish Israel. Until the legitimate aspirations of these (now millions) displaced refugees are adequately addressed, there will regrettably be no end to hostilities in the Holy Land.

Since neither the Open Mosque nor the SABJD are in the trenches of this terrible 77-year conflict, will it not be more productive to focus on domestic matters instead of rendering partisan support to just one side? In our sermons, statements and seminars, the Open Mosque has condemned Hamas’s brutal onslaught and kidnapping of innocent captives. Similarly, can the SABJD disassociate itself from the horrendous slaughter, suffering and starvation of uninvolved civilians in Gaza? Will it openly disavow the increasingly frenzied Zionist mobs ‘creating facts on the ground’ with their illegal seizures of Palestinian lands and their unilateral expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank in wilful defiance of international law?

Furthermore, in the pursuit of impartiality and objectivity, would it not be illuminating for the SABJD to digest the latest scholarly analyses of two prominent Israeli human rights organisations? B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, have both scrupulously documented and courageously characterised the far-right Likud-led government’s orchestrated depravity in Gaza as genocide. Undoubtedly, the incendiary ‘extermination’ remarks uttered by Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and many other hard-line rightwingers only serves to confirm the hidden agenda of the Israeli leadership.

B’Tselem

https://www.btselem.org/…/202507_our_genocide_eng.pdf

‘The [88-page] review presented in this report leaves no room for doubt: since October 2023, the Israeli regime has been responsible for carrying out genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip’.

Physicians for Human Rights – Israel

https://www.phr.org.il/…/Genocide-in-Gaza-PHRI-English.pdf

‘Taken together, the facts and arguments presented [in this 65-page report] demonstrate that Israel’s conduct satisfies three key acts enumerated in Article II of the Genocide Convention …. [This report] makes clear that Israel’s campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide under international law’.

Despite these unambiguous damnations of official Israeli policy in the Holy Land by Jewish organisations, the Open Mosque does not tar all Jews with the Zionist brush. Indeed, it has an enviable reputation of working collaboratively with all faiths – including local Jews – for the ultimate good of South African society. However, the Open Mosque will not be brow-beaten, manipulated or pressurised by the SABJD (or anyone else) to perpetuate pernicious myths that all Jews are Zionists; or the fiction that Zionism is the only game in town for Jews; or the risible notion that Ashkenazi-engineered Zionism is the exclusive option for worldwide Jewry. Or that anti-Zionism is automatically anti-Semitism. No, incontrovertible historical texts and irrefutable Judaic teachings clearly prove the indisputable alternative reality: That not all Jews are Zionists.

So, for these compelling reasons, the Open Mosque will not de-select Megan Choritz as the nominated Jewish panellist from its Women’s Day interfaith forum. It resents any infringement to its autonomy and will proceed with the event as advertised (see attached flyer). However, the Open Mosque is prepared to cooperate with the SABJD and other Jews in tangible future efforts to improve the lives of all impoverished South Africans.

It is indeed a grave pity that yourselves, as fellow South Africans, have opted to be a voice for Israel instead of a voice for G-d and the oppressed. We pray and wish for the well-being of the entire population of the Holy Land and look forward to the day when it shall be once again be a liberated place of peace, security, equality and tolerance for everyone – Jews, Christians, Muslims and others – as it was for over a millennium before the advent of European political Zionism in the early 20th century.

Shalom / Salaam,

Dr T Hargey

President

The Open Mosque
From Daniel Bloch
To secretary@theopenmosque.org.za
Cc info@theopenmosque.org.za
Date 2025-07-25 12:47

Dear Dr Hargey

I hope this message finds you well.

The Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) is a 121-year-old, democratically elected organisation representing the Jewish community in the Western Cape. When events engage with issues affecting our community, it is essential that appropriate and representative Jewish voices are included.

We are therefore disappointed that your upcoming Women’s Day event at The Open Mosque is scheduled for Saturday, 8 August – the Jewish Sabbath. This timing unfortunately excludes observant Jewish community members, including representatives from the Cape SAJBD, the Union of Jewish Women, and other key organisations, from participating. These are critical conversations, and we respectfully request that future events be scheduled at times that allow for broader and more inclusive participation.

We are also concerned by the inclusion of Megan Choritz as a speaker at this event. Ms Choritz is affiliated with South African Jews for a Free Palestine, an organisation that has repeatedly failed to unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 – including well-documented acts of sexual violence, mutilation, and murder targeting Israeli and Jewish women. Given Hamas’s continued record of systemic oppression of women in Gaza, we believe that Ms Choritz’s inclusion is inappropriate for a forum focused on sexual violence against women, especially when presented as offering a Jewish perspective.

As the facilitators for this serious discussion, does the Open Mosque condemn the actions of Hamas on October 7th– we ask as we have not seen anything online or in the media. The Cape SAJBD has issued countless statements condemning the loss of life on both sides, Israeli, Palestinian and other foreign nationals.

We respectfully ask how the decision to include Ms Choritz was made, and whether any consultation took place with representative Jewish women’s organisations. We strongly believe that platforms addressing such sensitive issues should include voices that reflect the broader Jewish community’s perspective.

For your information, I am attaching a link to the Dinah Project Report, which documents the atrocities committed against Israeli and Jewish women on October 7th. Dinah Project Report

Thank you for your attention to these concerns. We look forward to your response and the possibility of working together more inclusively in future.