A safe pair of hands for SA Jewry!


I had an extensive discussion over breakfast with the SA Jewish Board of Deputies’ new chairman Mary Kluk this week. New being a relative term as she has been at the helm for about four months and has already begun stamping her leadership style and authority on the organization.

While Mary’s reputation preceded her and I had high expectations, nothing could have prepared me for the confidence I would be left with after my time with the new steward of SA communal Jewry.

Mary and I were able to clear the air on a number of important issues, and we are both looking forward to a fruitful and open relationship.

I have a very strong suspicion that, if they exist, those “patterns of behaviour” so often referred to by those who have felt aggrieved by actions of the Board may well be on the way to becoming history.

Mary was elected chair at the Board’s biennial conference last year after serving as vice-chair to Zev Krengel, who had to stand down having served two terms. Zev was elected president. I’m pretty certain that few among SA Jewry could not have heard somewhere along the line that this was a ‘convenience’ and that the Board would in future be run out of the president’s office.

I have news for everyone: nothing could be further from the truth!

Over the past few months I have observed Mary’s activities – that’s my job. Her handling of certain issues, from tiny (like visiting small country communities) to huge (like the Russell Tribunal) have reflected her stamp and style.

While clear that she has the greatest respect for her predecessors and is not shy to seek their advice, Mary is just as clear that she has her own ideas and will run the Board in her own style. I get the very strong feeling that we can expect “business as usual” to very soon become a thing of the past.

“How?” must be the burning question on the mind of Shtetlers?

What struck me as one of the overwhelming differences in Mary’s style is that words like “open, transparent and inclusive” come into her conversation regularly. She says that she can only do the best she can (which sounds pretty good to me) and acknowledges that she will make some mistakes along the way.

When dealing with issues that she feels she may have a need to consult about, she plans to consult. She stresses that she believes that publically appointed officials are open to fair criticism from the community.

I get the feeling that one of Mary Kluk’s biggest changes in the style of the Board, is that she believes that she has been chosen to run the affairs of the community “with” the community – as against the widely-held view that it has for many years been run “for” the community. This would be a fundamental shift.

Make no mistake, Mary Kluk is no pushover. She is a no-nonsense leader who is going to want things done her way. And, in her dealings with government and anti-Semites – two of the key functions of the Board - I believe she will be just as tough. This can be illustrated by the fact that she assured me that they have the Bongani Masuku anti-Semitism matter in hand.

Mary also seems to want to have open communications with the community and we have assured her of our ongoing support as a vehicle towards this end – as we always have.

Mary clearly understands that there are differing opinions in the community. I felt that she sees this as a strength within the community, and not a weakness. I think she will be more tolerant of dissenting voices than her predecessors.

As each month rolls by, one gets the sense that the Board’s professional staff and the directors of their various provincial and national structures are also encountering this new way of doing things.

I should stress that this was a working breakfast and not an interview. These are purely my impressions and not Mary’s statements.

I look forward to doing a formal interview with Durban-based Mary on her next regular visit to Joburg.

Mary seems to want to hear what the community feels about things and we are going to offer to create a space where Shtetlers can post questions and statements that Mary can respond to as she has time.