An independent, progressive voice in the South African Jewish community — grounded in Jewish values and committed to justice.
The Jewish Democratic Initiative was founded to provide a home for South African Jews who feel that the mainstream Jewish community does not represent their values on key political and social issues.
We believe that Jewish identity and progressive values are not only compatible — they demand each other. Our prophetic tradition, from the Hebrew Bible through to modern Jewish thought, consistently demands that we stand with the oppressed, challenge abuses of power, and pursue justice even when it is uncomfortable.
"Justice, justice you shall pursue."
— Deuteronomy 16:20
This verse has guided Jewish communities for millennia and continues to animate the work of JDI today.
We engage through advocacy, education, community building, and coalition work.
We publish statements on key issues — from Israeli government policy to South African politics — offering a Jewish progressive perspective.
We host webinars, panels, and discussions on topics including the occupation, antisemitism, human rights, and Jewish identity in South Africa.
We work alongside other progressive organisations — Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and secular — who share our commitment to peace and justice.
JDI members write op-eds, give media interviews, and engage publicly to ensure a Jewish progressive voice is heard in the national conversation.
We connect with Jewish and Israeli progressive groups worldwide who share our vision of peace, equality, and an end to occupation.
We encourage members to support organisations working in Israel/Palestine and in South Africa to promote human rights, peace education, and coexistence.
JDI was founded in June 2017, the 50th anniversary of the Occupation, by a group of South African Jews who felt that mainstream communal bodies were not representing their views on the urgent need for a negotiated settlement in Israel-Palestine.
JDI honours the long tradition of SA Jews' involvement in the continuous struggle for human rights and justice. We seek to re-connect our community to these traditions by word and deed.
We align ourselves with the many NGOs and associations, in Israel, Palestine and the Diaspora, that work for reconciliation and peaceful co-existence of Israelis and Palestinians.
JDI's members are a diverse group from across the Jewish community. Our members include prominent community members, we sit on the boards of various Jewish and non-Jewish organisations, we are academics, professionals, volunteers, parents and children. Our membership represents a diverse range of political and religious beliefs at different personal levels of affiliation within the Jewish community.
We are an umbrella organisation embracing a range of different views about Israel and Palestine, but are united in our belief in the power of strengthening and defending democracy to transform societies, specifically South Africa, Israel and Palestine.
The JDI has committees in Cape Town and Johannesburg, which come together to form a national committee. They organise local events independently and national events together. Directors are elected at an annual general meeting at which any signed-up member may vote. There are also ad-hoc subcommittees formed to take on certain tasks. All the directors are volunteers, who receive no pay.