The expectation would be that conversation with the chair of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies would be about anti-Semitism, the future of the Jewish state and the Palestinian question. These are, of course, the grave and pressing issues that concern the diaspora of Jews.
But, while this might be so, there is also the wave of confidence and joy that has gripped the South African imagination in the past few weeks. The Springboks came home from France victorious and the vagaries of the oval ball game have taken precedence – at least for an afternoon of talking to a journalist.
While the fundamental issues of identity, protection and defence of matters Jewish have been around since biblical times, one afternoon won’t exactly alter the course of history. Besides, it is not every day that South African rugby ignites wild pleasure and righteous indignation in less than a week.
Zev Krengel (35) is the youngest chair of the Jewish Board of Deputies and happens to be as passionate about rugby as he is about South Africa and about the right of the state of Israel to exist – these passions line up in no particular order.
It is no wonder that a framed Springbok jersey, signed by all the members of what rugby writer Andy Capostagno will soon call the blessed class of 2007, ranks among his most prized possessions.
We meet at his spice company in the southeast of Johannesburg and the framed jersey is still on the floor, but it is surely a matter of time before it finds pride of place beside Kevin James’s famous picture of Joel Stransky’s 1995 World Cup winning drop goal.
Rugby, in turns out, is a perfect metaphor for South Africans’ relationships with one another and their country. This is illustrated by how rugby officialdom treated the world championship coach, Jake White.
”South Africans are their own worst enemies. We cannot stop being critical of ourselves. We are just 13 years old and we had an ugly birth, but we don’t appreciate our achievements. We like to trip ourselves up. It is as if we cannot enjoy our own success,” Krengel says.
It is in this regard that Krengel believes South Africa could learn a few lessons from the Jews.
”Jewish people have always been passionate about making living heroes – from Moses to David Ben-Gurion. We don’t do enough of that [record living heroes] in South Africa.
”If we do not appreciate where we come from and what we have, we might not fully appreciate where we are. You might not fully appreciate democracy if you do not appreciate our past.”
For Krengel, it is a past that includes participating in the peace accords in the conflict-riddled East Rand townships of Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus.
Krengel is dismissive of the repeated line that organised South African Jewry is not critical enough of Israel and shows blind loyalty to the Jewish state.
”What we are passionate about is the right of Israel as a Jewish state to exist. That is non-negotiable. We were given Israel by the United Nations and it is the only country where we can show our lineage since the time of Abraham.
”Our loyalty is to the state. We do not have a left-wing or right-wing government. That is for the people of Israel to do. Israel is 60 years old – which is a baby [in terms of statehood], but it has an entrenched democracy. Israel’s self-criticism is very encouraging.”
Israel cannot be wished away, he says, but dialogue with Muslim and pro-Palestinian state lobbyists is the way to go, provided there is mutual respect and acceptance.
”When Mahmood Abbas was here, he asked to meet us and we met him. We were more comfortable meeting with him than many others in the Muslim community here and abroad who want to deligitimise the state of Israel’s right to exist,” Krengel states.
Ultimately, participating in the search for peace and dialogue, the charity work the board does and making himself available for the leadership of one of South Africa’s most influential communities, is an act of faith, he says. ”There is an old saying that God’s greatest gift to you is your life. What you do with it could be a gift to him.”