REMINDER: BREAKING DOWN THE WALL
2 November 2014
South African Jewish for a Just Peace (JVJP) and Constitution Hill presents Breaking Down the Wall today 2nd November 2014. It will be a day of live music, art, theatre, film and talks about our concern over human rights violations and the continuing military occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank and Gaza.
The line-up includes an exhibition of cartoons by Jonathan Shapiro aka Zapiro, The Essop Brothers, Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, Haroon Gunn-Salie and Steven Sack’s art works, Kate Liquorish – star of my Name is Rachel Corrie on at the Market Theatre, comedian Deep Fried Man, journalist and filmmaker Tymon Smith, Prof Steven Friedman and Prof Ran Greenstein, Myer Taub and many more. Due to the serious and extensive nature of the art exhibited for this event, JVJP and Constitution Hill have decided to extend the art exhibition taking place at the Ramparts to the 12 November 2014.
Israel’s actions have been such that it has become increasingly difficult to condone them in the name of ‘self- defence’. In the South African Jewish community there has historically been very little space for South African Jews to be critical of Israel’s actions in any way. It has side-lined many important voices and silenced many others who have witnessed the effect of speaking out.
Such an approach has stifled progressive dialogue within the South African Jewish community, promoting a sense of ‘you are either for us or against us’. This kind of thinking is not sustainable in South Africa’s democracy. During apartheid, the arts were able to speak to what was unspeakable. Come to Breaking Down the Wall to stimulate debate and state what it means to be South African and what it means to have a multi-faceted Jewish identity.
Event details:
Date: Today, 2nd November 2014
Time: 11:30 – 20:00
Venue: Women’s Gaol, Constitution Hill, 11 Kotze Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Parking: Level C Basement Parking, Joubert Street Entrance, Constitution Hill
Donations are welcome, and all proceeds will go towards United Nations Relief and Works agency (UNRWA).
For more information please contact:
South African Jewish Voices for a Just Peace (JVJP):
Constitution Hill:
About Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency. It is a national heritage site and home to the Constitutional Court of South Africa. This iconic venue, situated in the Johannesburg CBD, also includes the notorious Old Fort Prison Complex and Number 4 where South Africa’s leading political activists, including Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, were detained.
Apart from its engaging and gripping exhibitions, Constitution Hill is also open to the public for guided tours to the Women’s Gaol museum, Number Four museum, and Old Fort museum, Constitution Hill has become an important platform for Heritage, Education, and Tourism related programmes.
Constitution Hill also offers a variety of multipurpose venues, suitable for conferencing, performances, a large array of events and for public activities and programmes.
About Gauteng Growth and Development Agency
The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, previously known as Blue IQ and GEDA, is a merged agency by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED). The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency is the implementation arm of the GDED and assists the department in leading, facilitating and managing sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth and development in the Gauteng City Region. For more information visit
www.ggda.co.za
About South African Jewish Voices for a Just Peace (JVJP)
South African Jewish Voices for a Just Peace (JVJP) is a group of Jewish South Africans who recognise that the South African Jewish community is not homogenous in its thinking and that there are many different views on Israel. Many Jews in our country are deeply troubled by the actions of Israel and the human rights abuses which are inflicted on Palestinians. Many Jews are afraid to speak about these abuses for fear of being ostracized. As such, JVJP aims to facilitate respectful dialogue and discussion amongst South African Jews.
We support the formation of a society based on equality and respect for human rights for all who live in Israel-Palestine.
