About South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded on the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures, languages, and religions. Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the constitution's recognition of 11 official languages, which is among the highest number of any country in the world. The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état, and regular elections have been held for almost a century. However, the vast majority of black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994. During the 20th century, the black majority sought to recover its rights from the dominant white minority, with this struggle playing a large role in the country's recent history and politics. South Africa has a generally temperate climate, due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides. The extreme southwest has a climate remarkably similar to that of the Mediterranean with wet winters and hot, dry summers. South Africa has many things for the tourist to do both in the cities and in the surrounding regions from city tours to big game tours. There are many beautiful beaches and landscapes to enjoy as well.
Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in South Africa
The great majority of South African Jews trace their origins back to Lithuanian immigrants who arrived between the end of the 19th century and 1930. The two largest centers are Johannesburg (50,000) and Cape Town (17,000). There are many smaller communities, including Durban (2,700), Pretoria (1,500), and Port Elizabeth (1,200). Since 1970 some 50,000 Jews have left the country, but approximately 10,000 Israelis have moved to South Africa. Only at the beginning of the 19th century, when freedom of religion was introduced, were Jews able to come to South Africa legally. At that time, small numbers of Jews arrived from Britain and Germany, and the first Hebrew congregation was established in Cape Town in 1841. In the 1880s, large numbers of Jews began to arrive from Lithuania, and their contributions changed the character of the community. Most of the community is religiously traditional, and some 80% are affiliated with Orthodox synagogues, of which there are 65 in the country. About 10% are affiliated with the Progressive movement and a smaller number with the Masorati (Conservative) movement. Kosher food is widely available, and there are several kosher restaurants and hotels. There are Jewish museums in Johannesburg and Cape Town (the latter housed in the beautiful Gardens Synagogue, built in 1849) and several Jewish libraries.
Check out our blog post,
Kosher Safaris in South Africa: A Unique and Unforgettable Adventure, for more information about kosher safaris in South Africa.
