Mount Zion Hosting South African Suzman Exhibit

The exhibit will be on display in July

Reception: Tuesday, July 17, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
There will be a reception for the exhibit with remarks from Steve Hunegs, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) and Judge Lange, the Honorary Counsel for South Africa. Learn more.

Mount Zion Temple is pleased to partner with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC) to bring an exhibit about the life and work of Jewish anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman to the synagogue this July. The exhibit was developed by the Isaac and Jessie Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research at the University of Cape Town and is housed at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, NC.

The exhibit tells the story of Helen Suzman, one of South Africa’s most vociferous and energetic opponents of apartheid. She takes pride of place among those activists who devoted their lives to fight for human rights and the rule of law in South Africa. From the start of a political career that spanned almost four decades, including thirteen years as the lone Member of Parliament from the anti-apartheid Progressive Party, she never flinched from challenging the pernicious system created by apartheid.

Her tenacious fight for human rights led to a great friendship with Nelson Mandela, who wrote in honor of Suzman’s 90th birthday: “She is a person appreciated by all South Africans. Her courage, integrity and principled commitment to justice have marked her as one of the outstanding figures of history.”

With July 18, 2018, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, this is an auspicious time to recall this Jewish leader and seek inspiration from her spirit and dedication.