Our purposes and goals are to bring together Jewish genealogy researchers with a common interest in Southern Africa. This page is a portal to our basic information about Southern African research and our research aspirations.

In the Contents panel below you will find links to two lists:
1.. Articles and Commentaries which contains a miscellany of essays and research papers, and ...
2.. Lists and Directories which contains pages of lists, e.g. communities and synagogues, and pages of contact addresses arranged in various classifications.
 
Please read our Mission Statement and our Purposes and Goals. Learn how to join your fellow Southern African researchers who subscribe to our daily Discussion Group/Digest, and become a member of our SIG.

Our paper-based journal, SA-SIG Newsletter provides information of interest to those who are researching Jewish family history in the communities of South Africa, Lesotho (Basutoland), Botswana (Bechuanaland), Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia), Zambia (Northern Rhodesia), Swaziland, Moçambique, Kenya, and the former Belgian Congo.

Two extensive InfoFiles on the subject of Southern Africa Jewry are accessible from JewishGen InfoFiles in the listing of Countries and will provide a wealth of information on the history and background of the Jewish communities in Southern Africa. If you need help to get started with genealogical research then read Bernard Kouchel's Jewish Genealogy -- Twelve Steps to Getting Started

• The South African Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth have been documenting early Jewish life in the country communities of South Africa. Three volumes of Jewish Life in the South African Country Communities have been published to date with another two in the pipeline. A chapter about the town of Wolseley, taken from Volume 2, has been provided in this issue of the Newsletter. The towns featured in Volume 3 as well as an order form for the other volumes are also included.
• The South African Jewish Genealogy Society based in Johannesburg has had an outstanding feast of speakers at their regular meetings. Maurice Skikne, the chairman, and Ada Gamsu, the Meeting Programme Organiser, have provided a list of the lectures that members attended between 2005 and 2008.
• Ivor Kosowitz (ex-Cape Town and now in Perth, Australia) regales us with his memories of growing up in South Africa in the 50s and 60s.
• Sandra Cassel has written a poignant eulogy about her late father – Leslie Jacobson, who spent most of his life farming in the small community of Philippolis in the Orange Free State.
• Muizenberg Revisited: Joy Kropman from The Revisiting Muizenberg Team is still looking for information for their forthcoming exhibition – particularly about accommodation, hotels and the shul. Further information on how to contact the team is available on page 13.

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Providing a SIG project with a listserv does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by JewishGen or its agents.