Comments on: Helen Suzman, 1917-2009 http://blog.z-word.com/2009/01/helen-suzman-1917-2009/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:34:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: Carolyn Projansky http://blog.z-word.com/2009/01/helen-suzman-1917-2009/#comment-2936 Carolyn Projansky Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:44:54 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=780#comment-2936 Your juxtaposition of Helen Suzman and Ronnie Kasrils is perfectly apt because they are/were polar opposites in many ways. I'm producing a feature documentary film, Breaking the Rules, (www.breakingtherulesmovie.com) which tells the story of the white South Africans who opposed apartheid and dedicated their lives to the struggle for racial justice. Suzman and Kasrils are two of four main characters in the film. I am personally devastated by Helen's passing but thankfully have already shot the material I needed with her to make the film. She had a great antipathy for Kasrils' anti-Zionist views as well as his activities as a communist/ANC cadre. Interesting, they were both born Jewish in Joburg, but into substantially different financial and cultural circumstances. I suspect that's why their lives took very different political paths. Of course, they are but two among many, many Jewish South Africans who stood up for racial justice. Despite their differences on tactics they had that overriding value in common. Helen's passing is a devastating loss but we are hoping that our film (due for completion in 2010) will help others see what one (or in this case four) individuals can do to make a difference simply by saying "no" to grave injustices being suffered by others. You can see clips from the last videotaped interview with Helen Suzman at our You Tube channel: www.youtube.com/user/fivestarfilmsinc. Your juxtaposition of Helen Suzman and Ronnie Kasrils is perfectly apt because they are/were polar opposites in many ways. I’m producing a feature documentary film, Breaking the Rules, (www.breakingtherulesmovie.com) which tells the story of the white South Africans who opposed apartheid and dedicated their lives to the struggle for racial justice. Suzman and Kasrils are two of four main characters in the film. I am personally devastated by Helen’s passing but thankfully have already shot the material I needed with her to make the film. She had a great antipathy for Kasrils’ anti-Zionist views as well as his activities as a communist/ANC cadre.

Interesting, they were both born Jewish in Joburg, but into substantially different financial and cultural circumstances. I suspect that’s why their lives took very different political paths. Of course, they are but two among many, many Jewish South Africans who stood up for racial justice. Despite their differences on tactics they had that overriding value in common.

Helen’s passing is a devastating loss but we are hoping that our film (due for completion in 2010) will help others see what one (or in this case four) individuals can do to make a difference simply by saying “no” to grave injustices being suffered by others.

You can see clips from the last videotaped interview with Helen Suzman at our You Tube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/fivestarfilmsinc.

]]>