Right here at the Kaplan Centre, history whispers from every corner. This is no ordinary building. It is a hub of Jewish studies and research. The Kaplan Centre stands as a testament to the vision of Mendel Kaplan.
The Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies and Research was established in 1980. It was made possible by a generous gift. The Kaplan Kushlick Foundation gave it to the University of Cape Town. It is named in honor of Mendel and Robert Kaplan’s parents, Isaac and Jessie Kaplan. Today, it functions as an autonomous center. It has its own governing body.
The Kaplan Centre is unique in South Africa. It promotes Jewish studies and research. It focuses especially on the South African Jewish community. Scholars from many fields participate. These fields include history, political science, and education. Sociology, comparative literature, and Hebrew and Judaic studies are also included.
The Kaplan Centre engages in both research and teaching. It coordinates activities within the University. Its resources are used in many ways. Distinguished scholars are invited to teach Jewish-content courses. The Centre also initiates and sponsors research projects. It strengthens the University’s library holdings with books and microfilms. Archival sources are also included. These research materials are available. They are for University members and accredited visitors.
Mendel Kaplan was not only a founder. He was also a renowned philanthropist. He had a deep love for his community. His vision extended to the South African Jewish Museum.
The Jewish Digital Archive Project (JDAP) began in 2011 at the Kaplan Centre. It was Romi Kaplan’s brainchild. The project aimed to convert historical items to digital format. These items include photographs, films, and family documents. The first collection digitized was Mendel Kaplan’s own. Over the years, the archive has grown. It now documents thousands of personal and family narratives.
The Kaplan Centre undertook a large oral history project in the 1980s. It focused on Jews of Lithuanian origin. These Jews settled in South Africa in the early twentieth century. 483 elderly members of the Jewish communities were interviewed. These communities were in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Each interview was recorded and transcribed.
The Kaplan Centre is partnering with the South African Jewish Museum. Together, they created the Jewish Digital Archive Project (JDAP). This project digitizes archives.
So, as you stand here at the Kaplan Centre remember its purpose. It is a place of learning and discovery. A place where the past informs the present. A place where the stories of a community are preserved. The Kaplan Centre ensures that these stories are available for generations to come.