by Robert Goot AM SC, President, ECAJ
The passing of Nelson Mandela marks the end not only of a remark­able life, but also of an historic chapter of truly out­stand­ing courage, tenacity and lead­er­ship.
Nelson Mandela was incar­cer­ated on Robben Island because of his steadfast oppos­i­tion to apartheid and all that it stood for. He emerged from 27 years in prison, with great moral authority, to become South Africa’s first black President and the first South African President to be elected by universal adult franchise of all its people.
He was convinced of the need for recon­cili­ation between races in his country and worked tire­lessly to achieve that end. He is rightly regarded as a great healer.
Some of his attitudes towards Israel, which I had the oppor­tun­ity of raising with him during his visit to Sydney, were ques­tion­able, but he was a great friend of South African Jewry and his indom­it­able spirit of gen­er­os­ity and mag­nan­im­ity extended to all of humankind.
We have been priv­ileged to witness the extraordin­ary journey of a man whose place in history, as an out­stand­ing and cour­ageous leader, is justly secured.