South African Jewish American Community

What South African Jewish American Community does

South African Jewish American Community (SAJAC) is a California-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in the San Diego / La Jolla area. It serves South African Jewish immigrants and their families who have relocated to the United States, providing integration support, community connection, and charitable assistance. Its stated purpose is to welcome South African Jews, help them integrate into the American Jewish community, preserve South African cultural traditions, strengthen Jewish identity, support Israel, and aid members in financial need.

SAJAC operates a portfolio of community services including a Gemilut Chesed Fund that provides meals, educational funds, and interest-free loans; a member-only portal offering a directory, genealogy resources, work-for-hire postings, and free Facebook posts; the Olam HaEmes Society providing kosher burial plots at El Camino Memorial Park; an annual SAJAC Reporter magazine; and a video library of lectures and community events. Following October 7, 2023, SAJAC expanded its mission through the CAN (Combat Antisemitism Now) initiative, partnering with the AJC, ADL, Jewish Federation San Diego, StandWithUs, IAC, Am Echad Alliance, and the Jewish Community Foundation to raise funds against antisemitism.

Revenue is generated primarily through membership payments, voluntary donations (including to the Gemilut Chesed Fund), and ancillary product sales such as 'Back to Afrika' Kosher Biltong at $20 per bag. SAJAC runs on a small volunteer-led operation of 1-10 employees, led by President and Founder Pamela Nathan. It markets and distributes through Facebook, YouTube, its website, email newsletters, and in-person community events and lectures held across San Diego venues including Congregation Adat Yeshurun, the Jewish Community Center, and El Camino Memorial Park.

Name

South African Jewish American Community

Legal name

South African Jewish American Community

Website

https://sajac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SAJAC is a San Diego-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 1986 that supports South African Jewish immigrants in the United States through integration services, charitable aid, community events, and the CAN antisemitism-awareness initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAI

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

Keywords

• Community membership services
• Charitable assistance programs
• Antisemitism awareness initiatives
• Jewish cultural heritage preservation
• Immigrant community integration

Headquarters

HQ city

La Jolla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Payments: Annual or periodic membership payments from community members. A portion of membership fees goes toward charitable contributions and helping those in need within the community.
2. Donations: Voluntary donations from members and supporters, including the Gemilut Chesed Fund for members in financial need.
3. Product Sales - Kosher Biltong: Sale of 'Back to Afrika' Kosher Biltong at $20 per bag (1/4 lb), with 10% discount for SAJAC members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAJAC is a community membership organization that welcomes and supports South African Jewish immigrants integrating into the American Jewish community. It delivers charitable assistance (meals, educational funds, interest-free loans) through the Gemilut Chesed Fund, member-only services (directory, genealogy, work-for-hire listings), educational lectures and events, kosher cemetery plots via the Olam HaEmes Society, and runs the CAN (Combat Antisemitism Now) fundraising initiative.

Product overview

SAJAC (South African Jewish American Community) is a community membership organization serving South African Jews who have immigrated to America. The organization offers a suite of services including the CAN (Combat Antisemitism Now) initiative for antisemitism awareness, member-only services (directory, genealogy, work-for-hire), a Gemilut Chesed charitable fund, video library of educational content, cemetery/burial services through Olam HaEmes Society, and an annual SAJAC Reporter magazine. The organization functions primarily as a community hub rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAN (Combat Antisemitism Now): An initiative by SAJAC to raise antisemitism awareness and funds to help educate the public and support organizations effectively tackling antisemitism including AJC, IAC, StandWithUs, Jewish Federation San Diego, and ADL.

Products and services

• CAN (Combat Antisemitism Now) A fundraising and awareness initiative to combat antisemitism, educate the public through schools and universities, and support organizations tackling antisemitism.
• Member Services (Directory, Genealogy, Work for Hire) Exclusive member-only services including a member directory, genealogy resources, work-for-hire postings, and free Facebook posts for community members.
• Gemilut Chesed Fund A charitable fund providing meals, educational funds, and interest-free loans to community members in financial need.
• Video Library A collection of video recordings featuring AGMs, lectures, webinars, and community events on topics related to Israel, Judaism, antisemitism, and South African Jewish heritage.
• Educational Lectures and Events Regular community events featuring speakers on topics such as Middle Eastern politics and Israel, including Dr. Mordechai Kedar's "Israel in a Changing World" lecture.
• Olam HaEmes Society - Cemetery Consecration A kosher burial society providing traditional Jewish cemetery plots at El Camino Memorial Park, including 'Garden of Eden I and II' sections.
• SAJAC Reporter Magazine Annual community magazine published as PDF covering news, events, and stories relevant to the South African Jewish American community.
• Member Payments Platform Online platform for membership payments and donations with secure credit card processing and encrypted transactions.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Jewish Committee (AJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN initiative supports AJC as one of the frontline organizations effectively combating antisemitism. AJC receives funding through the CAN fund held at the Jewish Community Foundation.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN initiative supports ADL as one of the organizations on the frontline combating antisemitism daily. Receives funding through the CAN fund.
• Jewish Federation San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the CAN initiative. Fiduciary committee oversees CAN fund held at the Jewish Community Foundation managed by Jewish Federation San Diego.
• StandWithUsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN initiative supports StandWithUs as an organization effectively combating antisemitism in schools and universities.
• American Israeli Council (IAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAN initiative supports IAC as an organization effectively combating antisemitism.
• Am Echad Alliance of SDJAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActivist partner in CAN initiative efforts to combat antisemitism in the San Diego Jewish community.
• Jewish Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolds the CAN fund as fiduciary and is responsible for appropriately distributing funds to antisemitism-fighting organizations.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): Premier US organization fighting antisemitism. A core CAN partner of SAJAC, ADL operates at a national scale with professional staff and significantly larger resources than SAJAC's community-led model.
• UJA-Federation of New York: Largest Jewish federation in the US. Comparable as a Jewish communal fundraising and service organization, though operating at vastly larger scale and focused on the New York metro region.
• B'nai B'rith International: One of the oldest Jewish service organizations globally, with advocacy and community programming. Comparable as a Jewish communal/advocacy nonprofit, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC): One of the largest and most established Jewish advocacy organizations in the US. AJC is a CAN grantee and shares SAJAC's focus on combating antisemitism, but operates at a national/international scale far beyond SAJAC's regional niche.

Direct peers

• StandWithUs: Israel education and antisemitism advocacy organization. Listed as a CAN partner and a major combat antisemitism organization in schools and universities — overlapping mission with SAJAC's CAN initiative.
• Jewish Federation of San Diego: Regional Jewish community federation serving San Diego. Directly comparable as a Jewish communal organization operating in the same geography, with overlapping donor base and antisemitism initiatives. SAJAC's CAN fund is held at its affiliated Jewish Community Foundation.
• Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): Jewish refugee and immigrant resettlement organization. Directly comparable to SAJAC's immigrant integration mission for Jewish populations arriving in the US, though operating at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Israeli-American Council (IAC): National organization supporting Israeli and Jewish-American communities. SAJAC's CAN initiative partners with and funds IAC; both share an Israel-engagement focus and target American Jewish populations.

Regional players

• South African Jewish Board of Deputies: South Africa's main representative Jewish communal body. Comparable to SAJAC in mission (supporting South African Jewish community identity) but operating in the country of origin rather than the diaspora.
• Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center (San Diego): San Diego's main Jewish Community Center, hosting some SAJAC events. Comparable as a San Diego-based Jewish communal organization serving overlapping populations through programming, education, and cultural events.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SAJACUnitedStates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-african-jewish-american-community-of-san-diego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about South African Jewish American Community