Olga Meshoe Washington
{{Short description|South African attorney (1981–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
Olga Meshoe Washington (14 September 1981 – 6 January 2025) was a South African attorney known for her work in interfaith relations and Israel advocacy. Olga was also a Board Member and Senior staff member of IBSI, overseeing their Speakers Bureau.
Early life and education
Meshoe Washington was the eldest daughter of South African politician Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, parliamentary leader of the African Christian Democratic Party. She earned her law degree from the University of Pretoria.{{cite web | last=Hofmeyer | first=Marina | title=Rest in peace: A tribute to Olga Meshoe Washington | website=JOY! News | date=7 January 2025 | url=https://joynews.co.za/rest-in-peace-a-tribute-to-olga-meshoe-washington/ | access-date=8 January 2025}}
Career
Meshoe Washington founded and directed the pro-Israel Christian lobby group DEISI (Defend, Embrace, Invest, Support Israel).{{cite web | title=A wedding conceived for the love of Zion | website=Jewish Report | date=25 January 2018 | url=https://www.sajr.co.za/a-wedding-conceived-for-the-love-of-zion/ | access-date=8 January 2025}} She rebutted accusations of Israeli apartheid,{{cite web |last=Meshoe Washington |first=Olga |date=30 March 2020 |title=Essay: The Apartheid Lie |url=https://aijac.org.au/australia-israel-review/essay-the-apartheid-lie/ |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=AIJAC}} commenting that Israeli policies were so different from South African apartheid that such comparisons were "woefully ignorant"{{cite web | title=Olga Meshoe wows America on a whirlwind visit | website=Jewish Report | date=25 May 2015 | url=https://www.sajr.co.za/olga-became-the-darling-of-us-jewry/ | access-date=8 January 2025}} and "trivialize what Black South Africans went through; they're erasing our experience".{{cite web |last=Michaelian |first=Tania Shalom |date=31 October 2023 |title=Anti-Israel Groups Trivialize Narrative of Black South Africans |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-771049 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} In 2022, she spoke at a Geneva event organized by UN Watch associated with the United Nations Human Rights Council's Pillay report.{{cite web |last=Lazaroff |first=Tovah |date=13 June 2022 |title=South African activist |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-709295 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}{{cite web |last=Sandler |first=Debbie |date=27 July 2022 |title=Paths of the Righteous: An inspiring book about eight righteous heroes |url=https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-713208 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} Her remarks were supported by Yair Lapid's statement{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Lazar |last2=Wagner |first2=Mati |date=20 October 2022 |title=UN report denounces Israel's 'unlawful occupation,' demands prosecution of officials |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-report-slams-israels-unlawful-occupation-demands-prosecution-of-officials/ |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=The Times of Israel}}{{cite web |last=Lazaroff |first=Tovah |date=21 October 2022 |title=Lapid: UN's CIO report is antisemitic and written by antisemites |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-720242 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} denouncing the Pillay report as antisemitic. She was named one of 25 young visionaries by The Jerusalem Post, which noted how she applied her legal and corporate management expertise to impact socioeconomic development programs, non-profits, and NGOs.{{cite web | title=25 ViZionaries: Olga Meshoe Washington | website= The Jerusalem Post | date=15 September 2023 | url=https://www.jpost.com/influencers/viozionaries/article-758849 | access-date=8 January 2025}} She served as chief operating officer of Club Z, a US Zionist youth movement.{{cite web |date=6 May 2024 |title=Club Z Charlotte: Empowering Teens Through Israel Education |url=https://issuu.com/thecharlottejewishnews/docs/charlotte_jewish_news_may_2024/s/47482682 |access-date=8 January 2025 |publisher=The Charlotte Jewish News |website=Issuu}} She was featured in Ari Mittleman's Paths of the Righteous: Stories of Heroism, Humanity and Hope {{ISBN|978-9657023730}}.
Personal life and death
Her husband, Joshua Washington, is the son of Dumisani Washington, the founder and CEO of the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI).{{cite web | title=We have a dream: An Israeli's journey through black America | website=israelhayom.com | date=5 October 2022 | url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2022/10/05/we-have-a-dream-an-israelis-journey-through-black-america/ | language=rw | access-date=8 January 2025}} At their wedding, tables were divided to provide kosher offerings (chopped herring and mock crayfish), or non kosher menu items (cow stomach, tripe, offal, samp and “runaway feet”).
Meshoe Washington died on 6 January 2025, a month after being diagnosed with lupus. She was 43, and survived by her husband and two sons.{{cite web |last=Salant |first=Izzy |date=7 January 2025 |title=Jewish groups mourn death of Olga Washington, Christian Zionist, staunch Israel supporter |url=https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/jns/jewish-groups-mourn-death-of-olga-washington-christian-zionist-staunch-israel-supporter/article_f9fba5d3-d400-5d5c-982e-51c7656655d7.html |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=Columbus Jewish News}}{{cite web |last=Medupe |first=Kgomotso |date=7 January 2025 |title=Kenneth Meshoe mourns daughter's passing! |url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/kenneth-meshoes-daughter-olga-passes-in-the-usa-after-sudden-lupus-diagnosis-20250107 |access-date=8 January 2025 |website=Daily Sun}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.olgamw.com/about Official website]
- [https://ibsi.org/ Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel]
- [https://www.cufi.org.uk/featured-videos/calling-israel-an-apartheid-state-is-an-insult-to-real-victims-of-apartheid/ Video "Calling Israel an apartheid state is an insult to real victims of apartheid"]
- [https://jcpa.org/video/the-true-cost-of-the-israel-apartheid-narrative/ Video "The true cost of the Israel apartheid narrative"]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meshoe Washington, Olga}}
Category:South African women activists
Category:Activists against antisemitism