For the past five months fourteen young Jewish adults have taken part in the Young Jewish Leadership Development Course. The aim of this is to train and encourage young leadership within the various communal organisations in Cape Town.
The course has run since the beginning of March this year, with sessions being conducted fortnightly on Thursday evenings. It concluded with a graduation ceremony on Thursday 28 August. Those present at this function were the conveners, Gerald Kleinman, Melvyn Gordon, UJC Chairman Marco van Embden, representatives of many communal organisations, the course participants and their family and friends.
Melvyn welcomed everyone and gave a brief synopsis of the course and its role in building a foundation of young leaders within the community. Gerald, the ‘father’ and ‘heart and soul’ behind the establishment and organisation of the course, gave a brief overview of the various activities involving the participants, the history of the course and its importance in the communal calendar.
Not all participants took part in the Yachdav tour to Israel. Tali Ginsberg, as spokesman for the group, gave a detailed and entertaining account of the tour and made those who were not able to join in wish they could have been there. The stint with the Israel Army and stay at the ‘Million Stars Hotel’ sounded like a once in a lifetime experience, providing memories that they will treasure forever.
Robert Lewenson had previously done a presentation to the UJC executive. Gabi Sulcas, another spokesman for the group, gave a detailed account of the course itself and explained how they had all had grown as a result of taking part. She detailed how the presenters, comprising university professors and lecturers, a judge, the Chief Rabbi, communal leaders and business and professional people, crafted the programme around Jewish values, communal needs, project management, personal effectiveness, strategic thinking, media issues, lay leadership and professionals’ relationships and community financing and fundraising.
Course participants were presented with certificates, handed out by Professor Paul Sulcas.
As with all joyous occasions, the evening was wrapped up with delightful drinks and ‘nibbles’.
As ‘spokesman-writer’ of this article, I conclude by expressing thanks — on behalf of all the participants (one of whom went on Aliyah and another transferred to Johannesburg) — to Gerald, Melvyn the presenters and all those behind the scenes for making the course informative and thus motivating all to take an active role in this fine community, which operates like a well-oiled machine.
Jenna Bloch
