On 29 August, Jewish Community Services celebrated the 10th year of their combined AGM. The Organisations under the umbrella of JCC are, Astra, Glendale, Cape Jewish Seniors, Highlands House, Jewish Community Services, Nechama and Oranjia.
The Guest Speaker last year asked: “Where are all the young people”? Well this year, encouragingly, there were many more young people than before and this is also due to the participants of the Eliot Osrin Leadership Institute attending. The formal proceedings went well and were efficiently handled by Chairperson Harris Burman.
The Cell-Video project performed by Grade 11 learners from Herzlia High School was next on the Agenda and was hugely successful. The learners were tasked with preparing two-minute videos that showcased the work done by the various organisations.
This was the second year of running the project and it was both a dynamic and amazing experience, thanks to Philip Todres, Shifra Jacobson, Gretl Maree and Geoff Cohen who facilitated the process. The two-minute presentations were filmed with cell phones.
TV producer and film maker, Heather Blumenthal, had been requested to pick the winners and she gave intelligent and informative feedback on each video, choosing the first three winners who won monetary prizes. The screening took place of all 65 videos and there was much excitement and appreciation for the quality of the videos.
First place went to Nechama, videoed by Jenna Isserow & Josh Lerner. Second place went to Jewish Community Services, videoed by Samuel Kurgan. Third Place went to Astra, videoed by Aviel Zieff & Samuel Finder, The remaining participants all received vouchers for their efforts and participation. You can view the winning videos by going to the Jewish Care Cape Facebook page, or www.herzlia.com
Harris Burman was thanked by Esta Levitas for his term at JCC which has now ended, and for the progress he made in taking the organization to the next level.
Well-known personality Sheryl Ozinsky was the guest speaker. Philip Todres introduced Sheryl and explained she had helped and pioneered in establishing Cape Town as one of the world’s most desirable tourism destinations in the world. Sheryl gave the history of the Oranjezicht City Farm, a non-profit project celebrating local food, culture and community through urban farming in Cape Town, her current community-based project. She told how it started, describing a fascinating history of Oranjezicht and the story leading to the successful and sustainable market, her and her co-workers facilitate. Her overall message was ‘Growing Food with Purpose’ — which tied in neatly with the UJC motto of ‘follow the seed’. She is the person responsible for establishing the farmers market now held at Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront every Saturday and Sunday. Sheryl is passionate about bringing community together and this was excellently and warmly promoted in her presentation.
The last event of the evening was the presentation of the Eliot Osrin Awards as is our tradition, and the following recipients were presented with the following awards:
Community Service — Peter Greenberg, Community Leadership — Avigail Popack, Professional Leadership — Delia Kaplan, Professional Service — Rhita Russon, Chairperson’s Award — Bernard Osrin.
For further information please contact Shifra Jacobson on 021 462 5520.
