This year, Telfed enters its 70th year of operation. In an era when many Aliyah organisations in Israel have become defunct, Telfed continues to expand in serving a growing number of South Africans in Israel.
One of the greatest ‘assets’ in ensuring long term stability and development is manifested in a group of talented, altruistic lay-leaders, who give of their time voluntarily, in order to oversee the management of Telfed.
Following elections at the AGM, Chairman Maish Isaacson handed over the baton to Batya Shmukler after three successful terms of office (2007-2011, 2015-2017).
Batya, an English teacher and Johannesburg born mother of four made Aliyah 25 years ago, together with her husband Jonathan. She has been actively involved in Telfed for nine years, serving on the Absorption Committee, as Chairman of the Endowments, Scholarships and PRAS Committee and, for the past four years, as Vice Chairman.
Not only is Batya Telfed’s youngest Chairman ever elected, she is the first woman to hold such a position in the organisation’s history.
Elected as her very able Deputy is Robby Hilkowitz, who has been involved with Telfed voluntarily for the past four years and who also originally hails from Johannesburg. Robby holds a degree in Finance and Mathematics. Outside of supervising Telfed’s charitable activities, Robby is an investor, specialising in the financial services industry and previously as Executive Director of the Stonehage Group.
Robby made Aliyah from Australia in 1993. He also spent a few years in London, before returning to Israel in 2009, with his wife and four children.
Robby also invests a significant amount of time in philanthropy and is a director of several charitable organisations.
Voted in as Treasurer is Steven Flax, who has taken over the reins from Zvi Green. Steven has over 20 years of commercial and auditing experience. Formerly a Senior Manager at Ernst and Young and CFO of a publicly traded company with subsidiaries in the UK and Eastern Europe, he currently serves as a Partner at Aron Bakst. A qualified Chartered Accountant in both South Africa and Israel, Steven made Aliyah from Johannesburg 19 years ago. His vast knowledge is supplemented with an entertaining sense of humour, which livens up many a dreary financial meeting.
Telfed is pleased and honoured to welcome Batya, Robby and Steven and congratulates them on their respective appointments.
For more information visit Telfed
