Highlights from Telfed: Science, education and the arts

Mauerberger Foundation Fund (MFF) Chairperson Dianna Yach and Director Jonathan Yach visited Telfed last month.

Long-term supporters of Telfed, siblings Dianna and Jonathan shared their vision for the ongoing projects of the MFF, one of which is the introduction of the Mauerberger Research Award for Transformative Technologies for Africa, administered through the Haifa Technion.  This is to encourage Israeli scientists to brainstorm solutions to development needs in Africa with African colleagues — and in doing so, also advance the role of women in science.  Dianna observed that she hoped that this initiative will impact positively on millions of lives in Africa.

Another Telfed visit last month was to the city of Tel Aviv, under the umbrella of Telfed’s Southern Africans Studying in Israel (SASI) programme, which offers needs-based housing grants to foreign SA students in Israel through the Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation. A group of South African students participated in an eclectic graffiti tour in Tel Aviv, learning about art and pop culture as they toured the Florentine neighbourhood. The morning ended with a typical Israeli breakfast (“shakshuka”) ensuring the students had a ‘taste’ of the good life in Tel Aviv.

Another highlight included Telfed’s 70th anniversary charity concert, led by internationally renowned baritone Colin Schachat following his return from Italy, where he performed with Andrea Bocelli. He was accompanied by the Ra’anana Symphonette, his sons Gabi and Micha and the Ofer Portugaly Gospel Singers, ensuring that the audience was mesmerized by a diverse repertoire ranging from gospel to opera, Sinatra to Sheeran. Batya Shmukler, Telfed Chairman, addressed the audience and spoke of the evolution of Telfed over the past 70 years adding that “we take great pride in being one of the most productive and active Aliyah and Klita support organisations in Israel” before encouraging the audience to “join the Telfed family.”

At the end of the evening, as news came in about the attack at the Etz Chaim Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Batya spoke of the privilege of being a Jew in the Jewish homeland. The evening ended on a ‘note’ of gratitude, as the audience stood united in singing the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva.