On Sunday 31 July, Highlands House paid tribute to community members who have been supporting its work through effective and enduring leadership.
They have been appointed our Honorary Life Members, and we are proud and admiring of the work that Pinchas Gutter, Ben Zion Surdut, Abe Sank, Herbert Maltz, Moonyeen Castle and Dr Clive Rabinowitz undertook to make the Home what it is today.
Each Honorary Life Member has served on the Home’s management board and on various subcommittees over the years, and their impact on the way we do things still reverberates throughout our campus. Ben and Abe have been involved in the Home the longest, since around 1972, while Pinchas — who lives in Canada and was celebrated in absentia — served Highlands House for eight years and made an indelible impression. Herbert had an unfading impact on the security practices of the Home and still runs the Men’s Group for residents, while Clive drove systemic and operational change during his 35-year term. Moonyeen epitomises the Jewish woman of valour, and counts her years of service to Highlands House as among her most enjoyable work.
The event in the Lifestyle Centre was opened by Executive Director Leon Geffen, who thanked each Life Member for their contributions over the years, and thanked current Highlands House board members and staff for carrying the Home through Covid-19 and beyond. He briefly discussed the changes and developments at the Home over recent years, including the currently-under-way redevelopment of the third floor into the new Memory Care Unit, due to open in 2023.
After starters were enjoyed, President Stuart Hendler said, “Not many institutions last over 100 years and live to tell the tale,” as he opened the awards ceremony.
“I think that Highlands House has survived for all these years for one reason, and one reason only — the involvement and commitment of those individuals who over the last 100 years have given their time and effort in ensuring that Highlands House not only survives, but also provides the best level of care to our most vulnerable, indigent or frail in this community.
“Knowing what I know — the leadership, the competency of the executive staff, knowing the quality of the trustees and advisory committee, knowing the future strategy and plans of the Home, knowing the care of our greater community — the answer is a definitive yes. I would place my own parents in this Home, if the circumstances arose.”
Stuart shared a summary of each Life Member’s contributions over the years as they were presented certificates of appreciation.
“All the individuals we are honouring today had to face crises not dissimilar to the pandemic during their time at the Home. Having worked with most of them, I’m humbled by their modesty, and realise that these individuals laid the foundation and contributed to ensuring the Home’s survival for another 100 years and more. Today we honour six special individuals and award them Honorary Life Membership to the Home.”
From the leadership and staff of the Home, our utmost appreciation and thanks goes to Feedem and the staff members involved in putting this event together, from the food to the programming and decor. Thanks to our board for recognising these outstanding individuals, and to our Honorary Life Members for giving us a blueprint of the commitment and involvement it takes to build a community legacy.
You can read each Honorary Life Member’s story of involvement in the Home in upcoming issues of the Cape Jewish Chronicle.
Highlands House www.highlandshouse.co.za | Tel: +27 21 461 1100 | info@highlandshouse.co.za
• Published in the September 2022 Rosh Hashanah Digital Edition – Click here to read it.
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