Telfed’s community service scholarship programmes commence in the midst of war
Since 7 October, like all Israelis, we’ve been dealing with uncertainty and have had to make adjustments according to the needs of our community. In December, Telfed’s community service scholarship programmes began with an opening event for students. Our decision to launch our scholarship year was contingent upon public universities’ decision to open the academic year. Israelis are a remarkably resilient people and, despite the ongoing conflict, it’s mostly ‘business as usual’. Students serving in reserve duty will join our scholarship programmes with full support from Telfed once they return to university.
It was an emotional opening event, as we paid tribute to Yaron Chitiz z”l who fell in battle in Gaza. In her address to the students, Shely Cohen (Chairman of Telfed’s Scholarship Committee) shared the following message:
“The Chitiz family is part of the Telfed family – his mom, Debbie, started the PRAS programme at Telfed, and his siblings are all part of our family. And I thought, honestly, I have no words. But then I reminded myself, we have a responsibility to Yaroni and all our brave and special soldiers to make this place a country worth living in and not only dying for; for a country in which we love each other, support each other, and help each other, and it is our responsibility and that of our parents, our brothers and sisters, our children, our teachers and our leaders to live up to the legacy that Yaron and his fellow soldiers have left for us. The PRAS and SASI programmes are part of this responsibility – to give and not only to receive, to create a society of mutual goals and ideals. In their memory, and in honour of all our precious soldiers, we will work together to build up our precious Israel.”
Reflecting our South African roots, Telfed’s three-pronged scholarship programme embodies the values of empowerment, education and volunteerism. In addition to a scholarship to ensure students can complete their studies despite financial need, two volunteer-based scholarship programmes give students the opportunity to give back by performing two hours of community service a week for both the South African Olim community and Israeli society: PRAS, a programme for Israeli students of South African origin, and SASI (South Africans Studying in Israel). Thanks to the generous support of the Samson family, as well as other benefactors, including Philip and Michele Krawitz, through SASI dozens of South African students have opted to complete their university education in Israel, volunteer, and experience the beauty of life in Israel.
Telfed www.telfed.org.il Email: info@telfed.org.il
• Published in the February 2024 issue – Click here to start reading.
• To advertise in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website – kindly contact Lynette Roodt on 021 464 6736 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za. For more information and advertising rate card click here.
• Sign up for our newsletter and never miss another issue.
• Please support the Cape Jewish Chronicle with a voluntary Subscription for 2024. For payment info click here.
• Visit our Portal to the Jewish Community to see a list of all the Jewish organisations in Cape Town with links to their websites.
Follow the Cape Jewish Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
