This past year has brought waves of emotions for our South African Olim community in Israel – trauma, resilience, heartache, and strength. Living in a country at war has affected us all on personal, communal, and national levels. Even though daily routines might seem normal, the impact of living in a country at war has left us with scars, fears, and emotional fatigue. But amidst the hardships, we have also witnessed courage and resilience. Our community has shown a fierce determination to give back, to rebuild, to heal, and to support one another.
Throughout the year, our professional team has worked hard to foster opportunities for community strength and giving back. Our mission has been twofold: to care for our Olim and to create meaningful ways to contribute to broader recovery efforts. When the war first broke out, we immediately prioritised the safety and well-being of our community, rallying to address urgent needs and provide emotional support to those directly affected.
One of our earliest responses involved check-in calls for community members living in the Western Negev (or Gaza Envelope) communities. Residents near the border often felt isolated, and we saw an outpouring of support as ex-South African volunteers stepped up to join our social worker in making these vital calls. On a visit to the communities in the Western Negev in July this year, ex-Zimbabwean Ivan Fleish spoke about the importance of these calls to Olim in the region. “We feel like you guys are with us… the calls we all get from the people at Telfed to individuals here, you don’t know what it means.”
These calls were a simple reminder to our Olim that they weren’t forgotten. Throughout 2024, our team has continued these check-ins, extending them to Olim from the North.
The call to action didn’t end there. In December 2023, our team mobilised immediately when we received an urgent request from a hospital for basic items like pyjamas, shoes, and underwear for wounded soldiers. Within just 24 hours, a group of volunteers and staff purchased, packaged, and delivered 100 sets of clothing to hospitals in the South. This experience opened our eyes to the invaluable role our community could play in supporting soldiers and their families, and it set the tone for more initiatives in 2024. Through our regional committees, we’ve since prepared hundreds of nutritious snack boxes delivered by volunteers to rehabilitation hospitals across the country.
One request that particularly touched us came from a central rehabilitation hospital that wanted social events to uplift soldiers during their recovery. In response, we’ve hosted various events, from alcohol-free Happy Hours to monthly Rosh Chodesh breakfast clubs in collaboration with Kehilat Lev Ra’anana. We’ve even arranged farewell parties for soldiers being discharged after extended stays. Volunteers helped set up, engaged with soldiers, and provided the warm, friendly atmosphere these events needed. This kind of support not only fostered morale but also gave our volunteers a powerful opportunity to connect with soldiers and show appreciation.
Our community also extended support to displaced South African families affected by the war. Volunteers packed and distributed care packages, and members of our community joined us for a wine-tasting evening to support a South African winemaker from a region affected by the conflict. Together, we’ve proven that we’re a family that stands by one another in times of need.
One initiative that’s especially close to our hearts is the Community2Gether project, which pairs the South African Jewish community with Kibbutz Nir Am. In mid-August, we organised four days of volunteer activities in response to specific needs expressed by Nir Am residents. After nearly a year of displacement, these families were finally able to return home. As they packed up their temporary accommodation in a hotel, they requested help with nursery schools, communal facilities, and school preparations to ensure a smooth return for their children.
Our first team of volunteers met Nir Am representatives at the Herod’s Hotel in Tel Aviv, where they rolled up their sleeves and began the packing process. The following day, another team travelled to the kibbutz itself. Here they began cleaning and organising the nursery schools and unloading equipment packed the day before. Over the next two volunteering days, South African volunteers swept, painted, unpacked, and carefully arranged the nursery school facilities with attention to detail and love, making them ready for the children’s return to school on 1 September.
The Kibbutz members wrote to say that, “The amazing mobilisation of so many South Africans who came to give, work and ask what is needed is not taken for granted. The smiles you came with stayed, and were absorbed into the walls of the gannim (nursery schools) with positive energy that the children will feel.”
This initiative brought together community members of all ages and backgrounds, including both new and veteran immigrants, reminding us of the power of community action.
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the strength that has come from supporting one another, rebuilding with resilience, and showing compassion. Despite the challenges, this year has brought us closer, deepening the bonds within our community and beyond. We continue to pray for the safe and victorious return of our brave soldiers from the battlefields and the hostages
to their families.
Our journey this year reminds us that, even in the darkest times, there is light—and that light shines brightest when we stand together.
Telfed http://www.telfed.org.il Email: info@telfed.org.il
• Read the December 2024 / January 2025 issue in magazine format here.
• 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.
• Email us to 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 Jewish organisations in Cape Town with links to their websites.
Follow the Cape Jewish Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
