
Both Jewish day schools in Cape Town, Cape Town Torah High and Herzlia High, recorded solid results for the 2024 matric class. The Cape Jewish Chronicle spoke to a few matriculants about their school experiences and about the future.
Herzlia High School’s top matriculant, Idana Saven, 19, explains, “After finding out my results, there was an element of shock because I always keep my expectations low and never really know what to expect until I see my results.”
Idana Saven, 19, Herzlia
Judd Jocum, 18, Herzlia
Feigie Shaman, 19, Cape Town Torah High
Jarred Zolty, 19, Cape Town Torah High
Amy Vogelman, 18, Herzlia
Kaylee Dirmeik, 18, Cape Town Torah High
Yali Albeldas, 18, Cape Town Torah High
Amber-Lee Bobrow, 18, Cape Town Torah High
Feelings about the end of the school career
Idana: It’s quite a hard feeling to describe after finishing my school career. It’s like we are stuck in this limbo between childhood and adulthood where we have to take the next steps to decide what we will do with our lives which can be very overwhelming.
Yali: It’s a bittersweet moment because I’ll miss the friendships and experiences that shaped me.
Jarred Zolty: I am now free to explore the world, but that comes with the daunting reality of having no set routine and no familiar environment. It is now truly me against the world and that has its freedom but also all the responsibilities of looking after myself.
Judd: This next chapter of my life is a big one filled with self- discovery. I’m sad to leave behind the comfort and familiarity of a nurturing environment filled with friends.
Amy: I feel a little sad that such a safe and happy phase of my life has come to an end. I will miss being surrounded by all my friends as we all head off in different directions this year.
Amber-Lee: It feels surreal to finally not have to go back to school. I always remember everyone used to tell me that I may hate school now but, when I leave I will miss it so much, but I never believed them until I experienced it myself.
Kaylee: I am so glad that I finished school, but also upset because I don’t get to see my friends everyday.
Positive experiences during the school years
Yali: At CTTH, one of the most enjoyable aspects was the flexibility of the secular education system. It allowed me to work at my own pace, giving me all the tools I needed to accelerate. Even though I could move quickly, the system ensured I fully understood the material and that I grasped the concepts thoroughly before moving forward.
Judd: The highlight of matric for me was our final Shabbaton. It was an unforgettable weekend that fostered a sense of unity and togetherness across the entire grade.
Feigie: At CTTH, we write SATs. This system helps you get into universities in South Africa and anywhere overseas. It’s such a pleasure having access to all these amazing opportunities.
Kaylee: What I found most enjoyable about school was doing a finance course and an art course – a diverse range of my interests.
The challenges experienced at school
Amy: It was a challenge to maintain interest and curiosity because of the repetitive nature of the matric syllabus. Some days I had to dig deep to find the motivation to get back to my desk to study the same things I had been studying the entire year.
Amber-Lee: My biggest challenge in high school was always staying on top of deadlines, as well as staying motivated to produce the best results.
The future
Many of the matriculants are planning a gap year. Some will be studying, and Feigie Shaman, aged 19, from CTTH, has already started her studies. She’s studying musical theatre for three years at the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA). Judd will study data science, while Yali hopes to study economics in 2026. An opportunity to study in the USA awaits Amy, who will begin her studies later this year at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
Idana says that she felt conflicted about whether or not to take a gap year before studying. She has chosen to do so, so that she can follow her dream of dancing professionally and travelling abroad with a dance company.
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