In 2022, Cape Town’s Jewish community committed itself to a bold, future-facing vision: Vision 2040. This ambitious roadmap laid bare the urgent need to rethink how we support our most vulnerable – how we care, connect, and carry forward our values in a world that is changing rapidly.
The vision of a centralised Care Services is to consolidate the administrative functions of the seven key welfare organisations that have long stood as lifelines to the aged, the frail, the grieving, the intellectually challenged, and which offer social services from the cradle to the grave.
“We give because there are those who cannot stand on their own, whose voices are too often unheard, whose lives are too often overlooked. And in their silence, we find our calling,” said Paul Berman, Chairman of Care Services, in his address at the first AGM in December 2024.
The goal of Care Services is simple yet profound: to streamline and centralise operations, reduce duplication, and make sure every available resource is directed to where it is needed most. But more than that, it is a spiritual mission, a reaffirmation of the Jewish imperative to lift one another up and to never leave anyone behind.
Furthermore, Paul Berman stated that, “Every step, every hour, every effort is a thread woven into the fabric of a community that holds together in times of joy and in times of need. This is not just structural change. It is a collective commitment to compassion, resilience, and purpose.”
United in Purpose – Care Services encompasses:
Astra
Cape Jewish Seniors Association
Glendale
Highlands House
Jewish Community Services
Nechama
Oranjia
Through a central board; a Chief Operating Officer, Hazel Levin; a newly appointed Care Services Manager, Karen Borochowitz; a Financial Manager, Bevan Buck; and a Human Resources function, the structure is designed for long-term sustainability and accountability. The newly implemented governance model brings clear mandates, strategic alignment, and the ability to track and deliver care more effectively.
But statistics are sobering. Nearly 25% of the Cape Town Jewish population is over 70. The donor pool is shrinking. Emigration is rising. And demand for welfare services is escalating, particularly in aged care and mental health.
“Our duty to bring light, warmth, and comfort to their lives is our inspiration,” Berman said at the AGM. “This is the highest expression of our values, and it is our calling.”
A Monument of Hope: Spes Bona
Perhaps the most symbolic milestone of this new chapter is the acquisition of Spes Bona, a tranquil property in Gardens that will soon house up to 54 clients relying on Jewish Community Services. It is being refurbished as a sanctuary for those in need of Senior Assisted Living.
“This isn’t just bricks and mortar,” said Hazel Levin, COO of Care Services. “It’s about creating a sanctuary – a place where our elderly are seen, heard, and cherished. Spes Bona will allow our residents once again to experience the warmth of human connection.”
The launch is planned for August this year, a living testament to what compassionate vision and determined leadership can achieve.
Defining the Future
Care Services is also preparing to roll out a fully centralised admissions system in 2025, with a community-wide CRM to manage care pathways and ensure that no one slips through the cracks.
“For the first time, we are defining the basket of services that we, as a community, are prepared to offer, services our people can depend on,” Berman noted.
From client tracking to co-ordinated intake, the transformation is far-reaching and deeply intentional.
“This is not a renovation for the faint of heart,” Berman shared, referencing a lesson from his recent Harvard Business School experience. “We are building a house that must be fortified for today and for the future. We are reimagining care, not just for now, but for generations to come.”
A Legacy We Must Build
At the AGM, Berman closed with a powerful reflection: “Care Services is more than an operational shift, it is a spiritual one. It is Cape Town’s Jewish community choosing to rise to the moment. To lead with heart. To care with intention. And to ensure that, no matter how much the world changes, our commitment to one another never falters.
There is a line in Schindler’s List where Oskar Schindler says, ‘I could have done more.’ Those words haunt and inspire me. They drive me to push further, to lead with inspiration, and to raise the bar to greater heights. Together, we are building a legacy of care, and for that, I am profoundly grateful to each of you.” ●
Care Services info@careservices.org.za
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