As we mark Women’s Month, we honour the remarkable women of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies – leaders, advocates, and community-builders whose dedication safeguards our community and amplifies its voice. Their tireless work reminds us that the strength of our Jewish life in the Cape rests, in no small part, on the shoulders of women who lead with compassion, courage and conviction.
Adrienne Jacobson – Chairperson Cape SAJBD
Being Jewish in Cape Town means belonging to a warm, vibrant, and caring community where our traditions and values are free to be observed with pride. As a woman leader, I am guided by empathy and inclusivity – listening, embracing diversity, and fostering unity. Yet, we face external threats like antisemitism and hate, which require us to stand firm with resilience and strength. Through compassionate leadership and unwavering resolve, we protect our community and uphold the values that define us. On this Women’s Day, I celebrate the courage of women in our community and the power of leadership that combines empathy with resilience to face any challenge.
Simone Sulcas – Vice Chairperson Cape SAJBD
From the CSO medic who phoned me every day while I battled COVID, to Rabbi Levi Silman snapping a Friday photo of me holding Shabbos candles, to the flood of invitations to communal events, every gesture reminds me that I belong to a warm, vibrant and deeply connected community. Being a female leader in this community holds the same significance and responsibility as being a male leader – it’s about leading with purpose, making a meaningful impact, and uplifting those around you with integrity
and vision.
Taya Allardice – Intern Cape SAJBD | Student
For me, being Jewish in Cape Town and being a female leader are deeply intertwined. My involvement in our youth and community organisations has been central to my experience growing up as a Jew here, and in turn, it has undoubtedly fuelled my passion for leadership. Working alongside, learning from and following in the footsteps of numerous Jewish women has inspired and empowered me to contribute to our community – with drive, compassion, authenticity and resilience.
Dawn Nathan-Jones – Entrepreneur & Business Leader | CEO Over The Rainbow
For me, being Jewish in Cape Town means belonging to a warm, visible, and respected community that feels like an extended family – a community that is active not only within its own circles but making a real difference in the broader city. My journey as a female leader here has been both challenging and rewarding, from being the only woman in the boardroom to helping open doors for others. I believe true leadership means lifting others as you rise, and I’m proud to mentor young women and champion the idea that empathy and diverse perspectives make us stronger. My identity as a Jewish woman leader shapes how I engage with the world: honouring my heritage, embracing today’s challenges, and working to build a more equitable, inclusive future in this beautiful city
I call home.
Mika Abramowitz-Visagie – Cape SAJBD Office & Administrative Coordinator
As a female member of the SAJBD in the Jewish community in Cape Town, I strive to set a strong example of integrity, compassion, and commitment to our values. I teach my two young boys the importance of kindness, respect, and standing up for what is right. Being Jewish in Cape Town means I can be who I want to be and always be accepted by my community for being me.
Rabbi Belinda Silbert – Doctorate in Counselling | Advanced Board Certified Chaplain | MTh
To be Jewish in Cape Town means living with deep responsibility – to tradition, to community, and to the wider world. To be a female Jewish leader is to stand in a lineage of courage, challenging silence and opening new paths with faith and purpose.
Karen Kallmann – UJW Chair (ex officio)
To be Jewish in Cape Town means being part of a dynamic, vibrant and engaged community that offers a wealth of opportunities to all who take part. Serving as Chair of the Union of Jewish Women empowers me to continue the life-affirming work our community has carried out in the broader Western Cape for almost a century, building on the dedication, vision and hard work of generations of passionate women.
Mandy Allen – PR, Research & Media Coordinator Cape SAJBD
Being Jewish, to me, means carrying a deep sense of responsibility. I live by the words tzedek tzedek tirdof – justice, justice shall you pursue – and the timeless teaching from Pirkei Avot: ‘Say little, do much.’ They remind me that real impact lies in action, not ego or accolades. These are not principles unique to women, but they are profoundly Jewish touchstones. I am grateful to be in service to the Cape Town Jewish community; I have found my purpose, and every path in my life has led me here. Now, as antisemitism takes on insidious new forms – including the mask of anti-Zionism – and the impact of propaganda and distortion is felt so deeply by Jews around the world, knowing I can play a role in protecting the interests of the Cape Town Jewish community, documenting this moment in history, and demanding accountability from those who are amplifying hate and distortions, is one of the greatest honours of joining the Board.
Vanessa Raphaely – Founder | Chief Content Officer, The Village
My husband and brother-in-law were orphaned very young. Without the care, support and generosity of the Cape Town Jewish community, they would not have been able to study, to thrive and succeed. A deep sense of gratitude for that privilege fires my decision to ‘pay it back’. I am also the 6th generation of my own family to belong to and benefit from this community. Just as they left a legacy of duty and service, so do I, in my turn, wish to do so, as well.
Rachel Segal – Chair of SAUJS, Western Cape
Being a Jewish woman in leadership has been a journey of choosing courage over comfort, identity over silence. From my upbringing in Johannesburg to leading SAUJS in Cape Town, I’ve learned to carry my Jewish identity with pride even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. I don’t lead because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary. My Judaism drives my activism, my empathy, and my commitment to justice. As a Jewess and as a leader, I believe our voices matter. When young Jewish women step into leadership, we don’t just take up space, we transform it. ●
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