Jewish Agency representative Moshe Lederman arrived in South Africa at the end of 2005 with his wife, Booky and daughter Yuval, to fill the role of the Cape Town Community, Aliyah and Habonim shaliach.

Over the past three years Moshe has been very much involved in this community, as well as working in Christian Zionist groups, giving lectures on all aspects of Israel from politics and history to the Israeli society. He has also spoken and delighted Cape Town audiences with his lectures on Israeli humour.

As head of the Aliyah Department, Moshe was responsible for sending close to 100 Capetonians on aliyah, seeing the biggest increase in numbers from Cape Town for the past 5 years. As Habonim shaliach he was very much involved in the machanot and the weekly peulot, sharing his insights and passion for the movement.

From Constantia and Muizenberg, from Tableview and Milnerton, from Claremont and Sea Point, the community flocked to bid farewell to the bachurim of the Chief Rabbi Cyril and Ann Harris Yeshiva of Cape Town last month.

Those present in the home of the Yeshiva, Beit Midrash Morasha loudly endorsed the well deserved tribute paid by the current chairman, Lance Katz.

He noted that the Yeshiva was the only Torah based learning facility which was community-based, and its success over the past 14 years was due in large measure to the ability of the bachurim to interact with all sections of the community, promoting their core values of Israel centred Torah Judaism.

He paid tribute to Selma Glass who had retired earlier in the year, after being involved with the Yeshiva since its inception.

MaAfrika Tikkun’s COO Mark Gamble, chairman Moonyeen Castle and Amanda Blankfield (MaAfrika Tikkun Gauteng) with Colin Brown of sponsor Deutsche Bank.

There is a clear need for the youth of South Africa to become practically involved in the problem-solving process surrounding issues facing students, so as to develop South Africa’s next generation of leaders. With this in mind, MaAfrika Tikkun and Deutsche Bank hosted the second annual Big Talk Youth Conference on Thursday, 23 July.

The themes for this year’s conference — the Department of Education’s school pledge, drugs and racism — were energetically discussed amongst the students. Key solutions were presented for these problems facing high school learners, with the school pledge heatedly debated.

MEC Cameron Dugmore who facilitated the session on The School Pledge with the Events MC, member of Parliament Regina Mhlomi.

“I am very excited about the participation of all the learners involved,” says the Western Cape MEC of Education, Cameron Dugmore. “I was impressed with the content of the discussions and am pleased that the youth of South Africa were enthusiastically involved.”

The conference, held at Sea Point’s Civic Centre, created a secure and sustainable platform for high school students in the Western Cape to debate significant challenges facing them in a constructive and safe manner. 42 diverse schools were dynamically involved in a mutual problem solving process to bridge the communication gaps between decision-makers and our youth.

Following years of growing concerns over Irans nuclear intentions, the crisis has now moved to a new and more dangerous level. After months of stalemate on the diplomatic front, and as the public statements, pronouncements and mind games have been ratcheted up, we have now seen dramatic statements on the military front by both Israel and Iran.

On July 9 Iran grabbed the headlines by claiming to have test-launched a set of Shahab-3 missiles, which they claim have a range of some 2,000km (1,240 miles) that would put all of Israel in its reach in addition to state-of-the-art shore-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles.

Sitting here surrounded by a half unpacked suitcase, with the sand of the Negev still in my shoes, I cant help but feel that Ive left some piece of myself back in that hot, dusty land of Israel.

Together with six enthusiastic Capetonians and an energetic, lively group of eighteen young Jews from Johannesburg, I recently had the profound privilege of participating in the YAD/ Kesher United Jewish Campaign South African Young Leadership mission to Israel. A trip that promised insights into the challenging daily life faced by the Israeli people, as well as exposure to the achievements of that great country, exceeded everyones wildest expectations, to become a truly inspiring once in a lifetime experience.

Our tailor-made South African mission preceded and followed our involvement in the Yachdav Keren Hayesods Youth Leadership Conference, which brings together missions from all over the world. This year being the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, an exciting and broad programme of events was planned and we all relished the opportunity to be in the Jewish homeland at such an auspicious time.

On the 6th of July this year, corresponding to the 3rd of Tammuz, we will commemorate the 14th Yortzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe obm. On this auspicious day we reflect on the life of the Rebbe, his teachings and his vision for a better world. We share with you here a story that conveys in part the great love that the Rebbe had for the land and people of Israel, as well as the Rebbe’s inimitable approach and ability to transform even the most challenging and tragic events in our life into an impetus for positive change and growth.

On the eve of Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day) last year, as the bonfires were being raised on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, the lights were burning also in Tzafrir (Kfar Chabad), the Chabad-Lubavitcher village in the Lod Valley.