Going the Distance An Unconventional Aliyah: from Vryburg to Zuqim Against All Odds: a Lone Soldier's Journey into an Elite IDF Unit Making it in Israel: Being Fearless in Business Don't Stop Me Now: Lessons from Inspiring Athletes The Ultimate Endurance Test: Recognising our Healthcare Workers Never Give Up: Maintaining a Strong Mind and Body Vol. 47 No. 1 Pesach 2021 | Distributed to over 6000 households in Israel and abroad Greetings from our Chairman 3 Going the distance, the I was excited to make a dierence as the rst female (and theme for this edition of youngest) Chairman in Telfed’s history. At the same time our magazine, is tting I was faced with the daunting task of leading such an for this time of year and important organisation with so much to do. I truly believe especially following the we are a vital organisation to thousands of Southern year that we have had. African and Australian Olim. The story of Pesach, the Jewish exodus from Egypt Throughout the last 4 years I have worked hard to make sure culminating in settling in that Telfed was able to go the distance and will continue the Jewish homeland, is the to do so in the future. We have renewed our leadership, ultimate story of resilience, broadened our volunteer base and refocused energy on perseverance and faith. where it is needed most. We have rejuvenated our regional The past year has proven that Telfed is a strong, resilient and youth committees and expanded our activities. organisation. We were able to respond rapidly during the pandemic, reaching members of the community in I would not have been able to complete this journey urgent need. We have adapted our programmes to meet without the support of the amazing people that I volunteer government requirements - from our student volunteers with on a daily basis. As my term as Chairman draws to an and scholarship programme to online events reaching end, I have been inspired by the courage, tenacity and Olim across Israel, as well as those considering Aliyah from adaptability of our community, our volunteers, leadership South Africa and Australia. Social welfare, employment and sta - the people who make the organisation what it is. counseling and klita counselling have been as important I feel condent that our organisation will continue to grow, as ever, maybe even more so as many had nowhere else succeed and go the distance for many years to come. to turn. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to lead this very This theme is also meaningful on a personal level as my special organisation. second term of chairmanship of Telfed draws to a close after 4 incredible years. When I took on the chairmanship Chag Sameach of Telfed I did so with excitement and trepidation. Batya Shmukler Your contribution to our communal self-help fund will help us to continue strengthening & assisting our SA & Aussie oleh community in Israel Web: www.telfed.org.il/donor Tel: 09 7907819 Email: [email protected] Post: cheque in envelope Contents 4 5. An Unconventional Aliyah: from Vryburg to Zuqim 10. Against All Odds: a Lone Soldier's 33. New Arrivals Journey into an Elite IDF Unit 34. Honourary Donations 12. Don't Stop Me Now: 37. In Memoriam Lessons from Inspiring Athletes 42. Nuptials 24. Making it in Israel: 43. Recipe Being Fearless in Business 26. Never Give Up: Maintaining a Strong Mind and Body 28. The Ultimate Endurance Test: Recognising our Healthcare Workers Dorron Kline - Chief Executive Ocer (CEO) [email protected] / 09 7907818 Nava Lapid - Chief Operating Ocer (COO) [email protected] / 09 7907803 Daniela Shapira - Aliyah and Klita Advisor [email protected] / 09 7907804 Yael Strausz - Employment Advisor [email protected] / 09 7907815 Ariela Siegel - Social Worker [email protected] / 09 7907821 Dafna Rosenfeld – Olim Housing Manager [email protected] /09 7907808 Aviva Tal-Ohr - Volunteerism, Community Projects & Events [email protected] /09 7907805 Alona Zamir - Scholarships [email protected] / 09 7907811 Nicole Trope - Community Awareness Coordinator [email protected] / 09 7907825 Miriam Lipshitz – Olim Liaison [email protected]/ 09 7907801 Nikki Leviner - Head of Resource Development [email protected] / 09 7907802 Stephanie Roitman - Resource Development & Donations [email protected] / 09 7907819 Pazit Gil-Am Danesh – Resource Development & Subscriptions [email protected] / 09 7907819 Ofra Yechiel - Resource & Technology Development [email protected] / 09 7907812 Helayne Shedletzky - Bookkeeper [email protected] / 09 7907820 Keren Lusky - Bookkeeper [email protected] / 09 7907806 Michal Merten - Career Counsellor [email protected] Team Contributing writers: Guy Lieberman, Rivkah Naomi Green @sunbirdlife, Eloise Hummel, To renew your subscription online Jonathan Danilowitz, Dave Bloom, Alan Silber, Gordon Bloch, Israel Life Saving Federation, Richard Shavei-Tzion, Daniella Milner, Vanessa Rudolph, Andi Saitowitz, Ami Steinberger, Lisa Starr. www.telfed.org.il visit www.telfed.org.il/magazine/ Design: Talia Sharon – www.taliasharon.com/pic©pexels.com General enquiries: Proofreading: Rae Galloon, Batya Greenman, Sharon Bernstein, Miriam Lipshitz [email protected] / 09 7907800 Advertising: Stephanie Roitman [email protected] / 09 790 7819 Toll Free from SA: 0800-997-495 Magazine Production: Nicole Trope [email protected] / 09 790 7825 Chairman of Media Committee: Jonathan Shmukler [email protected] Website: www.telfed.org.il Follow us on Facebook (Telfed) Views and comments expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the South African Zionist Federation (Israel) or of the Editorial Board. SAZF (Israel) Telfed Israel Telfed and Instagram (telfed_israel) is not responsible for articles and advertisements which appear herein. A Farmer’s Aliyah: 5 the Last of the Hebrew Congregation in Cape Town, 1200 km away.” Isaac, the son of a farmer and himself a farmer for all of his adult life, speaks in extended measurements of time and Vryburg Jews space, of decades and distance. Having lived among the By Guy Lieberman vast expanse of the Northwest province, it’s no surprise that this is how he shapes the telling of his history, and his Everyone’s Aliyah story is a mixed bag of trials and future. tribulations, moments of great joy, often a profound Isaac was born in Vryburg and went to school there until sense of relief. Aliyah also invites a new raft of concerns. he was 9 years old, and then to King David Linkseld until Is it possible to be strangers in our homeland? Is it just a he completed matric. He had an active Jewish upbringing matter of time until things settle for us and we too adapt to in Vryburg, and in 1983 Liesel joined him from Pretoria. this new, ancient country? Or the one that visits at 4am… Isaac, straight out of school, farmed cattle with his father. should we have left SA? His father had bought the land in 1934 and started farming We all enter this monumental shift to make the move and in 1938. When he died in 1992, Isaac took over the farm. The for the most part, elation and uncertainties aside, many of Jocums had two children, a boy and a girl. us have a lot in common. We’ve Their daughter was Batmitzvah’d lived in Jewish communities on the farm, with the help of the in South Africa, in Jo’burg, Kimberley shul. Cape Town or Durban—with Aliyah was one of those dreams dwindling numbers in Port that spanned over decades. Elizabeth and East London—and The seed for Isaac was when he we’ve made the move to cities in came on Ulpan in high school, Israel where we can be among back in 1974. our people, where we might nd “During that visit I experienced comfort and familiarity. Primarily a transformation and felt I our Aliyah journeys take us to ‘belonged’ here. This was Jerusalem, Raanana and Tel Aviv, reinforced on almost every all vibrant cities and towns. trip to Israel thereafter. Since Our stories and experiences are Liesel’s rst visit in 1984, when our own, and they are unique. she ‘lost her heart’ here, she has Sometimes, however, an Aliyah constantly reminded me of her story stands out as a particularly burning desire to live in Israel. unusual one. How many Between 1984 and now we people do you know that have have discussed Aliyah and made attempted Aliyah with a parrot? more than fteen trips to Israel, And who comes from a farming always with an eye of making the region that was once home to a move—with the question: where thriving Jewish community? would we like to live?” Who do you know that was the last of the Jews to leave his In 2008 they undertook an extensive Aliyah research trip small South African town—in January of 2021, nog al, in the into the Negev. Ultimately they decided on the beautiful midst of a global pandemic? Arava desert Yishuv of Zuqim. Before moving, they had Once in a while an Aliyah story comes around that sets agreed on one very important motivator: when their itself apart almost in its entirety. The Aliyah of Isaac and quality of life on their farm deteriorated to the point where Liesel Jocum of Vryburg is one of those stories. it is eectively non-existent due to fear and threat, they will The Vryburg Jewish community started around 1913, the leave. On the one hand they had the lure and draw of Israel, same year that the rst minister arrived. The shul and and on the other they had facts on the ground in Vryburg community were active for most of the century, until its pushing them away—they were in danger.