ZIONIST ANNUAL REPORT DGNJSR The Jewish Agency South Africa: A Year in Review 2013 DGNJSR TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE ISRAEL CENTRE 2 GREETINGS 4-6 ISRAEL ENCOUNTER 2013 7 THE JEWISH AGENCY MISHLACHAT 8-9 (DELEGATION) TO SOUTH AFRICA 2013-14 THE ISRAEL QUIZ 2013 10 ZIONIST CARAVAN 11 ALIYAH2GETHER 12 HIGHER EDUCATION EXPO 13 ABOUT THE ISRAEL CENTRE The Israel Centre represents The Jewish Agency for Israel in South Africa. We are committed CYCALIVE 14 to strengthening the connection between the South African Jewish community and the PARTNERSHIP2GETHER ARTISTS DELEGATION 15 State of Israel, through various programmes and comprehensive Zionist Education. ALIYAH NOW EXPO 2013 16 Through Partnership2Gether, we are proud to join with the Beit Shemesh-Mateh Yehuda region in Israel and Washington DC to connect Jewish Communities in Israel and the PARTNERSHIP2GETHER COEXISTENCE SOCCER DELEGATION 17 Diaspora. ZIONIST YOUTH MOVEMENTS 18-19 Working closely with our Shlichim, we maintain vital ties with our Zionist Youth SAZF ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2013 20-23 Movements. JNF ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2013 24-25 The Israel Centre offers various educational programmes, including Israel Encounter and ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION 26 Masa Israel Journey gap year, study abroad, post-college and volunteer programs in Israel. With over 200 unique programmes on offer, the Israel Centre does its best to match the ABOUT THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL 26 most suitable programme to the individual. Through our Maoz Education Program, the Israel Centre works closely with the formal and informal Jewish education systems to create and maintain the vital bond between young Jews and Israel. Aliyah is the cornerstone of our work and Israel is the number one immigration destination for South African Jewry. Through the eligibility of the Law of Return, we provide a smooth transition to Israel for anyone wishing to make Aliyah, by assisting with all the necessary documentation, flights where applicable and various Ulpan Programmes. We ensure that every Oleh has an absorption plan. 2 GREETINGS GREETINGSZIONIST CARAVAN Shalom Haverim! South African Jewry has a proud history of commitment to Zionism and Zionist activity. On behalf of the South African Jewish community, I would like to congratulate the From pre-state days until today, the South African Jewish community has always stood South African Zionist Federation and the Israel Centre on leading our community with side by side with the State of Israel. Over twenty thousand South Africans have made creative and relevant events, both educational and social, all of which connect our their homes in Israel, and thousands more visit every year. community to our beloved State of Israel. Today, within the South African Jewish community, Zionist activity is spearheaded by the I would specifically like to pay tribute to the Chairman, Mr Avrom Krengel, his Executive SAZF and the Israel Centre. Zionist youth movements that span the political spectrum; Committee and professional staff, Mr Shimon Shamila, Israel Centre Director, and his the recent visit by the mixed girls football team from the Peres Centre for Peace; services team of staff and Shlichim, on leading our community with such excellence, passion, to potential olim; trips to Israel and public advocacy are just a part of the huge breadth and commitment in deepening and giving expression to our community’s Zionism. and scope of activities that offer a range of opportunities for people to be involved with The vibrancy and professionalism of the South African Zionist Federation makes an and to connect to Israel. important contribution to our community. The commitment is mutual. Israel remains deeply connected to our brothers and sisters At this time we also remember and pay tribute to the enormous sacrifices and suffering in “Drom Afrika” and sees our ties to be unbreakable. We have a shared destiny and of all those who have fought to establish and protect the State of Israel. We pray for the confidence in the strength of Israel as a democratic, diverse and successful home for all soldiers who are being held in places unknown and incommunicado by those who seek Jews and all of its citizens. our destruction. Also, at this time, let us, with humility and gratitude, acknowledge the awesome miracles and blessings that G-d has showered upon us from the very As we enter 2014, I see great potential and opportunities for the bi-lateral relationship beginning of the establishment of the State of Israel, right through to the present. We between Israel and South Africa and am confident that Israel and South Africa relations realise that without our loving Father in heaven we would not have been privileged to have a bright and positive future, and I encourage all to play a role in strengthening those see the re establishment of Jewish sovereignty in the holy land of Israel after almost ties and showing how we can further partner together. 2000 years. May G-d continue to bless the Jewish People and the State of Israel with His abundant goodness. B’Kavod rav, Kind regards Arthur Lenk Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein Ambassador for the State of Israel 4 5 VIDEO GREETING ISRAEL ENCOUNTER 2013 Every year, the Israel Centre sends approximately 200 participants from across South Africa on Israel Encounter, a memorable 12-day student program in Israel. In 2013, four groups of Grade 11 students -- a Cape Town group, a Johannesburg group, a Religious Boys group, and a Religious Girls group -- saw young Jews discover Israel, starting in the North and ending in Tel Aviv. Click on the picture to watch the greeting by During those 12 days, they visited Jerusalem, Tzfat, the Negev desert and Israel’s southern region, Shimon Shamila and Ein Gedi. Participants touched the Kotel and explored its tunnels, swam in the Dead Sea, rode Director, Israel Centre-South Africa camels, spent a night in a Bedouin tent, visited Massada, sat within Independence Hall, and felt the sorrow and pain of Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl. They were fortunate enough to visit universities and colleges, and met representatives from various gap year programs who informed them about the opportunities that await them in Israel once they have finished school. Since its inception six years ago, over 1000 students have participated in Israel Encounter. ISRAEL CENTRE: ZIONIST ACTIVITIES 2013 ACTIVITIES ZIONIST CENTRE: ISRAEL 6 7 THE JEWISH AGENCY MISHLACHAT (DELEGATION) TO SOUTH AFRICA 2013-14 JOHANNESBURG CAPE TOWN Shimon Shamila, Director of The Israel Centre South Africa, Yaniv Nachmas is the Head Shaliach in Cape Town as well as the grew up in Be’er Sheva. He was a captain the Golani infantry brigade, Community, Aliyah, and Habonim-Dror Shaliach there. He is 35 and and holds a degree from Ben Gurion University in Economics and arrived in Cape Town two years ago with his wife Maya and their three Business Management. Before performing his first Shlichut in the children. Yaniv has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and UK, Shimon was a madrich at various US summer camps. On his Education, and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, both second day in the UK, Shimon met his wife, Renana; they have four from Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Before arriving in Cape Town, sons. Back in Israel, Shimon joined a local southern NGO assisting Yaniv worked as regional director for Perach, Israel’s largest tutoring and with sustenance and education for underprivileged families. He mentoring organisation. then joined The Jewish Agency as a regional director for the Partnership2Gether project, working with Jewish communities in New Tamar Glauber and Eliraz Wohl are the Youth Movement Shlichot Jersey and Deleware for joint programs in the eastern Negev region. for Bnei Akiva in Cape Town. They arrived together just two months ago, and are working for the Jewish Federation and for the Bnei Akiva Of his years in South Africa, Shimon says ‘this is the best job’ he’s ever had. Youth Movement. They teach at Herzlia schools three times a week and Shimon was the recent recipient of an award from The Jewish Agency organise activiteis, create relationships, and act as role models for the for being the best regional director within The Agency, worldwide. madrichim and chanichim in Bnei Akiva. Ori Leizer , Youth Movement Shaliach (Emissary) to Betar, Tamar is 22. After completing high school she volunteered through the is 28 years old, from Rishon L’Zion, near Tel Aviv. Ori has a BA in Israeli National Service in a home for underprivileged teenagers. She Government and Diplomacy from IDC Herzeliya, and worked at the graduated from Ariel University with a B.A. in digital communications. Knesset as a Parliamentary Assistant for the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. He worked at Jewish summer camps in the United States, Eliraz is 20. After graduating from high school, she completed two years and in 2010 was the director of the JCC camp in Copake, New York. of National Service, volunteering in a primary school and running a branch of Bnei Akiva in Petach Tikva. Ori came on Shlichut to South Africa to bring back to life the Zionist Youth Movement of Betar. He also works as an Aliyah Shaliach at the Mor Arbel, Youth Movement Shlichah to Netzer, is 26 and comes Israel Centre, and has been instrumental in educating the community in from Kibbutz Yiftah in the upper Galilee. She holds a degree in Psychology the fields of Zionism, Hasbara, and the History of Israel through Maoz. and Behavioral Sciences from Yezre’el Valley College in Israel. After her military service she worked at a summer camp in California, teaching Yaron Shiponi, Youth Movement Shaliach to Habonim-Dror Israeli culture and Zionism.