Ettie Buch shares centenary and lifelong service with WIZO

Ettie Buch has been an active member of Bnoth Zion (BZ) WIZO (the Women’s International Zionist Association) in Cape Town for 72 years, so it’s fitting that she celebrates her 100th birthday on 24 November, in the same year that World WIZO celebrates its centenary.

Born in the Strand, Western Cape, Buch is the proud mother of two daughters, six grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Working for BZ WIZO beneficiaries in South Africa and Israel has been her life’s work, and she has overcome many obstacles, including surgery just recently following a fall.

“My involvement with BZ WIZO began in my school days when I helped my mother to collect JNF Blue Boxes from the Jewish congregants in the Somerset West/Strand community,” Buch says.

“The women in our small congregation formed the Somerset West/Strand Ladies Zionist Society , and by default while I was at school, I became their secretary after I noticed that members had been invited to come to a meeting at the shul at ‘ate’ pm instead of eight!” The rest is history, and Buch is still actively fundraising for projects that support vulnerable families locally and in Israel. Mazeltov and happy 100th birthday, Ettie Buch!