Cape Board’s new executive director Daniel Levitt spells out his vision

SUZANNE BELLING

His primary vision for the Cape Board is to represent the Jewish community in a confident, positive and proactive manner. He also promises increased outreach to the broader Cape Town community.

As executive director of the Board, he says: “I am fully committed to the rights of a safe and positive future for South African Jewry and South African society as whole.”

On his vision, he says: “We will be focusing great effort to ensure a safe and free living environment for all Jews in South Africa, where anti-Semitism is tackled in a resolute manner.

“We will further our activism in addressing any form of racism and will add value to strengthening democracy and the freedom of all living in South Africa.”

He said he believes “our traditions as Jews” are paramount to the continuation of a proudly Jewish future and will focus on creative methods to use these foundations as important channels for activism within its own community and the wider society.

The State of Israel is part of the identity of all Jews. It is the Jewish State, and plays a role in the future of global Jewry.

“We will continuously defend our right to support Israel, to support her democracy and to strengthen positive relationships between South Africa and Israel,” he stressed, adding that the Cape Town Jewish community was formidable and well-established, with deep roots in the history of South African Jewry.

“Next year we will be celebrating 175 years of established South African Jewry which began with the founding of the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, known as the Gardens Shul. Today we have a flourishing community, proactive and well engaged in communal affairs.”

Cape Town is a city of creativity and this element has been implemented in communal environments, he says. The schools, shuls and organisation, are thriving with initiative and innovation. Communal involvement from the youth is on the rise.

Levitt quoted Eli Wiesel: “For in my tradition, as a Jew, I believe whatever we receive we must share.”

The Board has strong social change projects, is involved in economic forums, engages on interfaith platforms and is working hard to tackle racism.

“As a Jewish people, we’ve experienced the depths of discrimination and hatred and we are responsible for playing a significant role within our societies to strengthen freedom and rights for all,” Levitt says.

A positive relationship between professional and lay leadership is vital to the growth of an organisation.

The Board is structured in a democratic way with the wider Jewish community and affiliate organisations voting in a new committee.

The lay leadership is the voice of the community and policies and implementation strategies should represent the interests of the community. 

“With regard to the status quo of the Board, I do not have any plans to change it and will accelerate its purpose, which is to protect the civil liberties of the Jewish community.”

Born in Johannesburg, Levitt attended Yeshiva College and Torah Academy in the city, before furthering his studies at a yeshiva in Melbourne and at the Mayanot Institute in Jerusalem.

He held office for a short period as chairman of the South African Zionist Federation (Cape Council), was previously elected vice-chairman and served on its committee in a range of portfolios.

He is married to Miriam and they have three children, Eliyahu, Menachem and Idan.