Devoted Jewish communal and Zionist leader passes on

ISAAC REZNIK

“but I don’t know why I became involved . Maybe it was my mother who, although she had no formal education, knew about life and brought us up religious.”

For him the highlight of his communal life had been the satisfaction of doing things for the community, meeting great people and being in Israel for many Zionist congresses.

After many years of dreaming, Joe and his life’s partner Phyllis (nee Levin)

made aliyah in November 1999.

At the age of 15 – in 1946 and then also in 1947, 1949 and 1951 – he attended the Hashomer Hadati Movement camps and then the Bnei Akiva camps in 1953and 1955.

 Joe held executive positions  as chairman of Bnei Akivah from 1953 – 1955 and chairman at the opening of Yeshiva College in Parktown in 1955. He was also a

member of the Zionist Youth Council.

Furthermore he was an executive and honorary officer of Mizrachi (1956 – 1995), chairman (1987 – 1994) and president, 1995.

As an Honorary officer, he served on the treasury committee of the South African  Zionist Federation; he was chairman from 1994 – March 1998, and elected president until 1999, when he left for Israel.

Joe was very involved with Yeshiva College and the Glenhazel Area Hebrew Congregation which he served with loyalty and dedication He was elected to the committee in 1968 and served as chairman and vice-chairman and was a prime mover in building the new shul which was completed in 1975.

His international involvement  was with the World Jewish Congress, Keren Hayesod, the IUA and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

As a past chairman of the Glenhazel Shul, Joe was adamant that there was no other community in the world to match the spirit of Glenhazel.

He was an engineer for nine years and then worked in life insurance for 35.

Joe is survived by his wife Phylllis, three sons and a daughter, daughters-in-law, son-in-law and many grandchildren.

May his memory be for a blessing.