Here’s to our youth

This week marks the start of summer machanot, a cornerstone in the calendar of our Jewish youth movements and the canvas for so many formative experiences and cherished memories. The remarkable growth in camper numbers this year reflects the enduring strength and relevance of these movements within our vibrant community. Their success highlights not just a tradition but a dynamic system nurturing the next generation of Jewish leaders.

This week, our youth movement’s gap-year students also returned to South Africa, excited and ready to take on the challenges of maintaining and growing their movements and ideologies in the country. The gap years play an important role in developing our youth movements and by extension our community’s future leadership, and we look forward to seeing this year’s crop take on some of the community’s challenges.

Our Jewish school system continues to stand as a bedrock of excellence and achievement. Year after year, these institutions send a significant percentage of students to top universities, exemplified by King David Linksfield’s consistent ranking among the schools with the highest intake at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). This statistic is a testament to the incredible work that the schools do in developing our children.

In fact, in interfaith forums hosted by the Board, our schools are often cited as models of success that other religious groups aspire to emulate. I congratulate the principals, teachers, and staff of all the Jewish schools around the country for their tireless and successful efforts in shaping our school pupils.

At university level, the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) shines as a beacon of courage and advocacy. SAUJS is tasked with the challenging and sometimes daunting task of protecting Jewish students and Jewish interests on our university campuses, and our student leaders have acted bravely and strategically in their fight against bigotry and hate in sometimes openly hostile environments.

Following the devastating events of 7 October, SAUJS organised a poignant vigil at Wits, where participants sang Acheinu. This heartfelt moment of grief and unity exemplified the strength of our student community. As someone involved at Wits, I have witnessed firsthand the tireless efforts of SAUJS in combatting bigotry and maintaining safe spaces for Jewish students. While challenges persist, today’s campuses, including Wits, the University of Johannesburg, and the University of Pretoria are among the safest globally for Jewish students – a testament to SAUJS’s ongoing commitment and success.

This year, we’re also proud to witness the marked increase in the number of Jewish students at the University of Stellenbosch. This has been coupled with the creation of a permanent Chabad on the university campus, and the creation of a SAUJS branch in Stellenbosch. In the development of these institutions, especially SAUJS, we’re safe in the knowledge that our students will have a strong base in Stellenbosch, with the representation and backing required to ensure that their needs are met and that they will have a secure and supportive Jewish space on campus.

As we approach the end of the year, I’m grateful and inspired by our various youth movements, schools, and student organisations. Their unwavering dedication and achievements inspire confidence in a bright future for our community.

• Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.