Lifestyle/Community
International ORT Day celebrates 139 years of education
ORT South Africa joined students and teachers of the Jewish educational organisation around the world on 10 April to celebrate ORT’s establishment in St Petersburg on that day in 1880. ORT is the largest Jewish educational organisation in the world.
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“When celebrating a 139-year-old organisation, you acknowledge its history, achievements, and future,” said ORT SA Chief Executive Ariellah Rosenberg. “We stop everything once a year to have a party to honour our network, the opportunities it offers, and our togetherness.”
ORT SA in Johannesburg and ORT SA Education in Cape Town celebrated with a variety of events throughout the day.
Staff took part in a competition on the history of the organisation, as well as eating ORT-branded snacks. Said ORT SA staffer, Lauri Kruger, “I am proud to be part of an organisation that has been around for a whopping 139 years, having an impact on thousands of lives around the world during these decades. Today, we continue to educate, keep up with changing times, and believe in every person that steps through our doors.”
Students posted hundreds of images on social media using the ORT together hand gesture.
The 2018 agreement of affiliation signed between World ORT and the South African Board of Jewish Education opens many doors to King David students. The recently inaugurated Youth Ambassadors of the ORT SA Youth Club at King David Victory Park and Linksfield high schools, allocated time on the day for connection, togetherness, and celebration of the organisation, which is passionate about making the world a better place through education.