Support refugee Swazi kids through song

DAVID SAKS

The evening, which took place at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre, was hosted by the school’s founder, local philanthropist and Jewish communal leader Geoff Ramokgadi. The JJMC rendered its services for free in order to help raise funds for the refugee children, including towards school fees, uniforms and stationery.

Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, CEO and spiritual leader to the African Jewish Congress (AJC), acted as MC. He introduced each individual item on the concert programme and explained its significance.

ABOVE: “Shosholoza!” Geoff Ramokgadi; Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft; and JJMC Chairman Professor Russell Lurie.

One of his initiatives had been to establish the Kobe-Ramokgadi Academy, an institution that, in addition to the high level of education it provided, instilled the values of love, compassion, integrity, humility and commitment to serving humankind in its learners.

In her welcome message, school principal Thuli Makgatho likewise paid tribute to “Bra Geoff” and also to Rabbi Silberhaft, for his “generosity, love and commitment… shown towards our Swazi children”.

In 2011, the AJC, in partnership with the organisation, Australian Books for Children in Africa, established a library for the school, named the Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft Library. The school officially opened its doors the following year.

The concert programme was an entertaining mix of liturgical melodies, musical arrangements of passages from Tehillim and other Biblical passages and Israeli songs, with variety added by an African and a traditional Russian folk song (sung, respectively, in Zulu and Russian).

Veteran local musician Evelyn Green, JJMC’s musical director, was accompanist and conductor. The evening concluded with some of the schoolchildren, Rabbi Silberhaft and Ramokgadi joining the choir on stage in a rousing rendition of Shosholoza.

During the interval, Rabbi Silberhaft read messages of support from AJC Acting President Ann Harris and Israeli Ambassador to South Africa Arthur Lenk. Chris Eden, director of the Christian Zionist organisation Bridges for Peace, delivered a message on modern-day Israel from a Biblical perspective. 

Other distinguished guests included religious and business leaders, among them Father Malaza from the Anglican Church and Pastor Msane from the Evangelical Church.