Last chance to nominate your Jewish Achievers

JORDAN MOSHE

“We reiterate that nominations for this year’s Absa Jewish Achiever Awards close at 17:00 on Friday,” says Howard Sackstein, board chairperson of the SA Jewish Report. “This is the very last opportunity for people to submit their nominations, so we urge them to do so as soon as possible.”

Sackstein expressed his excitement at the number of nominations which have poured in over the past few weeks. “So far, we have had in excess of 400 nominations come in,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see that people want to recognise those who have made a special contribution to our community and country.”

Four different judging panels have been established, and they are tasked with sorting through the many nominations received. “These panellists are the ones who sift through everything we’ve received, and it’s for them to determine who our finalists will be,” says Sackstein. “They will not only look through documents, but will also carry out independent research of their own and interview candidates in order to reach a conclusion.”

Dani Kedar, CEO of the SA Jewish Report, explains that the theme of this year’s event, Re-Generation, highlights the fact that a new era of hope is upon us. “The Re-Generation speaks of our triumph as a nation in having emerged from a bitter winter of state capture and economic downgrades, and the general gloom of hopelessness,” he says. “We celebrate the new dawn, a season of new leadership which has brought with it a more positive outlook.

“We are all too aware of the remnants of our harsh winter, though, and not naive to the huge challenges we are facing, both as South Africans and as the Jewish community.

“However, we are confident that as market leaders, captains of industry, humanitarians, entrepreneurs and community leaders, we can achieve a rebirth and realise our vision of South Africa as a beautiful and prosperous country, experienced this way by all who live in it.

“We are the Re-Generation, a generation that can emerge from its challenges reborn, transformed and triumphant,” he concludes.

Sackstein agrees. “Today, people talk about us being the ‘we’ generation, one marked by selfishness and self-concern. However, at this year’s ceremony we want to celebrate the people who contribute to our community, our country and our world. This, in order to prove that this is not the ‘we’ generation, but the Re-Generation of care, support and devotion.”