Mendelsohn takes reins at Commonwealth Jewish Congress

SUZANNE BELLING

PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED

 Pic 1: Jon, Lord Mendelson, president of the Commonwealth Jewish Congress.

Pic 2: Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft; Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis; and Shlomo Kessel, international director of Emunah.

South Africans on the executive board include Ann Harris, African regional president, Chaya Singer, (South African Jewish Board of Deputies) and Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, CEO of the African Jewish Congress and country communities’ spiritual leader.

Rabbi Silberhaft was in London as a guest of Emunah during a speaking tour to promote charity work supporting disadvantaged children in Israel, organised by Shlomo Kessel, international director of Emunah, who accompanied the rabbi on his engagements. These included a meeting at the home of Commonwealth Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Kessel is the son of Mike Kessel, President of the Hermanus Hebrew Congregation, and former principal of United Herzlia Schools. He was also the Chief Rabbi Mirvis’ principal at Herzlia, while Rabbi Mirvis is the son of the well-known Kabbalist Rabbi Dr Lionel Mirvis of Cape Town.

Shlomo Kessel often conducts High Holy Day services in Hermanus, which falls under the aegis of the Board’s country communities’ department. Heading up Emunah, he has contributed towards putting the organisation on the map. Audiences saw a film “Every Child Counts”, a first-hand account by Shlomo Kessel, who was formerly director of the Emunah Children’s Home in Afula.

The Commonwealth Jewish Council (CJC) provides links between Commonwealth Jewish communities, such as those in South Africa, Britain, Zimbabwe, Canada and Ireland. It supports their interests, cultivates constructive relationships to help further the goals of CJC and makes representations on behalf of Commonwealth Jewish communities to governments and other relevant bodies and people as and when seems suitable. Its work is funded by donations and subscriptions.