ANT KATZ

Nominations are open to the public and all nominations should be sent via e-mail to nominations@SAJewishReport.co.za – see more on www.sajr.co.za – and anyone can nominate anyone. The judging, especially in the audited business categories, has been described by many top financial fundis, as the most rigorous and credible business awards process in the country.

Nominations should include:

• The nominee’s name, telephone number and e-mail address
• The award for which the nominee is nominated
• A short motivation for the nomination

   

  The Business and Entrepreneurial awards are judged by a panel of independent business people, financial journalists, stockbrokers and Absa representatives, who interview all of the candidates. The results are all audited by Grant Thornton accountants.

   

The Jewish Report humanities awards are:

• The Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of Helen Suzman – which is awarded to a Jewish person who has contributed in an extraordinary manner, in their specific field, over a lengthy period of time;
• The Community Service Award – which is awarded to a Jewish person who has served the Jewish community with remarkable distinction;
• The Arts, Science, Sports & Culture Award – awarded to a Jewish person who has excelled in any of these spheres; and
• The Chivas Humanitarian Award in honour of Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris – which is awarded to either a Jewish or non-Jewish person who has contributed substantially to the betterment of the lives of the people of South Africa.

The three Absa Jewish Business Awards are:

• The Absa Listed Company Award – awarded to a Jewish person in a senior leadership position within a Listed Company and who has achieved enormous success worthy of recognition; and
• The Absa Unlisted Company Award – awarded to a Jewish person who is in a senior leadership position in an unlisted company and who has achieved significant success worthy of recognition; and
• The Absa Entrepreneur Award – awarded to a Jewish person who has shown enormous entrepreneurial flair and business innovation.

The black-tie awards evening is replete with music, comedy and a sparking array of the whose-who of SA Jewry. There is no other event in the social calendar which attracts as many high profile individuals as the Absa Jewish Achiever Awards.

All the 2013 winners

In 2013 the Jewish Report humanities awards included a Special and Extraordinary Lifetime Achievement Award to Natie Kirsh. Other winners were: Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of Helen Suzman went to Jane Raphaely; the Chivas Humanitarian Award in honour of Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris went to Patrice        Motsepe; the Art, Sport, Science & Culture Award was scooped up by David Goldblatt; and the Jewish Report Community Service Award went to ORT SA & ORT JET.

The 2013 Absa Listed Company Award went to Marc Wainer of Redefine Properties Ltd. In the Absa Unlisted Company Award category, the eminent judging panel could not decide between Ray Levin of Kia Motors SA, and Ran Neu-Ner and partner Gil Oved of The Creative Counsel and so both achieved awards.

Similarly, Absa Entrepreneur Awards were doled out – one to Stephen Rich of Stephen Rich Interiors in Cape Town, and the other to Greg Sacks of Alchemy Properties.

Past winners read like a who’s who

Previous winners of awards include Brian Joffe (Bidvest), Adrian Gore (Discovery), Raymond Ackerman (Pick n Pay), Asher Bohbot (EOH), Alec Wapnick (Octodec), Gill Marcus (Reserve Bank), Brett Levy (Blue Label), Steven Joffe (Gold Reef City), Philip Krawitz (Cape Union Mart), William Kirsch (Primedia), Herschel Mayers (Discovery Life), Sean Melnick (Peregrine), Abe and Solly Krok (Krok Brothers), John Copelyn (HCI), Arthur Gillis (Protea Hotels), Jeff Zidel (Resilient Properties), William Kentridge (Artist), Danny K & Kabelo (Shout Campaign), Phillip Tobias (Paleo Anthropologist), Ina Pearlman (Operation Hunger), Johnny Clegg (Musician) Dr Ali Bacher (cricket administrator) and Pieter Dirk Uys (Comedian). The Awards, in the past, have also honoured both President Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for their contribution to South Africa.

The closing date for nominations is 18 July. All nominations can be mailed to nominations@SAJewishReport.co.za