Seeff embraces role as ‘headmaster of the board’

Rabbi Ricky Seeff, formerly the principal of King David Victory Park Primary School (KDVPP), has taken up his new position as general director of the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE). This makes him responsible for the financial and operational management of 11 Jewish schools, including nine King David* schools, and for the vision and strategy of the board.

At the helm of KDVPP, he revamped the school organisationally and introduced future-focused infrastructure like the media hub. He was an inspirational leader.

Describing the primary school as being in “an excellent place”, he says the board is an avenue for him to be able to contribute to the “ongoing legacy of excellence” in Jewish education and give of himself in a broader way.

He will share the title of general director with Rabbi Craig Kacev until 2020. Kacev, who Seeff describes as a leader and mentor, has held the position for the past 17 years.

Seeff doesn’t envision making major changes in his new position. “The schools are excellently run, operationally, financially, and educationally, with tremendous professionalism and robust processes on all levels. This is enhanced by partnership with the board,” he says.

But, he stresses, the educational landscape is changing worldwide, and “we will need to remain innovative, creative, and community orientated to make sure that our reputation and impact continues”.

“The priorities for me are to investigate areas of potential educational innovation in order to make King David an industry leader in deep, thoughtful, future-focused education, and to enhance the scope and impact of the Jewish education offering,” he says. “We are investigating the addition of a chumash curriculum in the coming year, and will ensure that our students have a deep-rooted connection to their Judaism, intellectually and emotionally.”

There is no doubt that Jewish education has been affected by emigration and a shrinking community, But, Seeff says it’s not a crisis. “King David’s numbers have remained largely constant, or within a 3% variability, for the past 10 years, and we will continue to respond successfully to the everchanging needs in the community for well over 3 000 students in our schools.

“In spite of the challenges of 2020 that independent schools have faced, our community has remained resilient, and we will emerge stronger in the future,” he says.

“There are a number of excellent schools in Johannesburg, but none are able to offer what King David does. A King David education is far more than our excellent matric results. It transcends pure academics. What makes our schools special is the connection to community, the connection to a shared history, and the self-belief we imbue in our students that they can have an impact on the world in remarkable ways.”

Seeff emphasises the importance of community and values at this time. “Noah’s Ark is a paradigm for how to survive a world in chaos,” he says. “One needs a safe place, surrounded by family and community, in which one focuses on values and what’s really important in order to weather the storm. After 2020, we need community and community institutions more than ever, and I believe that the SABJE plays this role in the lives of our families. The board is a critical asset that I’m proud of, and I hope, bézrat Hashem, that I’m able to do justice to this very important role.”

*Each King David campus has schools which are viewed independently due to their size and management structure.