TA Primary embraces 67 Blankets

SUZANNE BELLING

PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER

One of the first responses came from Torah Academy Primary School, which had already commenced working on the project before the appeal was issued. The school then decided to participate in the SAJR initiative started by Carol Steyn of Auto and General.

To coincide with the Youth Day long weekend, Karen Knowles, general manager of Jewish Report, and photographer Ilan Ossendryver visited TA Primary School which held a special assembly on Friday, June 13.

Principal Michelle Kaplan explained the origins of Youth Day and the revolt in Soweto by schoolchildren in 1976.

“I thought it was fitting to hand over the blankets and squares in time for Youth Day. I hope the blankets bring comfort to needy people and children,” she said.

Ossendryver offered to distribute some of the ready-made blankets during an assignment he had in Soweto, while the knitted and crocheted squares were handed over to Knowles to swell the contributions of the Jewish Report’s collection.

Boys and girls from TA Primary entered into the spirit of chesed and tzedakah by adding their squares to the collection. They held their squares above their heads and threw them in the air in excitement.

Yeshiva College has also responded to the appeal, but Knowles aims at the participation of every Jewish school.