Theodor Herzl continues the miracle, 65 years on

When the Jews of Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha, started Theodor Herzl School, they had no idea that it would still be going 65 years later. However, its original motto, “If you will it, it’s no dream” still stands as it embraces a more multicultural identity while holding on to Jewish values.

The community formulated the idea of establishing a Hebrew school where children could learn Hebrew and Jewish Studies in Port Elizabeth back in 1918, but the actual school was established only in 1959.

First, the Port Elizabeth Hebrew School was opened in 1937, and by 1940, 40 pupils were studying the full school syllabus from Sub A (Grade 1) to Standard 1 (Grade 3). These were mainly Orthodox Jewish children and children from German immigrant families.

This school later closed, and in 1959, Shlomo Levin established the Theodor Herzl School with the help of the United Hebrew Institute. Levin was its first headmaster.

“Theodor Herzl School was founded after the Shoah as part of the post-World War II Jewish day school movement,” said United Hebrew Institute chairperson Ian Meyer. “It was based on an ideological commitment to give Jewish pupils a secular and traditional Jewish education in a context where they had the opportunity to develop an authentic Jewish identity.”

Soon after its establishment, the primary school moved to its present-day campus in Walmer.

In 1961, the school had 70 pupils across three grades, and two years later, the school had double its numbers. In 1964, Theodor Herzl had 200 pupils.

At that time, the school’s leadership decided it needed to build a high school. “The community rallied together to raise the funds to build it,” said the present headmaster of Theodor Herzl, Viktor Kurz, “Even today, plaques are still visible all around the school showing donations given to the school by various families.

“Our first matric class matriculated in 1970, and set the tradition of academic excellence, which we keep to this day,” said Kurz.

However, the Jewish community started to dwindle from its peak of 2 500 families to the current 400 people.

In 1977, the school was faced with a difficult decision, whether to close its doors because there weren’t enough halachically Jewish children in the area or to open its doors to the wider Port Elizabeth community.

Said Meyer, “We were struggling with only halachically Jewish enrolment. So, the board decided to open it up to Jewish identity. It was opened to those whose children wouldn’t be considered halachically Jewish for whatever reason. We also opened it up to children who were reform or whose parents had gone through conversion.

“It was a marriage of convenience because we needed their enrolment to keep going, and they wanted a top Jewish education.”

Furthermore, The Holy Rosary and Marist Brothers schools in Port Elizabeth had closed their doors in the early 1980s, and many parents saw Theodor Herzl as a good alternative.

“In 1982, the decision was taken that we would accept children who weren’t Jewish, creating what is today a multi-faith school,” said Kurz. “The non-Jewish parents quite liked the idea of keeping Shabbat because it gave them time on the weekends,” said Meyer.

Kurz said that in his four years as headmaster, he has been amazed at the values that the school has taught its pupils.

“At the end of the day, it’s a values-based school, and Jewish values are universal. My deputy head boy is Muslim. There’s absolute respect. It’s very much about the individual,” Kurz said, ‘“Our Jewish ethos is central. Even though we’re evolving, we’re not losing the heart on which the school was founded.”

“It says a lot for a school that decades after leaving, most alumni still remember the words of the school song,” said Glynne Wolman, an alumnus of Theodor Herzl, and the founder of The Angel Network.

“Those of us lucky enough to have gone to Theodor Herzl remember the many traditions, from celebrating the chaggim to school tours, Shabbat Nachamu [of consolation], inter-house sports days, galas, and school plays. There’s no doubt that we were taught to play as hard as we worked. We learnt the value of team effort and though we were seldom – if ever – the strongest, we often managed to overcome more favoured opponents because of our enthusiasm and ability to work together.”

Kurz said he’s extremely proud of the fact that since war in Israel broke out on 7 October, there have been no unpleasant incidents.

Said Meyer, “Since 2002, when Theodor Herzl School had 320 pupils in three schools and the future looked very uncertain, we were advised that the way forward was to sell. Since then, our student numbers have grown exponentially to the point where we have 520 students, albeit with a Jewish enrolment of only 7.5%, and we have added additional classrooms and started a parallel stream in the primary school, funded by school fees, in the absence of major donors or any government funding.

“Part of our Jewish success is that Theodor Herzl School still employs a rabbi, runs a kosher kitchen, honours Shabbat, plays a benevolent role, and offers a Judaica programme. It not only contributes to Jewish community survival in Port Elizabeth, but to the development of an educational and community paradigm that can be generalised well beyond our boundaries.”

Geoff Mendelowitz, a member of the board of trustees, said the fact that Theodor Herzl had been able to survive for 65 years was “nothing short of a miracle of biblical proportions”.

“It’s amazing that we have been able to create this environment rooted in Jewish values that’s open to everyone. It’s an example of how we should all be living our lives.”