Young Chigwedere making history at a traditional Afrikaans school

VALENTINO CHIGWEDERE

My name is Valentino Chigwedere (Hebrew name Yehudah). I am 17 years old, living in Johannesburg and attending Hoërskool Vorentoe in Auckland Park.

I attend Beit Emanuel in Oxford Road. I’m not yet fully Jewish as my conversion is commencing in January next year, but have been a fully dedicated goy who is regarded as Jewish.

I wear my kippah every day and tzizit most of the time to school. I’ve been attending and practising Hashem’s mitzvot for two years now and also attending shul for two years. At school I am regarded as the only Jew to have ever attend my school.

Recently in early August I was elected deputy head boy. I’m the only Jew in the school and the first Jew since the establishment of the school in the 1930s; there has never been a Jewish leader in a position of high authority before.

I hope you find this story encouraging, especially to the youth. I hope it will inspire the youths in the Jewish community to reach unimaginable heights.