Selfless leaders and winners November 13, 2025

There are moments during the year when the vibrancy of our community is on display for all to see. Past weeks present such a moment. Starting with the Investec Jewish Achiever Awards on 2 November, which were so robustly supported, filling the Sandton Convention Centre, and highlighting the exceptional contributions of our community to the fabric of South African society. Hot on its heels came the Chevrah Kadisha Pillars event on 9 November, another gathering that drew our community in full force, once more filling the Convention Centre.

The Pretoria Board of Deputies held its annual general meeting (AGM) last week, in yet another display of strength and vibrancy from Jacaranda Jews. The AGM honoured the 40 years of devoted service of Board professional Myra Egdes to the community in Pretoria. Egdes was the editor of the Pretoria Jewish Chronicle for 40 years, from its first issue. At the same time, she was the long-serving secretary of the Pretoria Council of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. She is an exceptional person, and, at 90 years of age, has recently published a book!

This motif of celebrating enduring service resonated deeply at the Chevrah Kadisha, too, where it bestowed a special award on Chief Executive Saul Tomson for his two decades at the helm. Tomson’s steady hand has charted the organisation’s course through transformation, forging a centralised structure that draws admiration worldwide.

It calls to mind, too, the national Board’s heartfelt recognition of Shirley Beagle for her steadfast contributions. Though no longer a full-time employee, Shirley continues to manage the material claims for our Holocaust survivors, a vital and meaningful duty that ensures that survivors can continue to live in dignity.

All too often, the spotlight falls on our communal organisations’ lay leaders, those selfless volunteers pouring countless hours into our various causes. Yet it’s fitting and essential to shine it also on our professional staff, who labour tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our organisations thriving and attuned to our needs.

In continuing the theme of communal unity among our various bodies, last week, under the leadership of Gauteng Chairperson Danny Mofsowitz, leaders from several key community organisations gathered in Johannesburg to discuss strategy and improve co-ordination when dealing with potential communal crises. The meeting dealt with aspects including security, media, and social media responses.

Our diverse communal bodies have a history of seamless co-operation, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the immediate aftermath of 7 October 2023. That said, it is so important to ensure that best practice is maintained, and that co-ordinated co-operation is as smooth as possible, dafka now during relative calm, so that the best protocols remain in place for more complex moments.

December has traditionally been a tricky moment for the Board, and with so many of the Johannesburg community out of the city, it can provide its own challenges. We were reminded of previous crises including the tsunami in 2004; the KwaZulu-Natal riots in 2021, and various other events. It was thus so beneficial to have key leaders around a table working together to ensure that collective interests are safeguarded.

As we head into exam season, allow me to take this opportunity to wish our pupils and students the best of luck over the exam period. The Board remains available to all students in the event of exams clashing with Jewish religious practice. Please don’t hesitate to flag any issues to us. Study hard, and good luck!