HILA ZETLER
After the highly successful conference, the attendees exited to a sea of 5 000 Israeli and Zionist supporters who had rallied around in solidarity in Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.
Over 300 guests attended the conference’s gala opening on the evening of August 9 and the IA hall was packed to capacity.
Ben Levitas, outgoing Cape Council chairman, delivered an impassioned opening address. He was followed by a number of guest speakers such as Michael Freeman, deputy chief of mission of the Israeli Embassy and David Breakstone, vice chairman of the World Zionist Organisation.
Guests were then treated to an outstanding lecture by the keynote speaker, Prof Robert Wistrich, who holds the Neuberger chair for Modern European History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His topic was “Anti-Zionism and the new ‘Jewish question’ in the 21st century”.
The evening also provided the SAZF the opportunity to present two awards. The Jerusalem Award for the outstanding support of Israel by a person outside the Jewish community went to Rev Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the ACD and the Buchman Award, which is an annual award given to a young and passionate Zionist community member, went to Luigi Bonfig, chairman of SAUJS Cape Region.
The Sunday session of the conference consisted of three panel discussions, each bringing fresh ideas and plenty of food for thought. The three topics under discussion included: “Israel’s solutions to today’s challenges”, “Anti-Zionism – is it anti-Semitism in disguise?” and “SA relations with Israel… moving forward”.
Each panel involved intense deliberations and created a wonderful forum for engagement and dialogue around very relevant and topical issues.
On Sunday the delegates also voted in a new council. They are: Daniel Levitt; Esta Levitas; Tamar Lazarus; Rodney Mazinter; Tessa Scher; Jacki Sachar; Luigi Bonfig; Rowan Polovin; Nilly Baruch; Shelley Friedman; David Abel; Rabbi Sam Thurgood; and Adrienne Judes.
Election of the new chairman and executive committee takes place later this week.
