Change in airwaves as Feldman takes over ChaiFM

Longtime broadcaster and morning show host Howard Feldman is taking over the reins of ChaiFM as Kathy Kaler, who has been at the helm for more than two decades, hands over leadership of the country’s only Jewish community radio station. 

The move marks both the end of an era and the beginning of a new, ambitious chapter for the station. 

“Everything is about timing, and it’s perfect timing,” Kaler, who will be involved until February 2026, told the SA Jewish Report this week. “I’ve been doing this for nearly 22 years. I never started ChaiFM for myself. It has always belonged to the community. We have a board on which all the community organisations sit.” 

Kaler maintained that the decision wasn’t difficult; rather it was natural. “If I had started it for myself, it would be difficult, but I didn’t. It’s for the community,” she said. “I’ve got other projects I want to begin and some to complete, and I want to do that while I still have the energy to do it. I’m very, very proud of what we’ve built, and I have no doubt Howard is going to continue that legacy.” 

Feldman agrees that the timing could not have been better. “It’s one of those things that happens slowly and then all at once,” he said. “For years, I’d spoken to Kathy about taking ChaiFM to the next level, but the timing was never right. Then a few months ago, I sensed it was time. I reached out, and within days, we had an agreement. It was years in the making, but when it happened, it happened quickly because the timing was right.” 

Having hosted his own show on ChaiFM for nearly a decade, Feldman has long been part of the station’s heartbeat. His transition into leadership feels less like a takeover and more like a continuation of a shared vision. 

“Kathy ran this for 21 years and built it up from scratch,” he said. “She saw that it was time for new blood, new management, and new ideas. It can’t be easy for her, but it’s a credit to her that she recognised the need for the next phase, and that she’s supported it so fully.” 

Kaler echoes the sentiment. “Howard has been a partner in terms of programming and funding for a very long time, a lot longer than anybody really knows,” she said. “I think the station is going to go from strength to strength under his leadership.” 

For Feldman, the vision for ChaiFM’s next chapter is clear: to strengthen its community focus while modernising its reach. 

“The potential is enormous,” he said. “I’m bringing in a team of people to look at marketing, digital strategy, and programming to make the station more viable and resilient. We want to grow, diversify our shows, and most importantly, adapt to the changing digital landscape.” 

He emphasised the need for evolution. “We have to be more digital,” he said. “Younger audiences aren’t turning on the radio the way older generations did. They’re on podcasts, YouTube, and social media. So we have to meet them where they are, with content that’s relevant and exciting.” 

But even with this focus on growth and innovation, Feldman insists that ChaiFM’s identity as a platform for honest community dialogue will remain its core. “We’re a robust community station,” he said. “We talk about the things that matter, and we’re prepared to have the difficult conversations others avoid. It’s about being independent, real, and relevant.” 

Like many community organisations, ChaiFM has faced financial pressures, and Feldman isn’t shying away from the topic. 

“There were financial constraints,” he acknowledged. “The station went through a lean time, and that was one of the reasons I stepped in to help address that. But this isn’t a corporate buyout. Some of it I’m self-funding, and some comes from people who believe in ChaiFM’s importance. There are no big investors behind it, just a few of us who care deeply about making sure that the station not only survives but thrives.” 

That mix of personal investment and community support reflects the ethos Kaler established from the start. “I’ve always put the community, the listener, before anybody else,” she said proudly. “That’s what it’s all about.” 

Despite the leadership change, Feldman said ChaiFM’s staff remained strong and stable. “Everyone’s staying,” he confirmed. “We’ve got incredibly talented people. Mukundi, for example, is taking on more responsibilities. He’s brilliant at content. It would be a waste for him to focus only on technical control.” 

He credits the team’s hard work and reputation for drawing in high-calibre guests and building a loyal audience. “Our producers are exceptional and I think people trust us to have meaningful, authentic conversations. That’s why guests come on, and that’s why listeners stay.” 

The feedback from the community, he says, has been overwhelmingly positive. “People are excited about what’s ahead. I’m daunted by the responsibility, but I’m also incredibly excited. I want ChaiFM to be different, quirky, and real. We’re a smart community, and we deserve content that reflects that.” 

As she prepares to hand over the reins officially, Kaler says she does so with gratitude and optimism. “I’m happy about it,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful. The timing is perfect. ChaiFM has never been stronger, and I believe Howard will take it to even greater heights.”