Our Jewish future thrives on vision and courage

I have written before about why – and what – I remain optimistic about in South Africa.

My optimism comes from the vast majority of its people – generally those not in government – who are resilient, resourceful, and remarkable.

Nowhere is that more evident than in our Jewish community, blessed with extraordinary leaders across every sphere of communal life: men and women who give their time often freely, bring world-class expertise, and shoulder the weight of difficult decisions out of a deep love for the Jewish future of our community.

Recently, the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE) announced that it was reviewing the future of the King David Victory Park campus. This news is especially hard for the Victory Park families, and their feelings deserve respect and empathy. While the broader implications for the community will no doubt be discussed at length, that’s not my focus here.

To me, it’s a powerful reminder of something bigger: our future is safeguarded when we have the courage to embrace change, dream new dreams, and paint a fresh picture of what our community can be. That, in itself, is inspiring.

Important communal organisations like the SABJE aren’t run by distant committees. They are powered by passionate volunteers – captains and leaders in their fields whose skills are recognised far beyond our community – alongside extraordinary full-time professionals who could succeed anywhere, yet choose to dedicate their talents to building and protecting Jewish life here. This is true across every sphere: security, welfare, medical, media, shuls, schools, yeshivas, culture, kosher and religious governance, political representation, youth movements, and more. Behind each is a team fully invested in our future, willing to make bold – and sometimes uncomfortable – decisions to ensure that we thrive for generations to come.

We live in an age of rapid change – technology, demographics, the way we learn, the way we connect, the way we move. The world has shrunk, bringing both extraordinary opportunities and new challenges, and South Africa has had its own share of “own goals” along the way. Communities everywhere are evolving, and ours is no different. Change can stir emotion, especially when our heritage and traditions feel sacred, but standing still is the greater risk. Change is also the spark that allows us to reimagine, innovate, and build something stronger than before.

When I look at the calibre of the volunteers and full-time professionals who give so much of themselves to our community, my optimism only deepens. They understand the importance of their work, the weight of the responsibility they carry, and the difference their leadership can make. They know that our future depends not on preserving things exactly as they are, but on ensuring that our community remains vibrant, dynamic, and always building, even if that future looks very different from the past.

They are the giants on whose shoulders our community will keep building, growing, and dreaming – guided always by Hashem’s wisdom and protection as we strengthen, preserve, and grow our vibrant community for the generations still to come.

• Benjy Porter is a family man, entrepreneur, a director of the SA Jewish Report, and holds various other communal leadership positions.