Praising Herzlia pupils’ good deeds in face of anti-Israel harassment

OWN CORRESPONDENT

Yesterday, DEISI International became aware of the unfortunate experiences you recently experienced at Vista High School. This is just a brief note to let you know that there are many non-Jewish South Africans who not only recognise and appreciate your efforts, but who stand with you as Zionists and who have your back!

Thank you for reaching out to those outside of your community who need help. Thank you for playing an active role to better the future of others. Thank you for exuding courage, maturity, dignity and diplomacy when faced with hurtful opposition.

Please know that the message communicated by the deputy principal to you is not a message that represents the view held by many South Africans. Yes, at times the political and social climate seems to be more hostile towards the Jewish community than it seems to be friendly.

However, I hope you will be able to see from the messages attached from a small number of our members (all of whom are also youth) that you are loved and appreciated.

The tikkun olam and gemilut chasadim shown by you, other students at your school and your teachers through your outreach programmes over the years, is very similar to the African principle of “ubuntu”.

This is but one example of the fact that as fellow South Africans, we share more similarities than differences. DEISI is grateful for and celebrates these similarities. We also recognise that the Jewish community has much to offer our country and so hope that even if you are unable to continue with the project at Vista High School, you will continue to reach out to and make a difference in communities who need help.

So once again, on behalf of the president, board and all the members of DEISI International, please be assured that there are people who support you, who value and love you, and who recognise the legitimacy of Zionism and the beauty it represents.

I hope to personally read of greater programmes initiated and implemented by you and your school!

G-d bless you and Am Yisrael Chai!

Olga Meshoe

DEISI International CEO

What an admirable, positive attitude you guys have, initiative such a project, to help other learners. I am extremely impressed by your understanding of the need to help others. Thank you very much for your perseverance and courage, especially having to deal with the unreasonable behaviour from the deputy principal and his colleagues.

I wish you all the best with your “Discover 2017” programme. I truly hope your message against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism gets across not just to children and youth, but to adults as well, and all across South Africa. Lastly, please remember that DEISI stands with you!

Refilwe Maphisa

As a young South African Christian Zionist (I believe Israel has the right to exist) who loves and supports the Jewish community and people, I would like to indeed thank the Herzlia High School grade 11 pupils, for their maturity, dedication and disciplined conduct they’ve shown under difficult measures facing hate and misjudgement from Vista High School.

I would like to also inform the pupils not to be discouraged from taking part in good initiatives as they have done, despite the critics and all kinds of negativities and can assure you that some of us out there recognise and admire your efforts.

Out of experience we all know that not everyone who claims to love or support you does so, but I personally do take to heart the words of G-d in Genesis 12:3 that come what may… I do and will continue to bless, love and support you as members of the Jewish community.

Zamokuhle Shabalala

The grade 11 pupils of Herzlia High School should be commended for the work they are doing in the Bo-Kaap. Their selfless service at Vista High School is undeserving of the anti-Semitic attacks they have experienced.

The pupils of Vista High School deserve better from their vice principal and the advancement of their education should not be hindered by hate. Keep up the good work Herzlia High, DEISI International stands with you!

Emmanuel Olusegun

I recently had an opportunity of speaking to grade 11 pupils of King David High School as a DEISI representative during what they called their “Encounter Programme”.

The topics and conversations tackled there, were sobering, challenging and thought provoking. I noticed a strong, fresh breed of young people who dared to question the status quo and who refused to accept wrong, though widely accepted as the norm. I knew that South Africa was in good hands and that there was hope for our beloved country.

More and more South Africans, particularly those in their youth, are rising up to a new dawn of love, care, selflessness and a true rainbow nation free from hate and intolerance.

The Department of Education should have been long contacted and the principal, understanding the school’s code of ethics and policies, surely did not need the deputy principal’s permission to do the right thing for her school and greater society.

I applaud these brave and strong Herzlia pupils. There shouldn’t be the need to stop this excellent initiative by the pupils, but rather every effort to have the deputy principal disciplined for his behaviour.

As a fellow youth member and South African, I congratulate you all for the great work you’re doing and encourage you to continue against all odds, because we’re all in this together for a better South Africa.

Gladys Modise

I wish to commend all grade 11 pupils and educators who are involved in driving the Herzlia/Vista project. It is encouraging to hear of pupils and teachers joining hands to help create a better learning environment for the Vista High School grade 8 pupils.

This is living evidence that there are still people, who embrace “ubuntu” as their core value and that we should continue embracing it.

However, it is saddening that there are individuals who instead of supporting such great initiatives, use them as platforms to promote hatred, intolerance and division with their narrow ideologies.

To hear of the matured and dignified conduct that the pupils and teachers displayed during this unfortunate if not painful experience, is more encouraging in that we should never allow anyone or anything to stop us from being kind to people. May the G-d of Israel bless and protect you all.

Sififso Ngwena

As a DEISI International member, I would like to congratulate you on the good work you’ve started in renovating the Vista library. Your attitude demonstrates the selflessness we’ve come to appreciate from our Jewish brothers and sister in and out of Israel.

We are sorry that things turned out the way they did because some people (especially in South Africa) have allowed themselves to be enemies of nice things, things which would benefit us in the future.

Please continue with your good work and may Hashem continue to bless and keep you.

Tlotliso Mphuthi

We offer our apology too, to you, your staff, the pupils and to the parents who have been affected by the unpleasant situation.

DEISI is also in support of the removal of the offensive posters. As a democratic society with a diverse population of different cultures, languages, nationalities and religions, schools are bound to ensure that through our diversity we develop a unity of purpose and spirit that recognises and celebrates our diversity.

This should be particularly evident in schools where no particular religious ethos should be dominant over and suppress others. The school is mandated to ensure and protect the equal rights of all students, put aside all differences and to focus on the project.

We wish you all the very best with the director of education in the Western Cape. Please do not get weary of doing good through this project. May the L-rd be your strength.

Zanele Masia

We heard about what happened at Vista and can truly say it was cowardly and shameful. What we do know is that light attracts all kinds of insects and this was no different.

Do know that there are young black South Africans out there who appreciate you, and all the people of Israel. Thanks for all you do.

Keep your heads up, keep your lights shining and remember that there are more people for you than against you. You guys rock!

Much love and G-d bless.

Joshua and Lerato Meshoe

It is so sad that in the time that we live in we still have learned individuals such as the deputy principal of Vista High who, with all the information we have at our disposal, still believes the propaganda against Israel and is bold to put anti-Zionist posters on school premises! What is sadder is that for a year he has seen the students of Herzlia High School conduct the outreach programme with his school without any offence or discrimination. Instead Herzlia High School have given it their all by assisting and helping develop and skill students at Vista High School.

Thank you to the students of Herzlia High who, even after seeing the posters at the school continued their work. We do appreciate the efforts that have been put in to this project. I do hope proper action is taken against the deputy principal in order to continue the relationship the two schools have had thus far.

Lerato Marite

It is with regret that DEISI learns of the anti-Semitic conduct by the deputy principal of Vista, who placed posters of anti-Zionism in his office windows, a clear attempt at offending the pupils of Herzlia High School.

We wish to inform the brave pupils who were clearly not intimidated by this conduct, but instead fought it with resilience and maturity and continued with the program as planned, that we as DEISI stand with them, that we recognise that indeed they are already the global citizens the school seeks to make them. Furthermore, through their conduct, they have made a contribution to society, i.e. by exposing the truth about the state of Israel and the propaganda about it even here in the Republic.

We are proud of the pupils and rest in the knowledge that tomorrow will be a better for many because of their work today!

Shalom

Bongani Khanyile, DEISI International Vice-chairman