Kol hakavod to Rabbi Menachem Bombach, whose visionary actions are highlighted in a recent edition of the SA Jewish Report (28 August 2020).
He grew up in Mea Shearim, but obviously, with great difficulty, extended his education beyond the narrow range he experienced in his Haredi environment.
He “made it his life’s work to help other Hasidim get a more well-rounded education to benefit them and Israel as whole”.
Coming at the end of South Africa’s Women’s Month, it was shocking to read that less than 7% of Haredi women have a “full secondary school matriculation certificate”, whereas at his schools, boys and girls cover the entire official Israel matric syllabus.
Here is a rabbi who is working towards the coming of Mashiach, encouraging the development of “the moderate middle of each community to work together to preserve the community … deepen our values and identity, while at the same time becoming a part of the world”.
