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Super Springboks show the way forward

One didn’t have to be a rugby fan to be thrilled by the Springboks’ memorable victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. In purely sporting terms, winning rugby’s premier crown for the third time was itself a great achievement, but there was a great deal more to it than that. What we and the world at large saw was an epic display of pride, passion, commitment and, above all, unstinting teamwork on the part of 15 South Africans totally focused on achieving their common goal. And, who could not be deeply moved by how the Springbok emblem, once the reviled symbol of exclusive white supremacy, has become so powerful a uniting force? It’s a timely reminder of how far our country has progressed since those bleak times, even if much work still needs to be done to recapture the spirit of national unity and optimism that characterised the years immediately following the democratic transition.

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4 years ago

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SHAUN ZAGNOEV

More than merely winning a sporting tournament, the Boks reminded us what we as a nation are capable of when we stand united. Here, I can do no better than cite the words of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who in his stirring post-match speech said, “We know we come from different backgrounds, different races, yet we came together with one goal and wanted to achieve it. We showed that we can pull together when we want to achieve something, and I hope that we’ve done that for South Africa.” This is a clarion call that all of us, with our political leaders necessarily leading the way, should strive to take to heart.

Full house for national conference

Such has been the interest in our national conference that we have found ourselves booked out with more than a week to go. However, for those unable to attend, we will be livestreaming the proceedings from on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SAJBD/). This will be the 50th national conference of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies since the Transvaal and Cape Boards of Deputies amalgamated to form a national body in 1912.

In marking this significant milestone, we remember the previous generations of leaders who gave so generously of their time and expertise to help ensure the safety and well-being of South African Jewry. The continued resilience and vibrancy of our community, which I will emphasise in my chairman’s report on Sunday, is to a considerable degree due to the foresight and self-sacrifice of those who preceded us. We can do no better than to emulate their example and strive to build on their accomplishments.

  • Listen to Charisse Zeifert on Jewish Board Talk, 101.9 ChaiFM, every Friday from 12:00 to 13:00.

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