OWN CORRESPONDENT
PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL BELLING
Pictured; Sara Chana Kesselman
Rabbi Motti Hadar, who succeeds her as principal, said the gathering was to thank her for her many years of service.
Chairman of the Lubavitch Foudation of SA, Rabbi Mendel Lipskar, who also heads the Chinuch Hanhala (Education Committee) of Torah Academy, said they were there “to say thank you to Mrs Kesselman, who put so much of her life into this special school”.
Torah Academy was known as “the school with a neshama”, he said, adding that Kesselman put the neshama into the school.
“She loved every child with a happy and full heart.”
Rebbetzen Estee Stern, a teacher, alumna and parent at the school, paid tribute to the outgoing principal and her devotion to every child.
The grade 5 girls read a rhyming presentation in recognition of her achievements at the school over the years.
Rabbi Dovid Hazdan, dean of Torah Academy, said a book had been compiled for her as a memento of her time at the school.
Reflecting on over 30 years in this country since she and her husband came to South Africa from the United States as shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Kesselman described several leadership qualities demonstrated by Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah, highlighting leadership through love.
