What winning a Jewish Achiever Award meant to me

In 2023, I was honoured to receive the Mann Made Community Service Award at the Jewish Achiever Awards. To be recognised by our Johannesburg Jewish community – renowned worldwide for its warmth, care, and support – was a privilege I will never forget.

For me, the award was less about personal achievement and more about recognition of the collective effort behind the King David Schools’ Foundation. It gave me the opportunity to pay tribute to the many people who have played a pivotal role in the foundation’s success, and to showcase the impact of our work in sustaining Jewish education of excellence.

As executive director of the foundation, I have had the privilege of reconnecting with alumni across the globe. No matter where I travel, I see how we are bound together by a common thread – our King David education and our proud South African Jewish roots. Our alumni are community leaders, innovators, and proud Jews making a difference around the world. Many carry with them a deep sense of gratitude, and a strong desire to give back, acknowledging where their journey began.

I owe much of my own inspiration to my late colleague and mentor, Elliot Wolf. He understood the power of education to open doors, transform lives, and unite communities. His dream of connecting alumni worldwide to create a financial legacy for King David schools continues to guide our work. Receiving this award gave me added credibility, particularly when engaging with international donors, and I hope we have made him proud.

The award also touched me on a deeply personal level. As a child, I was the beneficiary of a school fee subsidy. A donor invested in my Jewish education, and it changed the course of my life. I can testify to the lifelong impact of funding a Jewish education – it instils pride, values, and identity. That gift helped shape me into the proud Jewess I am today.

In today’s world, where antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment are on the rise, the importance of Jewish education cannot be overstated. It does more than provide academic excellence, it grounds our youth in Jewish history, ethics, and values, strengthens Jewish identity, and ensures Jewish continuity.

The Jewish Achiever Awards play a vital role in our community. It not only honours individual contributions but shines a light on the collective strength of South African Jewry. It inspires the next generation, celebrates role models, and reinforces the pride we all feel in belonging to this extraordinary community.

Being part of this journey, and being recognised in this way, has been humbling and affirming. It’s a reminder of the power of education, the importance of giving back, and the privilege of belonging to a community that values both.

I remain grateful to have been a recipient of this prestigious award, and proud to be part of a Jewish community whose impact is felt far beyond Johannesburg.

Last week to nominate, so nominate now on bit.ly/jaa25nom

• Raelene Tradonsky is the executive director of the King David Schools