AUSTRALIA WELCOMES BACK LARGEST EVER DELEGATION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN 21st CONVENTION
6-12 MAY 2010 CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA
Delegates from 23 countries, 230 in total attended the Convention.
The NCJWA delegation comprised of 11 delegates from Victoria and 2 from NSW:
Rysia Rozen OAM National President
Robyn Lenn OAM Immediate Past National President; ICJW Vice President
Di Hirsh OAM National Vice President
Malvina Malinek OAM ICJW Hon. Life Vice President & Co-Chair of Women’s Health
Susie Ivany President NCJWA Victoria
Vivien Brass Vice President, NCJWA Victoria
Marcia Pinskier Resolutions Committee ; Co Chair Status of Women NCJWA
Eva Robey ICJW Asia Pacific Chair
Halina Lewenberg, Alice Goldman, Doreen Kenmar, Nina Stone, Sandy Abrahams
All delegates were given ICJW bags, full of ‘goodies’ and information about South Africa.
The Pre Convention meeting for the Executive held on 6th May included Leah Aharonov’s Report as outgoing ICJW President. Leah outlined various issues that she addressed during her four years as President, including the Goldstone Report, UN environment issues, gender equality, rights of widows. Her full report is in the ‘ICJW Quadrennial Reports’.
Sharon Gustafson, Hon. Treasurer and the incoming ICJW President, presented a financial report for the past 4 years. She stated that ICJW is not for our mothers or grandmothers, it is for our daughters and granddaughters. New technology is taking over the old methods, online communication is on the increase. Sharon recommended that ICJW Affiliation fees should be increased. There was discussion on Responsibilities of the Executive.
Friday, 7th May, we shared a Shabbat service and dinner, officiated by Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft. A most enjoyable ‘get-to know you’ evening.
Saturday, 8th May. GALA OPENING DINNER at the Cape Town Civic Centre, hosted by the Mayor of Cape Town, Mr. Dan Plato, was outstanding. We were seated in a hall, like our Parliament chambers. Following official welcome from Anna Berkowitz, Convention Convenor and Leah Aharonov, Mr. Ian Thomas, gave a wonderful presentation on wild life in South Africa, accompanied by slides and sound effects of the animals, comparing the hunting tactics of lionesses to the skills needed in team work: taking leadership, knowing your strengths, knowing your goals and backing up each other in order to succeed.
SUNDAY 9th May, Opening Session began with a procession of flags from 23 countries, to cheers of all delegates. President and Treasurer’s reports were followed by introduction of Amendments, Nominations, Explanation of Voting.
WOMEN AS LEADERS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
Guest speakers were Helen Lieberman, Founder and Hon. President Ikamva Labantu, whose community centre we visited the next day; Nomfundo Walza, CEO of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre talked about the issues of sexuality and the high incidence of rape, learning from women who have suffered, the need to humble ourselves. She talked about the power of role models and the Ph D syndrome – Push her Down. She called for women to feel for each other, for each other’s children, for each other’s plight.
Prof. Marion Jacobs, Dean, University of Cape Town Medical School, spoke of social change happening in South Africa, University of Cape Town famous for pioneering research, there were no black students till 1986, with staff only white. University aimed at preparing students for leadership development, people grow ‘wings’ if you give then an opportunity, they become ‘angels’. She talked of the challenge to link the University to the needs of South African society, to change the institutional culture and take the students into the communities.
THE NEED TO SPEAK OUT
Patrick Solomon spoke about Human Trafficking, dealing with rights and responsibilities concerning women and children, identifying it as an international crime, modern day slavery, by selling body parts, organs, drugs and prostitution of people. Acts: recruitment, transportation; Means: threat of force, abduction; Aim: profit, exploitation. Children engaged to work on farms, as domestics, begging, pornography, illegal baby adoptions.
Dr. Karyn Moshal: HIV/AIDS. Dealing with HIV virus, which causes AIDS, from unprotected sex, poverty, malnutrition, domestic violence. Need for prevention and education among families and staff. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest concentration in the world – 20-34 per 100.
Dr. Marcel Londt: Domestic Violence-Beyond Shelters; talked about his work being responsible for child and youth well being, also involved with assessment and treatment of children, adolescent and adult sex offenders, working with communities to address issues of violence and youth at risk.
Lisa Chait: ‘Am I Good Enough?’ – The Effects of the Media on Young Women, dealing with self image, media impact on young people. Lisa is an experienced journalist, educator and councillor. Teach women to keep their dignity, search for where you can help, maintain good communication, we are responsible to pass on the right messages to children, stop blaming others, educate our sons how to behave, discourage bullying, stop living through your children, speak about health issues, teach them independence, spend quality time with your families.
Mary Tal read out a very moving poem in Honour of Women.
WORKSHOPS: ICJW responds/calls for action: Various workshops were held in small groups, dealing with the 4 issues to give us all the opportunity to discuss what can be done.
ON OUR ENVIRONMENT: Laura Siegel, Exec. Director JNF, gave a DVD presentation on JNF’s work and projects.
Lisa Chait spoke about ‘Habitat for Humanity’, illustrated with a DVD, an ICJW convention Legacy, wants to help underprivileged people living in shanty towns, building replacement houses, which take 5 days to build .Union of Jewish Women, Cape Town has built one home already. Twelve million people live in shanty towns in South Africa.
MaAfrica Tikkun, a group of 12 young women presented a drama on oppression and their dreams, a very energetic and powerful play.
MONDAY 10th May, Michael Bagraim, President, South African Jewish Board of Deputies, spoke about challenges facing Jewish community, dealing with anti-Semitism, concentrating on advocacy for Israel, dealing with Muslims and churches hating Israel and Jews. There are approx. 65,000 Jews in South Africa. There is need to be mobilised against anti-Semitism.
Omer Kalderon, Shaliach from Israel, spoke about his job to spread hasbara, show diversity in Israel. There are debates on whether Israel should exist. Kids question their identity, Omer encourages them to visit Israel. He organises Yom Haatzmaut celebrations, has a personal connection between Israel and diaspora.
STEPPING INTO THE WORLD: YOUNG LEADERS RESPOND
This was an excellent panel presentation by young women, on topics:
· How do young women/persons see their role in the Jewish community?
· How would young women/persons set their community agenda and their perspective of global Jewish issues?
· What are young women/persons’ views of the future of volunteering?
Some of their ideas included: role of Jewish young women in community, challenges, choices available; opportunities to be heard, instil pride in young people; being passionate about goals, being consistent. There should be an obligation to volunteering and tsedakah, volunteerism cannot continue as it is now, needs to change. Need to employ professionals, volunteerism should be project based. There is a lot of apathy, many young people live in a ‘Jewish bubble’. Feel disconnected, intermarriage is of great concern, reach out to those outside Jewish community. Young women identify themselves as African first; Jewish second and wife, daughter, mother, third. Their purpose is to make a difference to someone’s life, family being most important, set an example as being tolerant to others’ values: integrity; take control of ego.
Ethical Leadership, a very important part, must give young people ‘wings’. Integrity and honesty of most importance.
EPIC JOURNEYS IN AFRICA
Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, ‘The travelling Rabbi’ told us about his work throughout sub-Saharan Africa, illustrated by photos from: Botswana, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mocambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was fascinating to learn about the small Jewish communities’ survival and gradual decline in Africa. Rabbi Silberhaft’s dedication to his work is truly remarkable.
THE FULFILLMENT OF A DREAM – THE JOURNEY OF ETHIOPIAN JEWS TO ISRAEL by Andy Goldman, told us about ‘Operation Solomon’, story of Ethiopian Jews’ legendary flight to Israel, when whole villages made the journey on foot to the capital to escape the regime in Ethiopia.
CONTEMPORARY ANTI-SEMITISM.
MARLENE Bethlehem, Wendy Kahn, Professor Milton Shain and Evelyn Falck, , spoke on various degrees and forms of anti-Semitism across many countries.
LOOKING AT OUR WORLD
Madeleine Brecher, ICJW Representative to the United Nations,New York; Mirta Goldflus, ICJW Latin American Regional Chairperson, Nadine Iarchy, Chairperson, ICJW Interfaith Committee, Mary Liling, ICJW Representative to the Council of Europe, gave reports on their challenges in various countries, and how to face them.
Afternoon session was dedicated to Constitution, Budget for next Quadrennium, Policies and Resolutions.
LESSONS FROM AFRICA
We travelled by buses to visit the Rainbow Centre, a grass-roots community based organisation, part of Ikamva Labantu. Mrs. Helen Liberman, founder and Hon. Director for 35 years, welcomed us together with the staff of the centre. Many members, teachers, social workers told us about their work helping the disenfranchised impoverished population in South African townships. This was complemented with a documentary film, personal testimonies and singing by the women. A very moving session.
We visited the GREAT GARDENS SYNAGOGUE, Rabbi Oshy Feldman welcomed us and gave us a Special Blessing for women, a very beautiful Synagogue.
A tour of the Jewish Museum or Jewish Holocaust Centre and workshop completed this session.
GALA CLOSING AND INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS at the Protea President Hotel that evening was an outstanding success. Farewell by Leah Aharonov and Installation of new President, Sharon Gustafson and new Officers was very moving. We were entertained by ‘AFRICAN DELIGHTS’, a band of African singers/dancers and a Kantor, a wonderful combination. A well-known opera singer also performed with them.
WEDNESDAY 12th May, a Post Conference meeting of the new Executive, discussing policies, dates for future meetings and new guidelines for future conventions were discussed.
Sharon Gustafson hosted a lunch for us.
We were all very inspired. We thank the ICJW Committee and our hosts for making this Convention so successful. We look forward to meeting again in 4 years time.
Rysia Rozen OAM
National President NCJWA
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NCJWA SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE SHARON SHENHAV IN AUSTRALIA
