By Rica B ( Class of 74)
The weather was warm and sunny on the 5th of September 2014 and we met up at the middle school greeted also by Geoff Cohen (Director of Education) and head students wearing their new school uniforms. Some of us connect every few years so we recognize each other and for others it's much longer. I had not seen Bruce Elkin for 40 years! Those initial hugs and hello’s are indescribable. It was a heart warming site even for those students walking by who were told that these ex Herzlians were having a reunion after 40 years!!
We were taken on a tour of the school. Lots of old and familiar including the steps, the quad, our team and council photos on the same corridor walls and even Miss Ritz. Lots of new including the media center, midrash learning center and fabulous sports complex.We had an info session about the school and challenges facing Herzlia as well as Jewish, Zionist, and religious education in CT and a different SA and then were taken to the classroom dedicated to our classmates in 2007 who had passed away at that time. The renew a classroom project.
After some food and lots of photos we boarded the bus and headed to Franschoek.
Gary led the Shabbat service with that wonderfully familiar voice and ruach and we had a kosher Shabbat dinner in a dining room beautifully set out with Shabbat candles for all the ladies to light, challot, kippot, menus with Herzlia logos...The organizers ( including Janine and Jennith) thought of everything. Lots of catching up, alcohol, reminiscing , jokes and hilarity....
Sat morning was the formal catch up session facilitated by Eddy who has an unbelievable memory and an endless repertoire of class stories and jokes. The organizers collected memorabilia from our youth in the 60’s and days at Herzlia. They brought a collection of candies including sherbert, starfish, chappies,dried fruit, yo yos, and games. Power point presentation of pictures of toys and games we played, cars our families drove, equipment we used reflecting the times. Lots of old photos and then we read out updates and showed new photos from our families and those that sent in.
We also lit candles and said Kaddish for those in our class who have passed away. Eleanor Ehrlich, Dawn Brenner, Gregory Zurnamer, Wolfe Friedlander, Benny Grunfeld, Cedric Katz, Cyril Rabinowitz, Shireen Hayman, Leonard Hayman.
After a delicious salmon lunch at a nearby restaurant and more good reminiscing stories we gathered for a talk by Michael Bagraim who shared his insights on SA politics from his unique position as MP and member of the Democratic Alliance. An interesting glimpse into the politics that now affect everyone’s lives in CT and South Africa. There are 16,000 Jews and 800 000 Moslems in CT. Bags was also a Lawyer for Cyril Karabus ( The CT oncologist who was jailed in Dubai for murder) and what a bonus to hear him talk about his experience with that famous case as well.
Sat night we were treated to wine tasting and a delicious braai at the exclusive Bellingham Winery and Estates which exceeded everyone's expectations.
After breakfast on Sunday we had the privilege of a talk by Prof Richard Mendelsohn ( cousin of Jeremy Resnick who was in Franchoek for the weekend), well known Historian at UCT and author of "The Jews in South Africa.” He spoke about challenges facing SA Jewry including reactions of Jews and non Jews to the recent war in Israel/Gaza and the movement toward Orthodoxy within the CT and Joburg Jewish communities. Lots of opinions and debate and another unexpected bonus we all appreciated and enjoyed.
The bus took us back to the " slopes of Table Mountain " and then on to another tourist treat of Cape Malay food at Bokaap with the amazing backdrop of the mountains.
The reunion wrapped up at Graham and Janine's home in Camps Bay on a perfectly warm evening, with a spectacular view of the sea and sunset. We all ate, chatted, laughed some more,took more pictures and then hugged our old friends and classmates thank you and goodbye. What an Experience.
I have been to a few reunions and each has had a uniqueness dictated by the circumstances and venue. For me having this in CT was very special. I had not been back for 9 years and the opportunity to see the school, be treated to the wonderful food, scenery and culture CT has to offer and the bonus of "seminars " on The progress and challenges of Living in South Africa, made this reunion exceed all expectations.
For me it is also about reconnecting, remembering our experiences that shaped and influenced us and being able to appreciate and of course laugh about a lot of them.
I know there were some who wanted to join us but due to circumstances could not. We talked about you and missed having you with us....hopefully we will see you next time.
At previous reunions we spoke a lot about the challenges of emigration and raising children and this time I had many conversations about the challenges of taking care of elderly parents at home and abroad. Many of us still remember each other's siblings and of course parents which makes these discussions so personal and supportive.
This could not have happened without serious effort and hard work by the organizers which was really appreciated by us all. Everything was well thought out and organised enabling us to just hang out and enjoy each others company.
Eddy and Graham were the official organizers and much of the behind scenes work and attention to detail was done by their wives Jennith and Janine. Thank you all so much for facilitating this wonderful opportunity for us all.
Any suggestions for the next reunion .... Other participants feel free to add to my offering, I know there are lots out there dying to hear about it.
We were taken on a tour of the school. Lots of old and familiar including the steps, the quad, our team and council photos on the same corridor walls and even Miss Ritz. Lots of new including the media center, midrash learning center and fabulous sports complex.We had an info session about the school and challenges facing Herzlia as well as Jewish, Zionist, and religious education in CT and a different SA and then were taken to the classroom dedicated to our classmates in 2007 who had passed away at that time. The renew a classroom project.
After some food and lots of photos we boarded the bus and headed to Franschoek.
Gary led the Shabbat service with that wonderfully familiar voice and ruach and we had a kosher Shabbat dinner in a dining room beautifully set out with Shabbat candles for all the ladies to light, challot, kippot, menus with Herzlia logos...The organizers ( including Janine and Jennith) thought of everything. Lots of catching up, alcohol, reminiscing , jokes and hilarity....
Sat morning was the formal catch up session facilitated by Eddy who has an unbelievable memory and an endless repertoire of class stories and jokes. The organizers collected memorabilia from our youth in the 60’s and days at Herzlia. They brought a collection of candies including sherbert, starfish, chappies,dried fruit, yo yos, and games. Power point presentation of pictures of toys and games we played, cars our families drove, equipment we used reflecting the times. Lots of old photos and then we read out updates and showed new photos from our families and those that sent in.
We also lit candles and said Kaddish for those in our class who have passed away. Eleanor Ehrlich, Dawn Brenner, Gregory Zurnamer, Wolfe Friedlander, Benny Grunfeld, Cedric Katz, Cyril Rabinowitz, Shireen Hayman, Leonard Hayman.
After a delicious salmon lunch at a nearby restaurant and more good reminiscing stories we gathered for a talk by Michael Bagraim who shared his insights on SA politics from his unique position as MP and member of the Democratic Alliance. An interesting glimpse into the politics that now affect everyone’s lives in CT and South Africa. There are 16,000 Jews and 800 000 Moslems in CT. Bags was also a Lawyer for Cyril Karabus ( The CT oncologist who was jailed in Dubai for murder) and what a bonus to hear him talk about his experience with that famous case as well.
Sat night we were treated to wine tasting and a delicious braai at the exclusive Bellingham Winery and Estates which exceeded everyone's expectations.
After breakfast on Sunday we had the privilege of a talk by Prof Richard Mendelsohn ( cousin of Jeremy Resnick who was in Franchoek for the weekend), well known Historian at UCT and author of "The Jews in South Africa.” He spoke about challenges facing SA Jewry including reactions of Jews and non Jews to the recent war in Israel/Gaza and the movement toward Orthodoxy within the CT and Joburg Jewish communities. Lots of opinions and debate and another unexpected bonus we all appreciated and enjoyed.
The bus took us back to the " slopes of Table Mountain " and then on to another tourist treat of Cape Malay food at Bokaap with the amazing backdrop of the mountains.
The reunion wrapped up at Graham and Janine's home in Camps Bay on a perfectly warm evening, with a spectacular view of the sea and sunset. We all ate, chatted, laughed some more,took more pictures and then hugged our old friends and classmates thank you and goodbye. What an Experience.
I have been to a few reunions and each has had a uniqueness dictated by the circumstances and venue. For me having this in CT was very special. I had not been back for 9 years and the opportunity to see the school, be treated to the wonderful food, scenery and culture CT has to offer and the bonus of "seminars " on The progress and challenges of Living in South Africa, made this reunion exceed all expectations.
For me it is also about reconnecting, remembering our experiences that shaped and influenced us and being able to appreciate and of course laugh about a lot of them.
I know there were some who wanted to join us but due to circumstances could not. We talked about you and missed having you with us....hopefully we will see you next time.
At previous reunions we spoke a lot about the challenges of emigration and raising children and this time I had many conversations about the challenges of taking care of elderly parents at home and abroad. Many of us still remember each other's siblings and of course parents which makes these discussions so personal and supportive.
This could not have happened without serious effort and hard work by the organizers which was really appreciated by us all. Everything was well thought out and organised enabling us to just hang out and enjoy each others company.
Eddy and Graham were the official organizers and much of the behind scenes work and attention to detail was done by their wives Jennith and Janine. Thank you all so much for facilitating this wonderful opportunity for us all.
Any suggestions for the next reunion .... Other participants feel free to add to my offering, I know there are lots out there dying to hear about it.
I wrote this on the plane coming home and I was going to send it to Eddy/Graham for preview and editing...but to save time I did not so hopefully no significant errors or varibles....
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