INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN CONVENTION

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, 6 – 12 MAY 2010

From 9th – 13th May 2010 the Mother City welcomed more than 200 women from over 23 countries to the 21st Quadrennial Convention of the International Council of Jewish Women. It’s been a good year for South Africa and Cape Town in particular in hosting large-scale international events. This convention, a highlight on the international Jewish communal calendar, was no exception.

Held at the President Hotel and hosted by the South African Union of Jewish Women, it was convened ostensibly to vote on key issues and support the mandate of the Union. It was also an important forum to catch up with old friends, make new ones and acknowledge that, despite language and geographic differences, Jewish women share much in common as women, mothers, partners and communal workers. The conference served as a reminder of the impact and importance of the Union, which has an impressive global membership and is now represented at the United Nations.

Established in 1912, the International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW) is a collective of 52 women’s organisations in 47 countries, working for social justice and welfare for all. The ICJW provides a voice for Jewish women around the world and a platform for the issues that concern their families and communities.

A magnificent opening Gala Dinner at the Cape Town Civic Centre hosted by the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato, reflected the warm hospitality of Capetonians.

With the hum of Russian and Spanish translation in the background the Convention quickly got down to the business of supporting, developing and challenging its members to continue their work.

Presentations on working effectively as a group, using a lion pride as a guide, contemporary Anti-Semitism, Israeli-Diaspora relations, human rights, young Jewish leadership and the environment, were of interest. The session, entitled, ‘Women as Leaders of Social Change’, saw Helen Lieberman presenting delegates with the extraordinary journey of her award winning NGO Ikamva Labantu and offering them a unique opportunity to visit The Rainbow Centre, one of its township based projects. Professor Marion Jacobs, Dean of UCT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, and psychologist Nomfundo Walaza, CEO of The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre and former head of The Cape Town Trauma Centre, inspired the audience with an insight into their work and challanges. Debbie Silver reported on her and Joan Rubenstein’s inspiring work with women at Pollsmoor Prison.

Also on the agenda were presentations and workshops on human trafficking, domestic violence, HIV/Aids and the media’s impact on the psycho-social experience of teen girls. Epic journeys into Africa by the travelling Rabbi Moshe Silverhaft drew the audience into the unique experience and challenges of Sub-Saharan Jewish communities. Delegates were offered the opportunity of joining the Convention’s Habitat for Humanity Legacy Build, which will see one, possibly two, homes built locally by UJW members later in the year.

Of great interest were reports by Union affiliates from across the globe on a multitude of life changing programmes and projects. This gave a powerful impression of the breadth of work done by affiliates and the impact of the Union as a whole.

A spectacular closing Gala Dinner, where the outgoing ICJW President, Leah Aharonov (Israel) inducted Sharon Gustafson (USA) as the incoming President, added the bells and whistles to what organisors and attendees have reported as a most succesful convention.

Armed with fresh ideas for new projects, and support for existing ones, delegates returned to their respective countries inspired to continue their work. They promised not to wait for four more years before seeing each other again, swapped Skype and email addresses, and bade farewell with hugs and some tears.

The Convention’s motto ‘Beyachad, Ubuntu, Together’ was experienced powerfully in a spirit of sisterly engagement and genuine warmth.

By Lisa Chait, Myra Goldenbaum and Lynne Raphaely