ZAIDA OF THE YEAR 2011

EACH YEAR, THE UNION OF JEWISH WOMEN JOHANNESBURG INVITES APPLICANTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO VISIT THEIR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN & GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, LIVING OVERSEAS. THE TRIP IS AWARDED TO A DESERVING BOBBA OR ZAIDA WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO TRAVEL.

AROUND MID YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTE THE APPLICATION FORMS TO THE RETIREMENT HOMES AND ADVERTISE THE COMPETITION IN THE MEDIA.

ONCE WE RECEIVE THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS, THE COMMITTEE GOES THROUGH THEM WITH OUR DEDICATED SOCIAL WORKER, INGRID WOOLF, WHO CONDUCTS INTERVIEWS WITH THE APPLICANTS. LISTENING TO THE INDIVIDUAL STORIES IS HEART WRENCHING AND EMOTIONALLY DRAINING. THE COMMITTEE DECIDES ON 3 FINALISTS WHO ARE ALL INTERVIEWED.

THE DIFFICULT DECISION IS THEN MADE - CHOOSING ONLY ONE WINNER.

THIS YEAR WE HAD A PARTICULARY DIFFICULT TIME DECIDING WHO SHOULD WIN. WE ALL HAD SLEEPLESS NIGHTS OVER THE DECISION! BUT ONCE WE STARTED INTERVIEWING OUR FINALISTS, THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO STOOD OUT!

OUR WINNER FOR 2011 IS RAYNOLD MEYER. ALTHOUGH GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES FINANCIALLY HE HAS RETAINED HIS SENSE OF HUMOUR. WHEN WE WENT TO INTERVIEW HIM – WE FELL IN LOVE!

HIS WARMTH AND LONGING TO SEE HIS SON, THE PRIDE IN HIS GRANDCHILDREN’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIS GENERAL OUTLOOK ON LIFE, REALLY TOUCHED OUR HEARTS.

HE IS ESPECIALLY PROUD OF HIS GRANDSON, WHO, ALTHOUGH HE HAS BEEN THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES, WILL BE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE IN DECEMBER, SOMETHING NOBODY BELIEVED HE WOULD EVER ACHIEVE.

INGRID SPOKE TO RAY’S SON THE WEEK BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AND WHEN TOLD THAT HIS FATHER WAS ON THE SHORT LIST, HE BECAME VERY EMOTIONAL.

WE SPENT A WEEK OR SO ARRANGING AIR TICKETS, TRAVEL INSURANCE, HIS USA VISA, FOREIGN CURRENCY AND OF COURSE, GOING FROM SHOP TO SHOP CHOOSING SHOES AND CLOTHING. ALL THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF OUR SPONSORS WHO ALSO DONATED A SET OF LUGGAGE.

RAY LEFT ON WEDNESDAY, 30 TH NOVEMBER FOR HOUSTON, TEXAS TO SPEND THREE MONTHS WITH HIS SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND GRANDCHILDREN.

RAY LOVES HIS FISHING SO HIS SON HAS ORGANISED A COUPLE OF FISHING EXCURSIONS.

HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME RAY!

CALLING ALL 2011 BRIDES!
IN CELEBRATION OF OUR 80 TH BIRTHDAY

  WE ARE OFFERING YOU FREE MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNION OF JEWISH WOMEN JOHANNESBURG FOR 2011!
(The membership fee is normally R180 a year.)

You’ll get information about all our exciting events and great projects. We have something for everyone!
For more information email us at ujw@mweb.co.za
Tel: 011 648 1053