I was both humbled and surprised to learn of my nomination for the Jewish Achiever Awards. I understand that it relates to my role as chairperson of the South African Association of Jewish Mental Health and Allied Practitioners (SAJMAP), a young organisation that has already begun to make a significant impact. I accepted the nomination not as a personal accolade, but as an opportunity to highlight the important work SAJMAP is doing on behalf of Jewish professionals and the integrity of healthcare more broadly.

I am an educational psychologist and psychotherapist with over 33 years of experience in clinical practice, forensic work in family law, and professional advocacy. I founded the Educational Psychology Association of South Africa (EPASSA), which became a leading voice for educational psychologists, protecting scope of practice and ensuring ethical professional standards. More recently, I helped establish SAJMAP in December 2024, after a series of professional bodies in South Africa issued culturally insensitive and biased statements about Israel, particularly in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks.

SAJMAP exists to uphold professional integrity, challenge misinformation, and oppose anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitism when it manifests under the guise of professional discourse. Membership is open to both Jews and non-Jews, professionals and supporters, locally and abroad. In less than a year, SAJMAP has grown to around 100 members, is set to expand, and is already recognised as a principled, credible advocate for ethical practice. Our work includes challenging professional associations that misuse their platforms to promote anti-Israel rhetoric, engaging respectfully but assertively with hospitals, journals, and societies, and providing support for individuals who feel invalidated or marginalised by culturally insensitive behaviour.

SAJMAP has made its voice heard in diverse arenas: from contesting biased correspondence in the South African Medical Journal, to supporting the reinstatement of an Israeli paediatric oncologist uninvited from a South African medical conference, to objecting to medical boycotts proposed nationally and internationally. We have also built strong collaborations with international partners, including the Association of Jewish Psychologists and the Global Jewish Health Alliance. Alongside advocacy, SAJMAP offers professional development opportunities, such as CPD workshops, and serves as a network of support for Jewish and allied practitioners.

What makes SAJMAP unique, and what I believe makes me a worthy nominee representing SAJMAP, is our ability to combine principle with constructive engagement. Our responses are professional, respectful and professional, yet we do not shy away from confronting bias when it compromises professional integrity. As chairperson, I am proud of how much has been achieved by a volunteer-led
committee of busy practitioners in such a short time.

I believe this nomination reflects recognition that Jewish voices can stand with dignity, accuracy and professionalism in the public arena. More than acknowledging my personal journey, a win would spotlight the growing impact of SAJMAP in fostering dialogue, inclusivity and ethical practice in South Africa and internationally.

Vision: My personal vision is to continue helping individuals and families, promoting respect and tolerance, and facilitating the provision of good quality professional services..

In terms of SAJMAP, the association has shown the impact that a committed group of professionals can make. My vision is for it to grow as a respected voice locally and internationally. At its core, SAJMAP must continue reinforcing professional ethics while ensuring that Jewish practitioners are empowered
rather than marginalised.

My vision for South Africa is a country where human rights are not only enshrined in law but lived in daily practice. South Africa’s history has included patterns of horrible exclusion and inequality. Psychology itself was sometimes complicit in sustaining discriminatory ideologies. Cultural sensitivity must be cultivated, disempowered groups must be empowered, and dignity must be safeguarded for all. The challenge is to foster a society genuinely respectful of diversity.