Bnei Akiva South Africa has been at the heart of my leadership journey. As National Chairman and previously Rosh Machaneh, I have overseen and led some of the largest Jewish youth initiatives in the country. From designing national educational programmes to running immersive camps attended by hundreds of participants, my time in Bnei Akiva together with my roles as National Treasurer of SAUJS and Religious Officer at Wits University has allowed me to guide thousands of Jewish young people and shape the next generation of South African Jewish leadership.

Serving as Rosh Machaneh was a defining experience. It gave me hands-on responsibility for the welfare, learning and enjoyment of every camper and madrich(a). It also demanded strategic planning, budgeting, volunteer management and risk oversight. These skills have since shaped my leadership and coaching roles. Together these experiences taught me how to inspire young people, coordinate large teams and deliver impactful Jewish programming at scale.

My “business” is therefore one of purpose and people rather than profit. Through Bnei Akiva and other communal organisations, I have worked to empower Jewish youth to embrace their heritage, develop leadership skills and build lifelong connections. This work has included national camps, leadership seminars and year-round educational initiatives, all designed to sustain and grow Jewish life in South Africa.

In parallel, I have pursued excellence in sport, particularly rugby, using it as a platform to mentor and inspire. Having captained every school team I have played for, represented the Golden Lions at provincial level and won gold for South Africa at the 2022 Maccabi Games, I now coach the King David High School Linksfield U16 rugby team. Under my guidance, the team recently achieved first place in the Pirates Grand Challenge. My coaching approach blends high performance with strong values of discipline, teamwork and pride in identity, giving young Jewish athletes a model for balancing faith, culture and ambition.

I believe I was nominated for the Jewish Achiever Awards because of this dual commitment to Jewish leadership and youth development. Whether in Bnei Akiva’s leadership structures, as Rosh Machaneh or on the rugby field, my focus has been on creating spaces where Jewish young people can thrive, learn and feel proud of who they are.