Herzlia High School, Cape Town: 23 May 2011

It has been some time since our meeting at Herzlia High School. Our photos finally arrived from the school photographer and for that we are grateful. Vanessa and myself were invited by the heads of the Zionist Club at Herzlia High, Illan Scher  and Jessica Snape, to come speak at a Monday assembly meeting. This invitation was a result from the time SAZ spent at the Bnei Akiva camp at Hartenbos during December 2010.

The assembly, with numbers around 500, consisted of all the students and teachers  of Herzlia High School. During the assembly I was able to share on my experience and involvement with Israel and reasons why I support the Jewish state. I was also able to share more information on SAZ and why an organization like SAZ is needed for a time such as this. It was very new for the school to invite a Christian Zionist to speak at an assembly.

For the school it was a great way to connect with someone different than their own Jewish leaders. One of the main points that I made, on reasons why I support Israel, was drawing comparisons to my Afrikaans roots and South Africa. For me as an Afrikaner, my heritage, history, language and culture is all engrained in the land of South Africa. South Africa is where I am home and when I leave it, I am always a stranger. This is the same for the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Their history, culture, identity and heritage is all wrapped into the love and promise of the Holy Land. I believe in this promise as well and therefore I will stand with Israel.

There was one huge surprise for Vanessa and myself on this morning, my talk preceded that of the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa. The Ambassador shared on the present political climate in Israel, struggles of the nation, and how Israel is working hard to build on their relationship with South Africa.  What a blessing for one of the diplomatic leaders of Israel to know that SAZ supporters are working hard on educating, advocating, and loving the State of Israel.

SAZ will continue the relationship with Herzlia High School and will be speaking at more meetings of this esteemed institution in the future. SAZ would like to thank the Principal Mrs. Mariane Marks, Illan Scher and Jessica Snape for making this meeting possible.

Rehgert van Zyl

 

SAZ Youth League Chairperson