With Pesach fast approaching, the Cape SAJBD went to visit the country communities of the Garden Route to wish them a Chag Pesach Sameach. From Caledon to Riversdale, George, Plett, Uniondale, Beaufort West, Oudtshoorn, Ladismith and Montagu/Robertson. Our Executive Director, Daniel Bloch and Programme and Development Manager, Craig Nudelman drove over 1300 kilometres and a combined 22 hours over the course of four days, to visit our country communities. Dirt roads, punctures and a lack of cell phone signal did not dissuade them from their mission, which was enlightening and so appreciated by members of these communities.

The devotion shown by individual community members to the upkeep of Jewish life and heritage in the many towns we visited was both inspirational and humbling. It is up to the larger Cape Town Jewish community to maintain these once thriving and vibrant Jewish centres. We ask that you and your friends when holidaying in the surrounding areas, go to the shuls on a Shabbat to make up a minyan, especially when holidaying in the popular destination of Plett.

The history of these communities must not be forgotten — it is up to us to maintain our heritage that was so integral in the building of the Cape and Jewish life in Cape Town.

Read more about our trip in the Cape Jewish Chronicle.