On 7 June, the following e-mail letter was addressed to info@myshtetl.co.za:
“I'm writing to you from Carmel School in Zimbabwe a day Jewish School.
“Please is it possible to send us two flags for the school. I have been trying to locate one for a while.
“Will really appreciate your help, thank you. Shirley, School Secretary.”
As is usual with requests of this nature and sent to the generic MyShtetl inbox, they end up on Publisher Ant Katz’ desk (actually, on his screen).
Katz wrote to several parties, including the “Travelling Rabbi” (see below) asking: Please see the attached e-mail we received at info@myshtetl.co.za. Can any of you help Shirley with this request for two Israeli flags?
Quick as a flash, the reply came from Rabbi Silberhaft: Thanks Anthony, I will attend to this request. We were in no way surprised at this. Travelling Rabi Silberhaft is a super-efficient shepherd and Zimbabwe’s Jewish community are but one small part of his flock.
Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft wears many hats – but only one cap, that of the "Travelling Rabbi." He has earned this nickname as all of his duties require him to be at a multitude of places in SA, on the continent, and the world at any given time.
Out of a single (and very well organised) office at Beyachad, Silberhaft manages the following responsibilities:
• South African Country Communities Rabbi (under the auspices of the SAJBD;
• Spiritual Leader & Executive Director of the 15-member African Jewish Congress (AJC); and
• President of the African Jewish Congress Zimbabwe Fund.
Apart from wearing various Rabbinical hats, Moshe Silberhaft also has a multitude of e-mail addresses to discharge these duties. Shtetlers who would like to know more about African Jews can contact Moshe at: moshe@beyachad.co.za; 140TTR@gmail.com; or RABBIAJC@gmail.com – and visit his website at: www.africanjewishcongress.com
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Anyone wanting to contribute to the Carmel School can e-mail Shirley on carmelschool@zol.co.zw.
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