Ra'anana Office
SAZF (Israel) - Telfed
19/1 Schwartz St., Ra'anana
Tel: 09-744-6110
Fax: 09-744-6112
Email: info@telfed.org.il
website: www.telfed.org.il
The South African Zionist Federation (Israel), [affectionately known as Telfed], was founded in 1948, essentially to service the hundreds of South African volunteers who fought in the War of Independence and thereafter to assist those who wished to settle in Israel. It is the representative body of both South African Jewry and all Southern African olim in Israel – the latter to date numbering approximately 22,000.
Telfed’s mission and objectives
Telfed aims always to encourage Aliyah by promoting programs and projects which make Israel a country of inherent attraction to olim, and through it’s Klita services to ease the transition of Southern African olim from their familiar way of life into the society of their newly-chosen homeland and rendering every possible support on the way.
It’s mission is to assist, guide, develop and encourage olim into achieving successful absorption and participation into Israeli society, by contributing their many skills, talents and cultural attributes towards enhancing the quality of life in Israel, for all her people.
Structure and Operations
Telfed operates through a two-pronged structure: voluntary workers (the Executive, Management Committee, some 15 sub-committees, and regional absorption committees) and the professional staff. The Executive is the supreme body of Telfed (consisting of 20 members) who are concerned with setting policy, planning and control.
The Telfed staff (which has been greatly reduced from 28 to 11 over the years due to severe budgetary cuts) executes the decisions and policy set by the Executive and is responsible for providing multi-faceted services as described hereunder. Offices are maintained in Raanana, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Karmiel (the latter two in partnership with UJIA Israel).
Promotion of Aliyah
Telfed undertakes programs in South Africa, together with Jewish Agency for Israel (hereinafter referred to JAFI): short term shlichim, job and education fares, promotion of housing projects.
Telfed maintains direct contact with the Jewish community in South Africa, including schools, youth movements, synagogues and communal organisations.
Telfed organises, in conjunction with JAFI, group and individual Pilot Tours.
Prospective olim communicate directly or via the shaliach with Telfed.
Telfed organises various tourist groups who visit Israel
Telfed maintains a web-site, which imparts information on life in Israel and provides responses to queries received from abroad.
Telfed initiated the creation of a new and highly significant Israel Centre in South Africa in
collaboration with JAFI and the World Zionist Organisation.
Klita Services
1. Initial stages of klita services include:
Representative at Ben Gurion Airport;
Distribution of Check List to each new oleh and also information on Telfed;
Each oleh is met at the Absorption Center upon arrival by a volunteer who has also prepared the apartment with food and basic necessities;
Professional counsellor visits the Absorption Center once a week.
2. A computerised database is maintained containing details of each oleh, thus enabling
constant follow-up with a telephone call or visit.
3. Counselling services:
Professional staff provides counselling and guidance to olim in dealing with the bureaucracy and providing information on education, housing, social welfare services, health services and also correspondence with the authorities on behalf of the olim.
4. Employment:
Telfed maintains a job resource center dealing with all aspects of employment.
5. Financial assistance:
Telfed administers Trust Funds, which enable it to provide housing, personal, and emergency assistance to olim and veteran Southern Africans. Telfed also awards bursaries and scholarships from its many trust funds.
6. The elderly:
Telfed helped found a retirement home and also assists needy elderly olim with financial grants.
7. The youth:
Telfed organizes regular cultural, social and information evenings for young single Olim through its Tzair Ba'Lev Committee
Klitah Activities
Telfed through its volunteer workers and staff provide social and cultural activities, such as: Adoptive families, coffee evenings, events on Jewish holidays, exhibitions in order to give exposure to Southern African artists, photographers, etc.; bus tours throughout the country, and major national gatherings.
Housing
This has been one of the major achievements of Telfed. Telfed has been responsible for the establishment of a number of new rural and urban settlements throughout the country and also provides long term rental housing for Southern African olim e.g. Manof, Talmei Yosef, Kochav Yair, Karmiel, Ra'anana, Modiin and others etc
Telfed Magazine
This popular quarterly publication is circulated to all former Southern Africans registered with Telfed. It informs the community about changes in rules and regulations for olim, projects being launched through Telfed, reports on people and events and many other subjects of interest. Whenever financially feasible this magazine is also sent to the Jewish community in South Africa.
WEBSITE & EMAIL NEWSLETTER
An email newsletter is sent out every two weeks to coincide with the updating of our website and to announce upcoming events.
