The new National Chairman is Mrs Mary Kluk mary.kluk1@gmail.com To read a recent interview with her, click here

Wendy Kahn has held the position of National Director of the SAJBD since mid-2006. Prior to this, she was a member of the Board’s Gauteng Council from 2002-6, serving as vice-chairperson for the latter two years. Wendy has a background in leadership development as a co-founder of the He’atid Leadership Programme and was its Executive Director for twelve years before joining the professional staff of the Board. She holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial Psychology from Wits and a post-graduate PDM from Wits Business School. Wendy can be contacted on kahn@beyachad.co.za

David Saks joined the SAJBD as Senior Researcher in April 1997 and was appointed Associate Director in 2005. He has been editor of the Board’s journal Jewish Affairs since 1999, and is also a regular contributor to the SA Jewish Report and other Jewish publications. Prior to joining the Board, David was Curator – History at Museum Africa. He holds an M.A. in History from Rhodes University. David can be contacted on david@beyachad.co.za

Charisse Zeifert heads up the Communications Department at Board. She obtained an M.A. (cum laude) in Social Anthropology from the University of the Witwatersrand and an M.A. in Museology (also cum laude) from the Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam. Before joining the Board she worked for several years as a senior political research assistant at the Japanese Embassy. She has co-authored several articles and delivered papers in the field of museology. Charisse can be contacted on charisse@beyachad.co.za

Steven Gruzd, Senior Researcher and Diplomatic Liaison, joined the Board in July 2011. From 2003, he worked at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on governance in Africa, and led the Institute’s Governance and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Programme from May 2008, having worked in over 20 different African countries. From 1999-2003, he worked as a researcher at the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE). He holds an MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BA (Hons) from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has published widely and is a regular media commentator. Steven can be contacted on steven@beyachad.co.za

Jenni Fearnley, Conference Coordinator/Administration. Jenni comes from a very corporate background bringing to the Board her organization skills and admin background. Previously Jenni was the Regional Operations Coordinator for Mica Hardware. Jenni studied NLP and Public Relations. Jenni can be contacted on jenni@beyachad.co.za

Shirley Beagle, Administrator and Conference Asssitant. Prior to joining the Board in 2002, she was a Bursary Officer for the CA’s Eden Trust and then Senior Employment Consultant at the Chevrah Kadisha’s Staff Wise. Shirley is the Board’s contact person for the Board’s 152 National Affiliates. She holds of a B.Soc. Sc. Honours degree in Sociology. Shirley can be contacted on beagle@beyachad.co.za

Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft has served as Spiritual Leader to the SA Country Communities within the Country Communities Department of the Board since 1993, and in 1997 was also officially appointed as the first Spiritual Leader to the African Jewish Congress. Born in Israel, he was educated at YeshivaCollege and Yeshiva Gedolah in Johannesburg and received his semicha from the Rabbinical Ecclesiastical Court of Jerusalem. Rabbi Silberhaft can be contacted on moshe@beyachad.co.za