Once upon a time there was a businessman and a rabbi who shared a passion for mending the broken society of apartheid South Africa at the time of its transition to democracy. They saw the dire conditions that disadvantaged communities were living in and wanted to do something that would bring lasting change.
So Dr Bertie Lubner and Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris started Afrika Tikkun.
They couldn’t do all this alone so they got the community involved and were soon joined by Herby Rosenberg, Ann Harris and Arnold Forman in Johannesburg and Jack Tworetsky and the late Benny Reich in Cape Town.
Their vision was based on the Jewish value of Tzedakah (compassion, caring and helping) and the African value of Ubuntu (community warmth and sharing).
These values are the abiding and guiding principles of Afrika Tikkun, resonating in the very name with ‘Afrika’ embracing the nurturing, empowering spirit of African Ubuntu and ‘Tikkun’ a Hebrew word which, loosely translated, means restoration.
They focused on the challenges that most affected children’s lives and worked tirelessly to ensure such conditions wouldn’t exist for any child living in South Africa in the future.
“The dreams of the founders continue to motivate an organisation of truly unique people and the platform is expanding exponentially.” Marc Lubner
This month we will be celebrating our founding fathers. They are South African icons in their own right – and the impact of their lives can be felt to this day in everything we do.
Next week we will look back on the life of Dr Bertie Lubner of blessed memory.
Dr Bertram (Bertie) Lubner (OMS)
1932-2016
Watch Bertie Lubner being interviewed on “Captains of Industry” upon being awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Meritorious Service.
Described by the late Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris as a man who had “an infectious commitment to the new South Africa”, Bertie Lubner used his significant influence within the private sector to play a meaningful role in the transformation and reconciliation of this nation. He believed that if reconciliation, was really to work, this affluent sector of society would “have to change its priorities radically”. Afrika Tikkun was formed to spearhead meaningful transformation. “Tikkun” is a Hebrew word meaning a setting to rights, transformation. At its heart Afrika Tikkun would empower individuals who had been disempowered to become skilled, educated, and productive – to be masters of their own fate.
Today that work continues at the helm of one of Bertie’s sons, Marc Lubner, CEO of Afrika Tikkun.
Bertie Lubner epitomised genuine care. He was a pathfinder for peace and reconciliation for this nation. With his characteristic integrity he wanted to ensure that peace meant something substantial. In Lubner’s words, “Afrika Tikkun was the Jewish community’s’ contribution towards the upliftment of previously disadvantaged communities’ post 1994. We wanted to do this because we were opponents of apartheid. The Rabbi spoke out, his wife demonstrated and I did too, for a very simple reason, any policy that discriminates one person against another is an unacceptable policy”.
As Marc reflected, Bertie’s “love for children, all children, saw his personal engagement in dozens and dozens of projects across the globe and always with a sense of realism and a responsibility for how a meaningful difference could be made. He always looked after those whose situations prevented them from taking care of their situation and always with a sense of fairness.”
Bertie was adamant from the beginning that Afrika Tikkun be run by people who are driven by passion, as a business: “When you deal with people’s lives, you have a responsibility for them and when you’re dealing with other peoples’ money, you’ve also got a responsibility or else our reputation would be at stake”.
Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris (OBE)
1936 – 2005
The Chief Rabbi and his wife Ann came to South Africa towards the end of 1987 and were immediately aware that much needed to be done. But this work was slow to get off the ground; beginning at first with influencing the hearts of the Jewish community.
By the time of Nelson Mandela’s release, the Rabbi felt that if the Jewish community was to remain a presence in South Africa, it would “have to accept the new situation and it would have to be seen to accept the situation and do something about it.”
So it was from that idea that the word Tikkun was used to start an initiative that would harness the energies of those committed to building a new South Africa.
The Chief Rabbi was vociferous in his efforts, successfully, to establish and improve relationships between South African Jews and the black community. During his tenure as South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, he made known his strong opposition to any kind of racial discrimination, and his partnership with Bertie in the establishment of Tikkun provided him with the perfect vehicle to put his theories into practice.
Read the Chief Rabbi’s submission to the Truth and Reconciliation. Look out on page 5 where the Chief Rabbi explains why “Tikkun” was started.
The Chief Rabbi drew on the Jewish tradition as a rich source of ethical and practical imperatives to help build a non-racial society.
“Faith in the essential unity of humankind as creatures of one G-d and as descendants of one common ancestor provides the foundation for the proper development of inter-community relationships. Recognising the moral imperatives governing human affairs, men and women of goodwill can face up to the challenge of our time and make the caring society a reality.”
This remains the guiding principle of Afrika Tikkun.
The Chief Rabbi said that the concept of Afrika Tikkun was twofold – ideological while at the same time ‘brutally practical’. He saw his role as co-chairman of Afrika Tikkun as “the inspirer to continue the efforts… to create new avenues of help and get more and more of our community involved”.
For seventeen years, from 1987-2004, the Chief Rabbi brought gravitas, passion and humour to bear on political, social and religious issues in South Africa. His memory lives on in the work of Afrika Tikkun.
Next week we look back at the contribution of Nelson Mandela to Afrika Tikkun.
- Remembering Afrika Tikkun’s Founding Fathers
“The dreams of the founders continue to motivate an organisation of truly unique people and the platform is expanding exponentially.” Marc Lubner
This month we are celebrating our founding fathers. They are South African icons in their own right – and their impact of their lives can be felt to this day.
Today, we look back on the life of President Nelson Mandela.
Remembering President Nelson Mandela – Patron in Chief in memoriam
1918-2013
Watch this video about Mandela’s involvement with Afrika Tikkun
Just after Nelson Mandela’s release in 1990, Bertie Lubner became acquainted with Madiba through his involvement in the World Economic Forum. Few people know that Bertie was the key figure who, in 1992, was instrumental in bringing together Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk and Mangosuthu Buthelezi on the same platform for the first time. Thereafter, Bertie’s friendship with Mandela only grew.
Over many an afternoon tea, the late Nelson Mandela spent time with Afrika Tikkun’s Bertie Lubner and Herby Rosenberg debating the role of South Africans in building an equal and just society.
There, Afrika Tikkun was born in 1994 – an endeavour to eradicate poverty by empowering children and the youth. Nelson Mandela’s love for children and his absolute persuasion about the value of their education and empowerment for the future of South Africa influenced the founders of the organisation deeply and irrevocably. The passion and the values embodied by these men are now ingrained in the Afrika Tikkun culture.
President Nelson Mandela believed in what Dr Lubner and Chief Rabbi Harris were doing – not only in changing children’s lives but indeed in changing the country. After a visit to a Tikkun project in Orange Farm in 1999, he said that he had “seen a miracle” and, from this, volunteered to become the Patron-in-Chief.
“Tikkun demonstrates in a practical and sustainable manner what can be done with limited resources, great commitment and passion. It is my belief that Tikkun represents the best of what civil society can offer in partnership with Government’s considerable efforts.”
– Nelson Mandela