King David Schools, Johannesburg
Encyclopedia
The King David Schools are a network of Jewish day school
s in Johannesburg
, South Africa
, offering nursery
through high school
education. There are three campuses across Johannesburg: Linksfield, Victory Park, and Sandton; "each school has an atmosphere of its own serving the specific community".http://www.sabje.co.za/About-Us/Our-Schools.aspx The schools are under the auspices of the South African Board of Jewish Education http://www.sabje.co.za.
King David aims to deliver "an excellent general education together with the study of Hebrew
, Jewish Studies
and the living of the Jewish calendar and year cycle
" http://www.sabje.co.za/About-KDS/Rabbi-Welcome.aspx and to produce "graduates who are mensch
en, confident and equipped to pursue any opportunity they wish to, who are proud of their Jewish heritage and its traditions, who have a love for learning, and a determination to contribute to their society."http://www.sabje.co.za/About-Us/Purpose-Statements.aspx
The schools write the Independent Examination Board examinations for Matriculation
; pass rates are historically very high, and pupils are often amongst the top-ranked, nationwide.http://www.sajewishreport.co.za/pdf/2010/jan/top_results.pdfhttp://www.sajewishreport.co.za/pdf/2011/jan/14-january-2011.pdf The King Davids also achieve in various cultural activities,http://www.raps.org.za/winners/previous-winners and, particularly Linksfield, in sporting activities. Each school is involved in several outreach and charity programs, focused on the Jewish and broader community, http://www.sabje.co.za/Development/Forms/KD-Linksfield.aspx http://www.sabje.co.za/Development/Forms/KD-Sandton.aspx including (matriculation) support and enrichment programs for Schools in Alexandra
and Soweto
. Many King David alumni are noted for their achievements, in South Africa and internationally - see Links below.
The Linksfield campus, in northeastern Johannesburg, was established in 1948 as South Africa's first Jewish day school (the high school was founded in 1955); see further under History of the Jews in South Africa. Many of the original buildings of the high school from 1948 still exist on the campus. As a relatively large school, King David Linksfield fields strong teams in several sports.http://www.rugby15.co.za/2011/06/results-for-king-david-high-school-linksfield-in-2011/
The Victory Park campus (primary school, 1960; high school, 1964) serves northern and northwestern Johannesburg. It has fewer students than Linksfield and is relatively more arts and culture focused (for example, offering Dance Studies and Dramatic Arts as Matric subjectshttp://vph.kingdavid.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=84).
The Sandton campus, a primary school, is the most recently established (1982), and feeds into both high schools.
Although only a small minority of the pupils are observant - Johannesburg has several Religious day schools - the schools are (nominally) Orthodox
. Practically, no school activities take place on Shabbat
or on Jewish Holidays, all catering is Kosher, and the school day begins with Shacharit
(Morning prayers). Educationally, each school has a Rabbi
on staff, Hebrew
and/or Jewish Studies are compulsory subjects until Grade 11 (Form IV), and the schools offer a "Bet Midrash stream" - established by Chief Rabbi, Dr. Warren Goldstein - for Grade 10s and 11s who choose this over the regular Jewish Studies classes.http://www.chiefrabbi.co.za/2009/08/uos-conference-august-2009-chief-rabbis-report/ The schools are also served by "the DIJE" (Division of Informal Jewish Education), offering programmes which "complement the formal classroom and allow learners to engage with and experience their Judaism". http://www.sabje.co.za/Dije/Overview.aspx "Encounter", for Grade 11s, is the DIJE's premier educational programme - it aims to "create a domain of conversation in which the participants are able to question, learn about and understand the relevance of Judaism in today’s modern world." http://www.sabje.co.za/Dije/Encounter.aspx
An interesting fact is that the two high schools were headed by identical twin brothers, Elliot and Jeffrey Wolf, from the early 1970's through the 1990's;http://www.anglo-list.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=161 their involvement with the King Davids has continued since retirement, and they have devoted a combined 75 years to the schools.http://www.myshtetl.co.za/community/schoolsandstudy/schoolcampus/elliot-jeffrey-wolf-75-75-75
The King David Schools' Foundation (KDSF) is active in fundraising
, with a dual focus on outreach and subsidies / scholarships. Relatedly, it also acts as an alumni association
through monthly e-newsletters, reunions and other fundraising events. KDSF was founded in 1994 under the auspices of the SABJE, as a registered non-profit organisation.
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
s in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, offering nursery
Nursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
through high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
education. There are three campuses across Johannesburg: Linksfield, Victory Park, and Sandton; "each school has an atmosphere of its own serving the specific community".http://www.sabje.co.za/About-Us/Our-Schools.aspx The schools are under the auspices of the South African Board of Jewish Education http://www.sabje.co.za.
King David aims to deliver "an excellent general education together with the study of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, Jewish Studies
Jewish studies
Jewish studies is an academic discipline centered on the study of Jews and Judaism. Jewish studies is interdisciplinary and combines aspects of history , religious studies, archeology, sociology, languages , political science, area studies, women's studies, and ethnic studies...
and the living of the Jewish calendar and year cycle
Jewish holiday
Jewish holidays are days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. In Hebrew, Jewish holidays and festivals, depending on their nature, may be called yom tov or chag or ta'anit...
" http://www.sabje.co.za/About-KDS/Rabbi-Welcome.aspx and to produce "graduates who are mensch
Mensch
Mensch means "a person of integrity and honor". The opposite of a "mensch" is an "unmensch" . According to Leo Rosten, the Yiddish maven and author of The Joys of Yiddish, "mensch" is "someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character...
en, confident and equipped to pursue any opportunity they wish to, who are proud of their Jewish heritage and its traditions, who have a love for learning, and a determination to contribute to their society."http://www.sabje.co.za/About-Us/Purpose-Statements.aspx
The schools write the Independent Examination Board examinations for Matriculation
Matriculation in South Africa
In South Africa, matriculation is a term commonly used to refer to the final year of high school and the qualification received on graduating from high school, although strictly speaking, it refers to the minimum university entrance requirements. The first formal examination was conducted in...
; pass rates are historically very high, and pupils are often amongst the top-ranked, nationwide.http://www.sajewishreport.co.za/pdf/2010/jan/top_results.pdfhttp://www.sajewishreport.co.za/pdf/2011/jan/14-january-2011.pdf The King Davids also achieve in various cultural activities,http://www.raps.org.za/winners/previous-winners and, particularly Linksfield, in sporting activities. Each school is involved in several outreach and charity programs, focused on the Jewish and broader community, http://www.sabje.co.za/Development/Forms/KD-Linksfield.aspx http://www.sabje.co.za/Development/Forms/KD-Sandton.aspx including (matriculation) support and enrichment programs for Schools in Alexandra
Alexandra, Gauteng
Alexandra or Alex for short, nicknamed Gomora is a township located in Gauteng province, South Africa. It is part of Johannesburg, close to the wealthy suburb of Sandton and is bounded by Wynberg on the west, Marlboro and Kelvin on the north, Kew, Lombardy West and Lombardy East on the south...
and Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
. Many King David alumni are noted for their achievements, in South Africa and internationally - see Links below.
The Linksfield campus, in northeastern Johannesburg, was established in 1948 as South Africa's first Jewish day school (the high school was founded in 1955); see further under History of the Jews in South Africa. Many of the original buildings of the high school from 1948 still exist on the campus. As a relatively large school, King David Linksfield fields strong teams in several sports.http://www.rugby15.co.za/2011/06/results-for-king-david-high-school-linksfield-in-2011/
The Victory Park campus (primary school, 1960; high school, 1964) serves northern and northwestern Johannesburg. It has fewer students than Linksfield and is relatively more arts and culture focused (for example, offering Dance Studies and Dramatic Arts as Matric subjectshttp://vph.kingdavid.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26&Itemid=84).
The Sandton campus, a primary school, is the most recently established (1982), and feeds into both high schools.
Although only a small minority of the pupils are observant - Johannesburg has several Religious day schools - the schools are (nominally) Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
. Practically, no school activities take place on Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
or on Jewish Holidays, all catering is Kosher, and the school day begins with Shacharit
Shacharit
Shacharit is the the daily morning Tefillah of the Jewish people, one of the three times there is prayer each day.Shacharit is said to have been established by the patriarch Abraham when he prayed in the morning...
(Morning prayers). Educationally, each school has a Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
on staff, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and/or Jewish Studies are compulsory subjects until Grade 11 (Form IV), and the schools offer a "Bet Midrash stream" - established by Chief Rabbi, Dr. Warren Goldstein - for Grade 10s and 11s who choose this over the regular Jewish Studies classes.http://www.chiefrabbi.co.za/2009/08/uos-conference-august-2009-chief-rabbis-report/ The schools are also served by "the DIJE" (Division of Informal Jewish Education), offering programmes which "complement the formal classroom and allow learners to engage with and experience their Judaism". http://www.sabje.co.za/Dije/Overview.aspx "Encounter", for Grade 11s, is the DIJE's premier educational programme - it aims to "create a domain of conversation in which the participants are able to question, learn about and understand the relevance of Judaism in today’s modern world." http://www.sabje.co.za/Dije/Encounter.aspx
An interesting fact is that the two high schools were headed by identical twin brothers, Elliot and Jeffrey Wolf, from the early 1970's through the 1990's;http://www.anglo-list.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=161 their involvement with the King Davids has continued since retirement, and they have devoted a combined 75 years to the schools.http://www.myshtetl.co.za/community/schoolsandstudy/schoolcampus/elliot-jeffrey-wolf-75-75-75
The King David Schools' Foundation (KDSF) is active in fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
, with a dual focus on outreach and subsidies / scholarships. Relatedly, it also acts as an alumni association
Alumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
through monthly e-newsletters, reunions and other fundraising events. KDSF was founded in 1994 under the auspices of the SABJE, as a registered non-profit organisation.
See also
- Jewish education in South Africa
- Jewish day schoolJewish day schoolA Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
- Johannesburg based Jewish day schools:
- Torah Academy School, JohannesburgTorah Academy School, JohannesburgThe Torah Academy is a Chabad Jewish day school in Johannesburg, South Africa. It comprises a Boys' High School, a Girls' High School , a Primary School and a Nursery School. The Mission of the school is to "provide and promote the highest quality Jewish and general education to a diverse community...
- Yeshiva College of South AfricaYeshiva College of South AfricaThe Yeshiva College of South Africa , commonly known as Yeshiva College and formerly known as Yeshivat Bnei Akiva. It has around 900 pupils, between the ages of 3 and 18...
- Torah Academy School, Johannesburg