MAMANET magic inspires Cape Town community

When Mamanet member and paediatrician, Dr Miriam Herman reached out to Bnoth Zion WIZO in Cape Town, she quickly understood the power of the Cape Town community.


At a wonderful presentation hosted by WIZO and its members, Mamanet founder and Chairwoman, Ofra Abramowitz and Dr Herman spoke to a keen audience, including Marc Falconer, Principal of Herzlia Jewish Day School, Tina Brenzel, Head of Herzlia Sports; Kerry Hoffman and Karen Gootkin from Souper Troopers; Daphne Miller from the Union of Jewish Women; Michal Ilan from the South African Zionist Federation Israel Centre; and Partnership2gether.

Mamanet (Catchibol) is a team-sport similar to volleyball, and is the largest community sport enterprise for mothers in the world. Started in Israel 13 years ago to combine sports and social responsibility to build stronger communities, it has grown in popularity across the globe. Mamanet leagues “give mothers the chance to work out, have fun, meet other women from their children’s schools, and set an active example to their kids”.

Abramowitz said they were awed by the response from the Cape Town community, with offers to help with the establishment of Mamanet here pouring in. “This is how a community is built”, said an emotional Abramowitz.

The excitement was expressed by a message sent to Ofra and Miriam: "Good for you, your team, your family, and good for all of us...the Jews, the non-Jews, Israel … I felt it in my bones, mothers with visions, and emissaries of hope and winds of change! You have earned a piece of the sky, as we say in Hebrew, you have done a huge "Mitzvah" coming to us. I am faithful and truly sure, we are going to all be Mamanet here in Cape Town too."

Michal Ilan from Israel Centre agreed: “Let’s play ball, y’all”.




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