My report covers the the two years since our last conference in August 2009 and includes the Audited Financial Statements for the years ended December 2009 and December 2010.

Business Environment

The general business environment in South Africa and worldwide during the two years ended 2010 was characterised by recession and little or minimal growth. Businesses reacted to the uncertainty by cutting back on their expenditures and workforce. The Union of Orthodox Synagogues was not exempt from the measures taken by business and consumers which resulted in licence fees showing no growth year on year and a drop in the volumes of meat shechita (consumption). All this combined with no growth in Shul affiliation fees and general expenditure increasing faster than the inflation rate resulted in losses being Incurred which had to be funded by fundraising from significant donors. An amount of R1.7m was raised in 2010 and a further R1.1m is to be raised in 2011 ( R0.45m has been raised to date )

Austerity Measures

In order to balance our budget in 2011 a number of measures were taken, the most significant of which was the decision taken in consultation with staff not to grant any annual increase and not to pay any bonus' in December 2010.

Gratitude to the Staff of the Union of Orthodox Synagogues

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the executive committee, to publicly thank all our staff for their selflessness, loyalty, commitment and contribution to the Jewish community in agreeing to forego their bonus' and salary increase. They set a shining example of tzedokah for all of us to follow.

Growth continues

Most of the highlights over the last two years are covered in some detail in the Chief Rabbi's report, the Beis Din and the treasurer's reports and I will just refer briefly to some;

• The appointment in late 2009 of Dayan Dovid Baddiel.
• The first fruits of our Dayanus programme and the graduation of Rabbi's Goldstein, Klein and Trepp as Dayanim
• The beginning of our Shechita training programme with three Rabbi's and the receipt by Rabbi Abrahamson of his kabolla from the Beis Din.last week.
• The Chief Rabbi's Beis Midrashim now operating very successfully in Johannesburg at the King David Schools and in Cape Town at Herzlia.
• The Chief Rabbi's Generation Sinai and Sinai Indaba Programmes

Thanks

In conclusion I would like to pay tribute to our Executive Director, Darren Sevitz, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and Rosh Beis Din Dayan Moshe Kurtstag who head up the three pillars of the Union of Orthodox Synagogues viz. Administration, Chief Rabbi's office and Beis Din / Kashrus, for ensuring that the Jewish community's needs are so ably catered for.

Once again, thanks are due to all our Dayanim Rabbonim and staff and to all the members of the executive committee.

I wish the incoming committee brocha and hatzlocha for the new term.

Jackie Sifris
CHAIRMAN