2025 Year Planner

The people who make it happen.

Involved, engaged, inspiring. It’s all in their day’s work.

Get in Touch
Admissions

Together for success.

Collaboration is the name of the game. And not just between the teams committed to pupil success. We engage with our pupils, we partner with the community, we work with our alumni – all to create a space that shapes bold and bright thinkers, dreamers, and doers.

Meet the Executive & Admin Team.

Key to the functioning of a world-class school is a world-class team keeping it together. From finance to administration, bursaries to risk management, security, HR, transport, IT support, logistics, and so much more, the Exec Team has it all covered.

Andries van Renssen

Executive Director

Rabbi Sam Thurgood

Head of Jewish Life and Learning

Taryn Bernstein

Finance Manager

Jeremy Broom

Facilities & Risk Manager

Laurene Cuff

HR Manager

Sandi Sher

Marketing Manager

Kobus Roux

IT Manager

Francois Schreuder

Asst. Facilities & Risk Manager

Nicole Michalowsky-Stern

Herzlia Alumni Association

Geoff Cohen

Herzlia Alumni Association

Roslyn Kurland

Enrolments Officer

Rebecca van Niekerk

Executive Director PA

Lauren Sweidan

The Herzlia Foundation Trust Manager

Meet the Jewish Life and Learning Team.

Through a strong foundation of knowledge, appreciation for tradition, inspiring experiences and pathways for personal exploration, we shape the next generation of Cape Town Jewry by empowering pupils to see their Jewish and Hebrew education as valuable, meaningful and central to their lives, opening doors to lifelong connection, pride, and contribution to the Jewish community and Israel.

Rabbi Sam Thurgood

Head of Jewish Life and Learning

Rafi Ress

Head of JET

Meet the School Principals & Academic Team.

Our Principal and Academic teams are visionaries with years of experience, a passion for education, development and the community, as well as the skills needed to lead a team. They’re committed to bringing our 5 Pillars to life, instilling the ethos of the school, and supporting pupils, parents and staff in any way possible.

Shane Brorson

Principal Herzlia High School

Gareth Kuhn

Principal Herzlia Highlands Primary

Anton Krupenia

Principal Herzlia Weizmann Primary

Monique Peer

Principal Herzlia Alon Ashel Pre-Primary

Karen Kaimowitz

Principal Herzlia Gan Aviv Pre-Primary

Cara Jacobs

Head Teacher Herzlia Kerem Pre-Primary

Sydney Samakosky

Head of Counselling
SEED Department

Amanda Varkel

Head of Educational Support
SEED Department

Jos Horwitz

Principal Herzlia Alon Ashel Pre-Primary

Michael Vorster

Head of Innovation

Mark Helfrich

Head of Curriculum

Meet the Board & Trustees.

The Board and Trustees are experienced community leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who are committed to driving Herzlia forward, through their input on strategic direction, policy and planning, the implementation of goals, and by ensuring accountability on all performance.

Governors

Hayle Marks (Chairperson) | Gary Davidson (Vice-chair) | Leor Atie (Treasurer) | Herschel Berkowitz |
Claude Hanan | Leora Hessen | Warren Kilborn | Melanie Levy | Sharon Levy | Gia Whitehead (Independent) | Matthew Gruzd (Immediate Past Chair)

Trustees

Philip J Krawitz (Chairperson) | Natalie Barnett |  Marcel Danon | Hugh Herman | Bernard Osrin | Samuel Seeff | Ronnie Stein | Marco van Embden

Join the Team.

Happy staff. Happy pupils. That’s why we foster a friendly, supportive staff culture, where everyone is valued as an expert in their field, while being offered opportunities for growth. All vacancies are on the ISASA website.
  • Independent, financially secure and highly respected school.
  • Top 10 schools in the Western Cape & South Africa for as long as we can remember.
  • Small classes of a maximum of 25 pupils.
  • Innovative, values-driven educational approach.
  • A policy of openness, integrity and respect.
  • A warm and inclusive environment.
  • Innovation and technology focussed.
  • Training opportunities for staff to master new skills.
I’m privileged to have had a Herzlia education and to extend that legacy on to my children. The concept of giving back to our community is something I was taught at school and it’s the same concept my children are taught today. Herzlia moulded me into the person I am, so standing as Chair was coming full circle and has given me a way to give back to the school that gave me so much.
Hayle Marks
Hayle Marks Alumna, Parent, Board Chair
I loved my time at the school and wanted the same experience for my children. The Herzlia Team is a group of caring, efficient, and dedicated professionals who’ve created the most stimulating and immersive environment that caters to our community and produces brilliant results in well-rounded and well-educated young school leavers.
Matthew Gruzd
Matthew GruzdAlumnus, Parent, Ex Board Chair, Foundation Committee
Jewish Life and Learning at Herzlia is so special to me because of the connections, learning and love that it forms and continues to grow long after school ends. The community is so magical to be part of and the sincere care and dedication of Herzlia leads to lifelong connections and commitment to Yiddishkeit and community upliftment. The school and the community are essentially one, which is beautiful.
Kaelly Berkowitz
Kaelly BerkowitzAlumna and Head of Jet

Tax benefits

Tax Benefits of Donating to The Herzlia Foundation Trust

United Herzlia Schools is the sole beneficiary of The Herzlia Foundation Trust PBO No. 930038539

South Africa Donors are eligible for a Section 18 A tax certificate in respect of donation to the Foundation (depending on the terms of the donation within our discretion). Please contact hft@herzlia.com if you require assistance.

United Kingdom Donors can apply for a GiftAid form if they donate through EuroChai SA. Please contact Ralph Frank rjf156@yahoo.com if you require further assistance.

United States of America Donors can receive tax benefit if they donate via the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego. Please ensure designation of funds is “Friends of Herzlia”.

Canada Donors can receive tax benefits if they donate through UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. Please ensure allocation of funds is written “The Herzlia Foundation Trust” on your donation & tribute form. Please contact Eyal Golan eygolan@ujafed.org if you require further assistance.

Australia Donors can receive tax benefits if they donate through Chai Charitable Foundation.