In Gratitude: Hilary Jocum

Hilary Jocum is an accomplished leader and community champion, serving as Chair of the Israel United Appeal (IUA/UCF) Pretoria for over a decade. Despite the community’s small size, her remarkable vision and unrelenting loyalty to Israel have helped foster the community’s strong bond to the Jewish state, creating an outpouring of support for various projects that have positively impacted Israeli society.

Her initiatives have touched the lives of many, including building playgrounds for children and carpentry workshops for children-at-risk. Additionally, her recent successful campaigns have focused on the absorption of Ukrainian refugees and refurbishing bomb shelters in Israel’s South—a splendid example of her selfless passion for making a difference.

As a distinguished member of the Pretoria Council of the South African Board of Deputies, Hilary works tirelessly in communal affairs, striving to alleviate the plight of those in need through her outreach programs. Her feeding schemes for underprivileged children in areas rife with unemployment are a testament to her compassion and altruism.

Hilary boasts an impressive 40-year career as a language professional and educator, teaching both English and French to high school students and currently serving as Director of the Parlons Français French School. Equally, her keen eye for detail and exceptional linguistic expertise have made her an authority in English editing and proofreading.

In addition to her professional achievements, Hilary’s ardent advocacy for Israel and transformative work for positive change in Jewish society make her a true inspiration to all.