Torah Academy’s Principal given a grand send off

The school’s pupils, rabbis, parents and staff said goodbye to Kesselman during a special assembly held on the school premises.

Kasselman spent 30 years working at the school. She was the principal for the last 16 years.

Rabbi Motti Hadar, who will be taking over as the new principal, said the gathering was to thank Kasselman for her many years of service at the school.

Chairperson of the Lubavitch Foundation of South Africa and head of the school’s education committee, Rabbi Mendel Lipskar, said they were thankful to Kesselman who put so much of her life into the school.

He said, “The school was always known as the school with a neshama [soul] and you are responsible for adding that neshama into the school.”

Hadar said Kasselman loved every child with a happy and full heart.

Rebbetzen Estee Stern, a teacher, alumna and parent at the school, paid tribute to the outgoing principal and acknowledged her devotion to every pupil.

Grade 5 girls read a rhyming presentation in recognition of her achievements at the school over the years.

Dean of the school, Rabbi Dovid Hazdan, said a book had been compiled for Kasselman as a memento of her time at the school.

Kasselman came to South Africa 30 years ago as shluchim of the Lubavitcher Rebbe from America.

In her speech, she reflected on her time in the country and spoke of several leadership qualities demonstrated by leaders in biblical texts such as Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah, all of whom demonstrated leadership through love.