Marcia Parness, a respected community leader, has died at the age of mid-80s, following post-surgery complications on September 18. She was an unwavering advocate for the South African Jewish community and Israel, and devoted decades of her life to serving others. Parness was a fearless and outspoken champion of the causes she believed in, and her legacy is being celebrated by friends, colleagues, and community members.
Parness's commitment to her community began at a young age. As a teenager, she joined a Bnei Akiva dance group, which sparked her interest in the Jewish world. When she realized her friends couldn't eat at her family home because it wasn't kosher, her mother encouraged her to take matters into her own hands. At just 15 years old, Parness made her home kosher, marking the beginning of a lifetime of involvement in communal affairs.
Parness went on to become a pioneering woman in student Zionist leadership at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her dedication to the community earned her numerous accolades, including being honored as a life president of WIZO South Africa. Her concern extended far beyond the Jewish community, as she was a vocal advocate for those less fortunate.
Community stalwart Reeva Forman, who knew Parness as both a colleague and friend, remembers her as a woman of great integrity. Forman notes that Parness was never afraid to speak her mind, even if her views weren't popular. Parness's passion for the South African Jewish community, the wider South African community, and Israel was matched by Forman's own, and the two women worked together on various initiatives.
Parness also played a crucial role in preserving the history of the South African Jewish community. She was instrumental in protecting the library and materials of the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF). Eric Mathobo, who worked with Parness at the Beyachad library, remembers her as a kind and knowledgeable woman who taught him the importance of preserving the community's history.
Mathobo, who was employed by Parness as an assistant at the library in 2003, has fond memories of working with her. He notes that she fought for his reinstatement when he was retrenched and later employed him again in the audiovisual department. Parness's passion for the survival of the library was evident in her tireless efforts to raise funds and ensure its future.
Tributes to Parness have been pouring in from the community, with many remembering her as a strong, kind, and great woman. Her funeral was attended by the entire SAZF leadership, a testament to the respect she had earned over a lifetime of communal involvement. Her legacy will be remembered for generations to come, as a champion of the South African Jewish community and Israel.
Key points
- Marcia Parness, a respected community leader, has died at the age of mid-80s.
- Parness was a fearless and outspoken champion of the South African Jewish community and Israel.
- Her legacy is being celebrated by friends, colleagues, and community members for her devotion to serving others.
