In this moving and personal presentation, Ralph Cilevitz explores how thousands of Jewish immigrants journeyed from the towns and shtetls of the Pale of Settlement to the cities and towns of South Africa. Most arrived young, alone, and with little more than quiet determination and the hope of something better. Through vivid storytelling and historical insight, Ralph brings to life why they left, how they made their way to the furthest part of the world, and how they built new lives in unfamiliar places - raising families, starting businesses, founding schools and synagogues, and creating close-knit communities that helped one another survive, adapt, and flourish. From the late 1800s through the apartheid years and beyond, this journey explores how Jewish South Africans held on to identity, memory, and each other across generations. It’s a story of continuity and change, faith, loss, and belonging. Though grounded in Ralph’s own South African roots, this is not just one family’s history - it’s an invitation. What parts of your own family’s journey are still waiting to be discovered? What forgotten paths might connect your ancestors to those who made new lives at the southern tip of Africa? Whether you’re drawn to genealogy, migration, or the quiet resilience of Jewish life, this talk offers a rare glimpse into a community that, for many, still feels like family.

Ralph Cilevitz was born in South Africa and studied electronic and mechanical engineering before emigrating to Canada in 1979. Based in Toronto, he is a board member of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Toronto. With over 50 years of genealogical research, and a family tree that exceeds 90,000 names, Ralph combines historical insight with a passion for storytelling. When he’s not digging through archives, you’ll find him competing on the track in multi-event athletics, playing or umpiring field hockey, playing pickleball or strumming the guitar.