My name is Justine (Brozin) Seeff and I am from Johannesburg, South Africa. I went to Yeshiva College school from grades 1-12. I attended HaRova in 2001 as well as shana bet for a few months in 2002: 5761/5762.
Post high school I went on a co-ed gap year program called MTA (Midreshet, Torah V’Avodah) run by Bnei Akiva South Africa. All the girls on this program went to Midreshet HaRova and so I was blessed, Besiyata Dishmaya, to attend HaRova.
My year after school at HaRova quite literally changed my life. I had planned to attend a less religious gap year program which was serendipitously cancelled. I grew up in a traditional South African Jewish home with a big emphasis on family togetherness. We celebrated Shabbos and Chagim in a very warm and cozy way with delicious food, great company and beautiful memories. We always kept kosher at home but it wasn’t until MTA and my experiences at HaRova that I decided I wanted to keep Kosher exclusively, even when I went out to restaurants. In my year at HaRova I learnt about the importance of tznius and I made the decision to stop wearing pants. In my experience, the year after high school is the most formative and important year. It set me on a path that guided the course of my life. Notwithstanding the incredible shiurim and holy location of HaRova in the Old City of Jerusalem, for me, the greatest impact and inspiration came from being exposed to and nurtured by the Rabbi’s, teachers, madrichot and my fellow students. Twenty years later, I am still in awe of them and the way in which they choose to live their lives – with purpose, with meaning, with a sincere belief and dedication to Israel and their Jewish values and ideals. To attend HaRova is a privilege that cannot be taken lightly. It is something that has to be experienced in order to be fully appreciated. It is to feel an overwhelming love for Eretz Yisrael, Am Yisrael and Torat Yisrael!
After leaving HaRova, I got a BA in Marketing and Communications from UJ (University of Johannesburg). I did my honours in Brand leadership at Vega. Throughout studying I was involved with kiruv as a madricha for Bnei Akiva as well as for the DIJE (Division of Informal Jewish Education). I worked in marketing for Disney South Africa and then decided to resign in order to volunteer in Israel at The One Family Fund (assisting victims of terror) and as a rakezet (coordinator) for Taglit Birthright. After coming back to South Africa I took up the role of marketing manager for the Johannesburg Chevrah Kadisha (Jewish welfare organization) where I helped rebrand the organization. I married my husband Antony and after having our first child, Sara, I stopped working full time and focused on raising our family. Today TG, Ant and I are blessed with 3 kids. I work part time as a brand consultant as well as a philanthropic advisor.
The photo shows my husband Antony and I and our children Sara Basha, Dov Moshe and Noa Leah.
