Linda Yaffe

Linda Yaffe was born in Sydney in 1944 to a Sabra mother and Russian father. She met her future husband on a blind date when he was asked to be her escort to a cousin’s wedding in Melbourne. Norman and Linda married in 1966 and have two children and two grand-children.

Linda became involved in WIZO when she already had two adult children living at home. She read in the Jewish News of the late Irene Israel z’l organizing events for unmarried young adults. (What was a Jewish mother to do?) She offered her assistance and, as it was a WIZO function, WIZO Masada was introduced into her life.

In 2004, Linda attended the 23rd World WIZO Conference in Israel, during which she visited WIZO’s jewel in our crown – WIZO Australia’s Ahuzat Yeladim in Haifa. Here she unexpectedly met a relative of a cousin which she took as evidence that “when you help those in need in Israel, you don’t realise how close to home you are helping”. This has been one of her inspirations to continue her work and commitment to WIZO.

Linda has been a co-president of WIZO Masada (2009), and when Paulette Cherny became Victorian President, came onto the WIZO Victorian Executive. Linda participated on many committees for a myriad of events through the years. She held the position of Vice-President of WIZO Victoria for a number of years, under four successive Presidents.

Currently she is Honorary Secretary on both the WIZO Australia Executive and the WIZO Victoria Executive.

In 2009 she received a JCCV Community Recognition Award and in 2013 was thrilled to receive the Rebecca Sieff Award.

Whenever Linda has, in the past, been tempted to step down a little from her responsibilities in WIZO, she says, she simply looks at the amazing women within the organisation and is excited to see where they will take WIZO in the future. WIZO will always be an important part of her life because she knows, and continues to learn, how many lives are touched and changed for the better by WIZO in so very many ways, in Israel and even in our Australian community too.