Temple Israel 1936-2016 צדק צדק תרדוף Justice, justice shall you pursue תיקון עולם Repairing the world “The mission of Temple Israel is to implement the ideals of our faith by supporting every positive and progressive endeavour to establish social justice in co-operation with all men of goodwill, and to promote within the congregation of Israel, projects of social justice and social service… regardless of race, colour or creed.” Rabbi Moses Cyrus Weiler CONTENTS Editor’s Note 2 CREDITS Message from Reeva Forman, chairman of Temple Israel 3 Editor LETTERS Darryl Egnal, Creative Heart Weiler family 4 SA Cell: +27 79 670 1433 Letter from SAUPJ 5 Israel Cell: +972 54 884 5237 Letter from WUPJ 6 Email: [email protected] Letter from EUPJ 7 SA Association of Progressive Rabbis 8 Design Susan Heiman, iMedi8 Graphics SA Jewish Board of Deputies 9 Email: [email protected] SA Zionist Federation 9 Letters from religious leaders 10 Advertising sales Johannesburg Metro Police Department 35 Marion Bubly, Reeva Forman, Darryl Egnal HISTORY How Progressive Judaism began in South Africa 12 Printing Timeline 28 Nippy Print Global players 35 TSEDEK, TSEDEK TIRDOF / TIKKUN OLAM The pursuit of justice and charity 40 The Sisterhood 44 The MC Weiler School 46 Afrika Tikkun interview with Reeva 49 Chairman: Reeva Forman GENERAL ARTICLES Tel: +27 11 726 2025 Temple Israel declared a Heritage site 37 Cell: +27 83 228 7777 A vision for tomorrow 38 Email: [email protected] New Temple Israel exhibition 39 Benny Stalson – Keeping Temple Israel alive 50 Treasurer: Jacob Hurwitz Messages from congregants 64 Email: [email protected] Camps and social clubs 67 Tel: +27 11 642 1514 Youth movements 69 Fax: +27 11 643 2321 A Zionist viewpoint by Rabbi Wallach 70 Memories and anecdotes 72 Address: Paul Nel Street, Rothberg family comes full circle 80 Corner Claim Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg 80TH ANNIVERSARY SPEAKERS Keynote speaker: Thuli Madonsela 52 Website: www.templeisraelh.org.za Israeli Ambassador Arthur Lenk 53 Mayor Parks Tau 53 PROGRESSIVE ORGANISATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA SACRED 43 Women of Progressive Judaism 48 SAUPJ 55 Arzenu 71 PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUES IN SOUTH AFRICA Beit Emanuel, Parktown 56 Bet David, Sandton 58 Bet Menorah, Pretoria 60 Temple Israel, Temple David, Durban 61 Temple Israel, Cape Town 62 Temple Israel, Port Elizabeth 63 Bet Hillel, East London 63 All errors and omissions excepted (EO&E) Sponsors 79 Temple Israel 80 | 1936-2016 1 EDITOR’S NOTE Taking a trip down memory lane his is déjà vu. Sifting through us to have a physical rendition of it. the archives of Temple Israel, I’m sure you’ll be enthralled! Tlooking at old photos, reading I’d like to dedicate this magazine newspaper cuttings and the original to all those stalwarts of the publications that came out of the Progressive Movement who were Progressive Movement… It all feels involved in Temple Israel in one way familiar to me. But I guess that’s not or another, at one time or another, surprising. It was only a decade ago who have died since the 70th that I was doing this for the Tribute anniversary in 2006. My sincere to Temple Israel magazine for the apologies if we’ve left anyone out. 70th anniversary. Benny and May Stalson, Una That magazine was far shorter Weiler (Rabbi Weiler’s wife), Stanley than this one – a mere 24 pages Forman, Cynthia and Bernard compared to this 80-page leviathan, Duchen, Jack Jankes, Ellen and Ivor which started out small and just Appleton, Sybil Abro, Ruth Marx, grew into itself. There’s a lot to Ruby Caplan, Rabbi Isaac Richards, be said about Temple Israel and Yiska Schmahmann and her son, the meaningful history of our Joseph Schmahmann, Izzy and Betty Movement – and we’re literally only Wainer, Courtney Redhill, Simon scratching the surface. But that’s Jocum, Cecilia Gluckman, and the beauty of history. Every time Trevor and Mimi Egnal. you delve into it, you find out more. I hope you enjoy finding your way As we all know, Temple Israel through these pages and working is the founding synagogue of the and documents that specify various your way through the launch Progressive Movement in South details about our beginnings. In exhibition, whether at the 80th Africa. It stands as proof of our addition, we’ve also found some anniversary event or on your next heritage and the beliefs and values documents that weren’t available visit. on which our Movement was to me a decade ago through new Here’s to Temple Israel and to the founded. It’s important not to lose archival documents that we’ve next 80 years! L’chaim! sight of the uniqueness of Temple found at Temple Israel. So, while Israel, its history, its value to the this magazine may not be as members and to the wider Hillbrow complete a look into our past as community, its place in our hearts, we would’ve liked, it does give us and its role in our future. insight into what will, hopefully, Darryl Egnal Unfortunately, people pass on, make its way into Irwin’s story. but their memories live as long as Consider his book the next chapter we remember them… and it’s up in our journey! to us to pass those memories onto But before we get to that chapter, future generations… The founding you’ll now have an opportunity to members may no longer be around, walk through the new Temple Israel but we’ve managed to find some Heritage Centre and view phase new documentation through one of the attractive new exhibition Irwin Manoim, chairman of Beit Please note: Reform, Progressive, Progressive that has been installed in the foyer Reform and Liberal Judaism have been used Emanuel, who is writing a book on of the shul. This has added to our interchangeably throughout the magazine. They our history, and has located letters discovery of the past and allowed all mean the same in terms of our magazine. Mazaltov to Temple Israel’s management committee and congregants on reaching such a milestone event – and keeping our heritage alive. In loving memory of Trevor Egnal, Honorary Life President of Bet David, and Mimi Egnal (z”l), who were members of Temple Israel prior to becoming founding members of Bet David. – The Egnal family. 2 Temple Israel 80 | 1936-2016 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Serving the community Dear Friends, We are very excited to welcome you all to Temple Israel’s 80th anniversary. Not only is this a magazine milestone in our synagogue’s history, but it’s also the launch of the forward-looking Temple Israel Heritage Centre. This Centre is Business Day Wanted aimed at active engagement with South African society based on the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). This important occasion also launches our wonderful new exhibition on the history of Temple Israel and the Progressive Movement in South Africa. When I became chairman in 1994, my goal was to keep Temple Israel’s doors open to all who required Inset photo of Bill Hoffmann supplied by Karl Rogers, our services – Jews and non-Jews Temple Israel Management Committee: Back L-R: Ruth Leveson, Marion Bubly, Reeva Forman, Jacob Hurwitz and Serona Reitzik. Front L-R: Peter Joffe, Alan Lurie, Brian Segal in the area. We’ve succeeded. We and Melvin Stern. Inset: Lael Bethlehem. Inset: Bill Hoffmann keep Jewish religious holidays and weekly services running, and have be of service to both the Jewish and event and the exhibition, and return with a Pesach Seder and Shabbat Shuva non-Jewish community – continue your friends and family to show it to them. dinner every year. In addition, we to guide us. They are as relevant in have supported the disadvantaged the South Africa of today as they people in Hillbrow with our various have ever been. Tikkun Olam projects. It is wonderful to share this historic Warm regards Today, the two imperatives – to occasion with you. We hope you enjoy the Reeva Warm-hearted thanks I owe so much to so many who encouragement and moral Marion Bubly, Peter Joffe, have supported Temple Israel. support saw me through the most Ruth Leveson, Alan Lurie, II’d like to pay tribute to them difficult of times. Brian Segal, Melvin Stern, Bill here, even though I know these Cynthia Duchen (z”l), Hoffman, and Lael Bethlehem, few words will never be able to Cooksisters Catering and the who has taken on the role of convey my true gratitude to them. Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Family our “spiritual leader”. Thanks to Bennie and May Stalson (z”l), Assistance Fund), who enabled Rabbis Julia Margolis and Adrian Bennie for his many years as the Jewish people in our area to M. Schell for helping with Shabbat our spiritual leader and May enjoy Pesach Seders and Shabbat services. as our office manager. Ruby Shuva dinners with us. A special thanks to Rabbi Schell and Oscar Caplan (z”l), founder The Johannesburg Metro for taking on the responsibility members of the synagogue, Police for ensuring the safety of invitations and replies for our who, through their generosity, of everyone in the area during 80th Anniversary! enabled us to bring out rabbis religious and special events. Because of all this incredible from overseas for High Holy My special thanks to the Temple support, Temple Israel is today, Days for decades. My brother, Israel Management Committee: Baruch Hashem, alive and well. I Stanley Forman (z”l), committee Jacob Hurwitz, will always be indebted to these treasurer, whose unwavering our treasurer, Serona Reitzik, people and organisations.