The first ‘hint’ of Progressive (Liberal) Judaism in South Africa came when Professor Abraham Zvi Idelsohn visited his family in Johannesburg in September 1929 for his parents’ Golden Wedding anniversary. Israelis Crack 2-million-year-old Mystery About Stone Tools, Who's Responsible for Israeli Airport's COVID Testing Fiasco, Israel Recommends Coronavirus Vaccine for Pregnant Women, The Forgotten Female Architects Who Changed the Face of Pre-state Israel, Ivanka Trump Is Perfect Cover for Antisemitic, Racist, Conspiracy-loving Republicans, ‘Very Fine People’: The Trump Presidency and the Jews, an Oral History, The Dumbest Question Ever Asked About Donald Trump, Blinken: 'Vitally Important' to Consult With Israel on Iran Nuclear Deal, I Just Got My COVID-19 Vaccination – Here's Why I Feel Miserable About It, Elite Israeli Troops Went on a Rogue Op Inside Syria. Remember, you can always go back … Weiler and his family moved to Israel in 1957, where he became active in the Reform movement. Twenty years later, in 2014, Forman was able to claim another important victory in her campaign to preserve Temple Israel when it was officially named a Johannesburg heritage site — the only synagogue in the city to earn such status. Sign in JOHANNESBURG — Financially speaking, it made no sense to maintain a synagogue in a neighborhood virtually depleted of Jews and notorious for its high crime and poverty rates. “I did try out other places,” she says, “but I ended up choosing this one because of Reeva. Based in Reform Jewish values, these programs provide … Orthodoxy has always been the country’s largest Jewish movement, even if many who identify as Orthodox are not necessarily observant, with Reform Judaism trailing far behind. Once he was ordained, Rabbi Weiler came to Johannesburg. (There is no active Conservative movement in South Africa.) Marion Bubly, the 69-year-old who fills this position, likes to refer to herself as a “rookie rabbi.”, “My parents were married in this shul and I was named in this shul,” she says. Newspaper cuttings and other material sourced from Temple Israel’s archives. For more than 75 years, the Union for Reform Judaism has provided young people with immersive Jewish experiences that transform and enrich lives. Progressive Jews have led the South African Jewish … Why I, a Moroccan Journalist, Endured Death Threats to Interview Bibi in Israel, Decades Before Normalization, Farewell to Haaretz and All Its Readers – but Especially American Jews, Joe Biden Will Enjoy One Advantage No President Ever Had on Israel-Palestine. Reform Judaism, a religious movement that has modified or abandoned many traditional Jewish beliefs, laws, and practices in an effort to adapt Judaism to the changed social, political, and … “If there is one Jew who needs us, this door will be open,” she says. Harris and the Rosh Beth Din, Rabbi M.A. This adaptation of Katie Osrin’s roast chicken, a family favorite, includes potatoes, apples, and ginger. Tragically, two of his sons were killed fighting in Israel’s wars. It was August 1933. “Eager to participate and demonstrate to their neighb… Normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown 2193 (Entrance on 3rd Ave.), The Southern African Union for Progressive Judaism Golden Jubilee magazine, 1981, The United Progressive Jewish Congregation of Johannesburg Golden Jubilee magazine, 1983. Worshippers, including Reeva Forman, right, at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, during a Shabbat service in May 2019. Women of Reform Judaism 633 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017-6778 WRJ Footer Contact Contact Us 212.650.4050 info@wrj.org WRJ Footer Social Follow Us E-Newsletter Sign up for … The emergence from the European ghettohad an enormous impact on the practice of Judaism, leading some Jews to abandon long-observed religious practices in an effort to assimilate more easily into the broader culture. A teeny thing with a big powerful voice, Angela knows every single word of the prayer service by heart and jumps up eagerly when she is summoned to help cover the Torah scroll after the weekly portion reading. Abraham was a professor of Jewish music at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and while he was here, he gave talks on Jewish music as well as the nature, principles and procedures of Progressive Judaism. The email address you have provided is already registered. Samuel Moses, another convert from Nigeria, attends services every Friday night and Saturday morning with his 6-year-old daughter, Angela. Ground Breakers - A History of Progressive Judaism in South Africa Ground Breakers – A History of Progressive Judaism in South Africa will be launched on 13 December, coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of its opening, the South Africa… Subscribe to the newsletters to get the latest news and updates. “Many people don’t think twice about walking around here during the day, but are scared to be out at night,” explains Forman. Ruth Leveson at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Progressive Jewish rabbis and lay leaders were in the … Reform Judaism also stresses equality between the sexes. Michael Jerome, who converted more than 20 years ago after migrating from Nigeria, also serves as the custodian of the synagogue and sleeps on the premises. The hon. I should also like to thank the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, C.K. Your comment was successfully submitted and will be published in She is still involved in the firm, which was once a well-known brand in South Africa. After South Africa held its first democratic election 25 years ago, former Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris — known for his close ties to President Nelson Mandela — helped found Afrika Tikkun, an organization that promotes social outreach and assistance to black communities. “During the next three years, progress was slight and it seemed that for once, the Rabbi had been too optimistic – the Temple stood more like a Temple of Hope than a Temple of Achievement. As always, he’s here with his partner Serona Reitzik, who lived in Hillbrow until seven years ago. The Result Was Deadly, Why Syria Isn’t Firing Its S-300 Missiles at Israeli Jets, Israel Seems to Intensify Its Attacks Against Iran in Syria, Satellite Images Show Syrian Research Center Reportedly Targeted in Israeli Strike, How Israel Built a Nuclear Program Right Under the Americans’ Noses. The foundation stone of Temple Israel was laid by the then Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Maurice Freeman, on 22 September 1935, and the official opening of the shul took place on 23 August 1936. Its communal Passover seder, which typically draws more than 50 participants, is the highlight of the year for many of the congregants. But if they do happen to show up on a Friday evening, they can count on finding 89-year-old Hillbrow resident Bill Hoffman leading the service. Congregation treasurer Jacob Hurwitz is another of the Saturday morning regulars. At the end of that year, a site was purchased to build a synagogue. She’s able to pull in some revenues by renting out a section of the building that once housed a heder to a nursery school and one of the halls to a church. Judaism -- South Africa dc.subject.lcsh Proselytes and proselyting, Jewish -- Converts from Christianity dc.title Conversion to Judaism in South Africa en dc.type Thesis dc.description.department Religious … “Good Shabbos, darling,” Forman greets each and every one of them, making sure to offer her cheek for a kiss. Can the 'Menachem Begin Project' Drive Netanyahu Crazy Like the Lincoln Project Did to Trump? Take a deep dive into 'the BDS heartland', with Haaretz's special project on South Africa's Jewish community:■ Jews are leaving South Africa once again — but don’t blame BDS ■ On the road with Africa’s only traveling rabbi ■ These South African Jews hate the occupation as much as they hate BDS ■ From Auschwitz to Rwanda: Drawing new lessons from the Holocaust in South Africa■ This South African synagogue caters to Jews of all colors ■ The Jews working to leave their mark on Rainbow Nation■ How do you keep Shabbat if you’re running after elephants? The history of the Jews in South Africa mainly began under the British Empire, following a general pattern of increased European settlement in the 19th century. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora. Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: HoneyPress by SpiceThemes, Leaders of the Progressive Jewish Community, Women of Progressive Judaism – South Africa, Arzenu, the progressive wing of world Zionism, About the World Union for Progressive Judaism. According to The Star on 28 December 1933, the Liberal Jewish movement in South Africa… has purchased a site for the erection of a Liberal Jewish Synagogue in Johannesburg, the first in South Africa. Demographics Census Information The Census 2001 provided the most recent national statistics for religious denominations. Kurtstag, for our long standing friendship as well as their encouragement and ongoing support for this … Since you don’t ask a single and never-married woman like Forman to disclose her age, let’s just say that most of her high-school classmates are probably well into retirement by now. Currently on the table are various proposals for using the stately premises for other types of social action projects and outreach work. Many varieties of apples are cultivated in South Africa, and the use of ginger is directly related to the … Picnic for children of the Reform Congregation, held near Johannesburg in 1939. The impact of retirement reform in South Africa By Opinion Nov 20, 2020 Share this article: Share Tweet Share Share Share Email Share Changes to retirement benefits for provident fund … Today, WRJ has global affiliates in South America (Argentina and Brazil), South Africa, and Israel. A psychology graduate of the city’s University of the Witwatersrand, Forman founded her own cosmetics company, Reeva, back in 1980. This was completely revolutionary. Progressive Judaism has always been relatively smaller in South Africa compared to its American counterpart. Indexes English-language articles, book reviews, and feature stories in more than 160 journals such as Jewish Affairs. The purpose of the meeting is to confirm the constitution which has been carefully prepared by the committee. The upkeep of Temple Israel and its heritage center is expensive, and Forman says one of her biggest challenges is financing it. True, the historic Art Deco building was home to South Africa’s first Reform congregation and is a treasured relic of Jewish history here. Women of Progressive Judaism – South Africa (WPJ-SA) (formerly SA Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS)) “Sisterhood means service” was the motto adopted by the women who became known as the Sisterhood … South African Reform evolved its own forms of religious practice which were more Zionist and more conservative than those in the USA. Reform Judaism shares the universal Jewish emphasis on learning, duty and obligation, rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious … But a Temple Israel Hebrew School was established and children’s services were instituted. … By the late nineties, “Classical Reform” had been largely abandoned across the world, and Progressive and Conservative Judaism … Visit the SA Department of Health's website (COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal) for COVID-19 updates. But she won, and that was the important thing. South Africa did not experience a significant wave of Jewish migration from Germany, where Reform Judaism and the Haskalah … In June 1931, the South African Jewish Religious Union for Liberal Judaism was established with Jerry as honorary secretary, and a wide media campaign was launched. The congregation does not have a choir these days, either. A Scion of Zionist Aristocracy Wants to Quit the Jewish People. Many of those awaiting her welcome — she refers to them affectionately as “my motley crew” — are poor and feeble. The backdrop to the movement’s emergence was the Emancipation, the process begun in late 18th century to grant European Jews equal rights and eliminate the legal barriers that had impeded their social and economic progress for centuries. Will Israel Let Him? The Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, the only shul in Johannesburg to be granted heritage site status. This insight followed through to all Rabbi Weiler’s pioneering activities and the committee’s visionary ideals, and as a result, Temple Israel flourished and the Progressive movement grew exponentially. One of three Reform congregations in Johannesburg (which is South Africa’s largest Jewish center), Temple Israel holds services every Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as on all the Jewish holidays. She vows that, as long as she is around, this shul will never be shuttered. In addition to her position at Temple Israel, she also sits on the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and is honorary vice president of the South African Zionist Federation. We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting. The Census 2011 form did not include any questions about religion due to low priority. They are the last remaining white residents of Hillbrow, once a center of Jewish life in Joburg. But there is a choir leader: That role is filled by Ruth Leveson, a frail, elderly woman. This Shabbat morning trip to the synagogue is often their only opportunity to get out and socialize. Her voice might not be what it was, and she may no longer have any singers to lead, but she is here every single Saturday morning and takes her job darned seriously. The Reform movement oversees a disproportionately large share of these conversions. That school, which still bears his name, is also a South African heritage site. “The site covers three quarters of an acre, and is situated in Empire Road, corner of Hillside Road, just a few minutes from Clarendon Circle [and] Twist Street tram terminus.”. to join the conversation. On his return, he discovered the provisional committee formed before his trip was inactive and so he formed a new committee, which included Oscar Caplan, Dr Louis Freed and Sigmund Haas, among others. In December 2020 the South African Jewish Museum will open an exhibition on the history and role of Progressive (or Reform) Jews in South Africa. All these are denied fundamental human rights … Forman never met him but says he was “the type of human being I adore — a real humanitarian activist.” In 1945, while visiting the township of Alexandra, located north of Johannesburg, he was struck by the sight of black children running around barefoot in the street while their parents were at work, and resolved to set up a school there. It is noteworthy that an important clause in the constitution states that the aim of the Jewish Religious Union is to stimulate and inspire an intensive interest in Judaism and to overcome religious apathy and indifference and to establish a branch of the Progressive Jewish Movement (Liberal Judaism) in South Africa. The early patterns of Jewish South African … When the results were announced, it turned out her side had just barely prevailed, earning a one-vote majority. The first High Holy Days services that year brought in a large number of new members and other interested people. The largest city in South Africa was established in 1886 and it's one of the 'greenest' cities in the world = it has been estimated that there are six million trees in the city. But Reeva Forman wouldn’t even consider it. Progressive Judaism in South Africa has played a major role in the development of the overall Jewish community in the country. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep … The children themselves conducted the Sabbath morning service almost in its entirety, and the first such service was attended by 20 children.” (UPJC Jubilee Retrospective, 1983). Jerry Idelson, famed as a musician, initiated the Reform Movement in SA at a meeting in 1930. He conducted services in private homes during 1930, and later arranged public lectures, gave talks on the radio and wrote articles on Progressive Judaism in the Jewish and daily press. It’s like a family affair.”. One of three Reform congregations in Johannesburg (which is South Africa’s largest Jewish center), Temple Israel holds services every Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as on all the Jewish … Reform Judaism in SA The first ‘hint’ of Progressive (Liberal) Judaism in South Africa came when Send me email alerts for new articles by Judy Maltz, Want to enjoy 'Zen' reading - with no ads and just the article? When it was inaugurated in August 1936, Temple Israel’s first rabbi was Moses Cyrus Weiler, who was born in Latvia and ordained in the United States. Also in attendance this morning are about half a dozen black converts, some of them originally from Nigeria. Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), through its YES (Youth, Education, & Special Projects) Fund, has awarded $268,000 in grants to 13 programs that will strengthen Jewish life and provide the … On a recent Shabbat, about a dozen or so worshippers were in attendance at Temple Israel for the weekly morning service. “Before I retired, I didn’t spend as much time here. Some of them can barely walk. His son was recently bar mitzvahed here. But now that I have more time on my hands, I just love coming. Jerry later joined his brother on a trip through Europe, where he visited Progressive synagogues and met a number of prominent Progressive Jewish leaders and Rabbis on the Continent and in England, including the Honourable Lily Montagu, who was president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. I love her glamor and her sass.”. As South Africa commemorated National Women’s Day on Sunday, August 9, tribute goes to the more than 20 000 women who on that day in 1956 marched against legislation that required Africa… “There must never be any vestige of differentiation between a rich man and a poor man,” he said. Reform Judaism (also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism) is a major Jewish denomination which emphasizes the evolving nature of the religion, the superiority of its ethical … Reform Judaism (also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism) is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of the faith, the superiority of its ethical aspects to … Johannesburg, Jewish Reform Synagogue 1933 (Temple Israel), Cape Town, Greenpoint, 1944 (Temple Israel), Johannesburg, North Eastern District Jewish Reform Synagogue 1945 (Temple Shalom), Durban, Progressive Hebrew Congregation 1948 (Temple David), Johannesburg, North Western Districts Jewish Reform Synagogue 1953 (Temple Emanuel), Bulawayo, 1956 (amalgamated with the Orthodox, 1977), 1965 Beth-El Johannesburg, (amalgamated with Emanuel, 1979), 1977 Youth Movement Maginim established nationally. He urged his brother, Jerry, to establish a group to initiate Progressive Judaism in Johannesburg, which he did. In 1932, through Abraham Idelsohn and Lily Montagu, he started negotiating with Moses Cyrus Weiler, then a student at Hebrew Union College under the tutelage of Abraham, who was his professor. accordance with site policy. During his travels, he was impressed by the Progressive services and inspired by Lily Montagu, who later sent him the Liberal Sabbath prayer books to use for services. A survey by Statistics South Africa found that only 341,186 of the 1.8 million 18- and 19-year-old first time voters—19 percent—registered to vote.In the 20-29 age bracket, one in two citizens … Forman herself grew up in an Orthodox home and did not embrace Reform Judaism until much later in life. Covers … Please fill out your personal information and select which newsletters you would like to receive from us. Ammi, Winter 1981/82, published by the World Union for Progressive Judaism, with a special focus on South Africa and the first 50 years. Union for Reform Judaism is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. In 1979, the URJ passed an anti-apartheid resolution which commended those who led the non-violent struggle against apartheid in South Africa… Most arrive alone because they have no family. He has been doing it for years, and according to Forman will continue doing it “as long as there is one Jew who wants to come through that door.”, The congregation no longer has a rabbi, but it does have a lay leader who regularly conducts Shabbat morning services. She was South Africa’s top model by her late teens and, despite the many years that have passed, still hasn’t lost the ability to turn heads with her stunning outfits and long wavy tresses. From Auschwitz to Rwanda: Drawing new lessons from the Holocaust in South Africa, This South African synagogue caters to Jews of all colors, The Jews working to leave their mark on Rainbow Nation, From Auschwitz to Rwanda: Why South Africa has so many Holocaust museums, Coronavirus Live Tracker: How Many Cases and Deaths in Israel and Worldwide, Trump Pardons Israeli Colonel Who Helped Recruit Spy Jonathan Pollard. Reform Judaism was born at the time of the French Revolution, a time when European Jews were recognized for the first time as citizens of the countries in which they lived. Find citations to articles on the Jewish community in Kenya, South Africa, etc. An important communication will be read from the headquarters of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Reeva Forman at Temple Israel in Johannesburg: "The perfect place for a house of worship is where there are poor members of a particular religion and others who need help and support.". “I feel very much at home in this shul,” says Hurwitz. Because the main sanctuary, used in the old days, is now far too big for a group this size, the congregants gather in a side room down the corridor. © Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved. For a list of Haaretz newsletters, click here. ), Tracey Korsen, who lives nearby, has been attending services at Temple Israel for three years. How do you keep Shabbat if you’re running after elephants? Rabbi Weiler’s insight and vision were clear from the beginning. Marion Bubly and Angela Moses at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Shabbat Shalom from Johannesburg. “For me, this was especially meaningful,” says Forman, who ran the project, “because once again we were doing something to promote education in the black community.”. Twenty-five years ago, not long after she had taken over as chairwoman of Temple Israel in Hillbrow, the former top model-turned-prominent businesswoman learned that the Reform movement was planning to put the building on the market. Jacob Hurwitz and Serona Reitzik at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. Subscribe today. About Who’s Who Please Donate Israel Recruitment Safeguarding Policies Complaints Whistleblowing RJ@Home Advice and Resources Hub RJ:TV – Online Community from Reform Judaism It was in South Africa… A general meeting of members of the Jewish Religious Union will be held at the Jewish Guild on Tuesday, October20, at 8 p.m. If you would like to be notified when your comment is published, Once South Africa’s top model, Reeva Forman now leads a model Reform synagogue in the hardscrabble Hillbrow neighborhood — and she has no plans to abandon her community. Jews are leaving South Africa once again — but don’t blame BDS, On the road with Africa’s only traveling rabbi, These South African Jews hate the occupation as much as they hate BDS.

Read Book Of Mormon In 24 Hours, Vintage Martin Fly Rod, Unc Linkedin Learning Login, Kansas People In History, Forest Lawn Funeral Home - Saraland, Al Obituaries,