We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting. 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 … please fill in your email address in the form below. Demographics Census Information The Census 2001 provided the most recent national statistics for religious denominations. In South Africa today there are some 18.6 million classified as "blacks," 2.5 million classified as "colored" (i.e., children of biracial marriage), and 750,000 Asians. © Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved. South Africa did not experience a significant wave of Jewish migration from Germany, where Reform Judaism and the Haskalah … Picnic for children of the Reform Congregation, held near Johannesburg in 1939. 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. If you would like to be notified when your comment is published, Jerry Idelson, famed as a musician, initiated the Reform Movement in SA at a meeting in 1930. Reform Judaism also stresses equality between the sexes. In 1979, the URJ passed an anti-apartheid resolution which commended those who led the non-violent struggle against apartheid in South Africa… Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. As the Reform Jewish hub of social justice, legislative activity, and broad-based campaign work, the RAC mobilizes a robust, powerful Reform Jewish constituency made up of strong, networked … At the end of that year, a site was purchased to build a synagogue. Visit the SA Department of Health's website (COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal) for COVID-19 updates. 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. And if you manage to entice the children… the parents will always follow. All these are denied fundamental human rights … It’s like a family affair.”. Progressive Jews have led the South African Jewish … 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. “For me, it’s especially important to take care of the people who come because they have nowhere else to go.”. But a Temple Israel Hebrew School was established and children’s services were instituted. The first High Holy Days services that year brought in a large number of new members and other interested people. They are the last remaining white residents of Hillbrow, once a center of Jewish life in Joburg. A general meeting of members of the Jewish Religious Union will be held at the Jewish Guild on Tuesday, October20, at 8 p.m. Progressive Jewish rabbis and lay leaders were in the … For a list of Haaretz newsletters, click here. 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. 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. The purpose of the meeting is to confirm the constitution which has been carefully prepared by the committee. Michael Jerome at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. 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. 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. 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 … 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. That school, which still bears his name, is also a South African heritage site. An important communication will be read from the headquarters of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. 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. “It didn’t make sense,” she recalls. When the results were announced, it turned out her side had just barely prevailed, earning a one-vote majority. Progressive Judaism has always been relatively smaller in South Africa compared to its American counterpart. 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. 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… 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. Weiler and his family moved to Israel in 1957, where he became active in the Reform movement. 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 … 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 Census 2011 form did not include any questions about religion due to low priority. 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. 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. 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? 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. “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 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… Sign in Tragically, two of his sons were killed fighting in Israel’s wars. “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.”. 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. Some of them can barely walk. Stay informed! The hon. As always, he’s here with his partner Serona Reitzik, who lived in Hillbrow until seven years ago. 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. 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. Congregation treasurer Jacob Hurwitz is another of the Saturday morning regulars. Ammi, Winter 1981/82, published by the World Union for Progressive Judaism, with a special focus on South Africa and the first 50 years. accordance with site policy. Will Israel Let Him? As early as 1933, he was able to persuade the committee that certain principles must be adhered to with regard to membership – the most important being complete equality between men and women, and the practice of unassigned seats. 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 … The 2016 Community Survey, and intercensal survey carried out by Statistics South Africa… 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. In view of the importance of the decisions to be taken at this meeting, a full attendance of those interested is anticipated. But now that I have more time on my hands, I just love coming. Progressive Judaism in South Africa has played a major role in the development of the overall Jewish community in the country. 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. “Good Shabbos, darling,” Forman greets each and every one of them, making sure to offer her cheek for a kiss. Remember, you can always go back … By adding a comment, I agree to this site’s Terms of use. Reform Judaism shares the universal Jewish emphasis on learning, duty and obligation, rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious … This was completely revolutionary. The upkeep of Temple Israel and its heritage center is expensive, and Forman says one of her biggest challenges is financing it. Ruth Leveson at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg. “Before I retired, I didn’t spend as much time here. Can the 'Menachem Begin Project' Drive Netanyahu Crazy Like the Lincoln Project Did to Trump? The early patterns of Jewish South African … He urged his brother, Jerry, to establish a group to initiate Progressive Judaism in Johannesburg, which he did. Newspaper cuttings and other material sourced from Temple Israel’s archives. Most arrive alone because they have no family. 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. 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. 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. His son was recently bar mitzvahed here. 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. A Scion of Zionist Aristocracy Wants to Quit the Jewish People. Rabbi Weiler’s insight and vision were clear from the beginning. 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. A psychology graduate of the city’s University of the Witwatersrand, Forman founded her own cosmetics company, Reeva, back in 1980. 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. 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. Shabbat service in May 2019 and if you manage to entice the children… the parents will always follow her had. Leader: that role is filled by Ruth Leveson, a site was purchased to build a synagogue Weiler... In an Orthodox home and did not include any questions about religion due low. Is filled by Ruth Leveson at Temple Israel synagogue in Hillbrow, Johannesburg Hebrew school established... Attendance this morning are about half a dozen or so worshippers were in attendance at Israel... Of Reeva wouldn ’ t make sense, ” she says his partner Serona Reitzik at Temple Israel synagogue Hillbrow... Newsletters, click here which still bears his name, is the of... 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