Muizenberg Shul
Muizenberg Hebrew Congregation | |
---|---|
![]() Muizenberg Shul in 2024 | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
Rite | Ashkenazi |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Camp Road, Muizenberg, Western Cape, South Africa |
Geographic coordinates | 34°06′24″S 18°28′02″E / 34.10666°S 18.46718°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Herbert Black & George Fagg |
Type | Synagogue |
Completed | 1924 |
The Muizenberg Shul, formally the Muizenberg Hebrew Congregation, is a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Muizenberg in the Western Cape. It was established in 1924 and celebrated its centenary in 2024.[1]
History
The foundation stone was laid on 14 February 1924 by Rev. A. P. Bender, who led the Gardens Shul.[2] Construction was completed at the end of 1925 and the synagogue officially opened in 1926.[2] It was built to serve both the growing Jewish resident population and the high volume of Jewish holidaymakers.[2] 600 Jewish families from Eastern Europe settled in the town in the 1920s.[3] Rabbi Lionel Mirvis served the community as did his son, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (currently Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth), who led high holy days services at the shul.[4] In a blue plaque unveiling ceremony attended by former Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, the synagogue was honoured for its historical significance in 2021.[3]
Since 2020, the congregation has been led by full-time rabbi, Ryan Newman. According to Newman: “Muizenberg may be the largest Jewish community in South Africa during the holidays. We have a minyan of over fifty men every single day. You can’t walk a minute on the beach without seeing a group of people you know sitting together. The amazing thing is that you see Jews here from across the spectrum of Orthodoxy. You have people – and often very different rabbis – from Chabad, Mizrachi, Ohr Somayach, etc. all joining together in a single shul.”[5]
South Africa's Chief Rabbi, Warren Goldstein and his counterpart in the UK, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, attended centenary celebrations for the congregation in January 2024.[4]
References
- ^ Muizenberg synagogue celebrates its century False Bay Echo. 18 January 2024
- ^ a b c Muizenberg Synagogue Artefacts. Retrieved on 19 January 2024
- ^ a b Town’s history honoured News24. 7 September 2021
- ^ a b Chief rabbis unite to celebrate Muizenberg Shul centenary South African Jewish Report. 18 January 2024
- ^ Muizenberg Jewish Life. 30 March 2022