Purim 2017

Purim at Temple Israel Saturday 11 March. Great service by Rabbi Julia Margolis. Tremendous fun had by all.

Limmud SA – A tour of old Jewish Johannesburg

On Sunday 26 February 2017 Ilan Solomon together with The Wandering Jew organised  a tour of old Jewish Johannesburg.

The tour included a stop at Temple Israel where they were welcomed by Chairman, Reeva Forman, the Management Committee and some Congregants.

Reeva gave a short talk on the history of Temple Israel and the permanent exhibition.  She also  shared some of the plans for the future of Temple Israel and the Temple Israel Heritage Centre.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Tu B’Shevat

Saturday 11 February Temple Israel enjoyed a special Tu B’Shevat Seder with Rabbi Julia Margolis. It was most informative, especially for our conversion class to learn about our culture and traditions.

Click to Read Tu B’Shevat Seder presented by Rabbi Julia Margolis

Everyday Conservation Actions
by Barbara Lerman-Golomb, Director of Education and Outreach, HAZON Since the “Tu” in Tu B’Shvat stands for the 15th day of Shvat, we would like to offer 15 tree and water conservation tips.

1.Dishtowels…thequickerpickerupper.
Use dishtowels instead of paper towels for drying dishes and kitchen spills. Think how many paper towels you need to match the absorbency of only one dishtowel! Set up a simple system: one for spills, one for dishes, one for drying lettuce and other veggies.

2.Thinkclothnapkinsareonlyforformaldinners?Thinkagain!
You can use cloth napkins for all your meals. Use them with a napkin ring to help identify users for repeated use. By the way…kids rarely use napkins in their school lunches, but if you give them one, they’ll throw it away. A cloth napkin in a child’s lunch box will most likely go unused, yet saved.

3.PutYourJunkMailtoWorkforYou!
Instead of discarding junk mail, business mailings or any sheets of paper with only one side of use, use them again for writing drafts. Keep an in-box or recycling receptacle by your printer to hold sheets until you need them.

4.Yo,YoWrap!
Save previously used wrapping paper and use it again. Or, use swatches of fabric, newspaper, reusable gift bags or a cloth sack for gifts. If you need to purchase new wrapping paper, make sure it’s recycled.

5.Ifit’sFree,It’sforMe!
Use toilet tissue and tissues with at least 50% “post consumer recycled content” free of dyes, perfumes and dioxin. (The process of bleaching paper to whiten it is responsible for creating the toxic substance, dioxin.) It’sinthebag.Theclothbag,thatis. 
Keep cloth bags in your car, with your bicycle or by your front door for all your shopping needs instead of taking a paper bag, or plastic bags (made of non- renewable sources).

6.TheThreeP’s–Precycle,Practical,Preservation
Buy items with little or no packaging or in bulk that you can stock in your own containers. Most stores carrying bulk items give money back for using your own bags or jars. Buy food in cardboard packaging that can be recycled or that has already been recycled (it’s gray inside). Tip: Create file folders and post cards from used cereal boxes.

7.DrinktoYourHealth
Keep a commuter mug in your car, in your backpack, at your office for a fill up of your favorite beverage instead of taking a new paper cup.

8.WoodThat’sTooGood(towaste)
Avoid items made from rain forest woods such as rosewood, mahogany, teak, or ebony.

10.Be Cool Keep a bottle of cold water in the refrigerator instead of wasting water down the drain waiting for it to get cold.

11.Don’t Kick the Bucket
Keep a bucket in your shower (or outside to collect rainwater). Transfer it over to watering cans or jugs to water your indoor and outdoor plants.

12.Go With the Flow
Take a shower instead of a bath and buy a low-flow shower head and a sink aerator for your kitchen or bathroom faucet to conserve water. To find these items, contact your local hardware store or visit www.greenpages.org or the Real Goods catalog at www.realgoods.com to check out their products for a healthy home and planet.

13.Dear John
Use a jug filled with water or stones to take up space in the toilet tank or buy a special “toilet dam” so that less water is wasted. Or, conserve your flushes.

14.Clean and Green
Don’t waste water down the drain while washing dishes. Fill the sink up instead. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and washing your face.

15.A Healthy Lunch box
A reusable lunch box or cloth bag; a thermos; reusable storage containers, food that needs no packaging (e.g., fresh fruit) and a cloth napkin. Replace paper plates with reusables for picnics or casual meals.

16. PLANT A TREE!

Visitors from America

Saturday 7 January we were extremely privileged to have Peggy and Shelly DeLeon  from Seattle, Washington, USA visit us for the Shabbat service.

Peggy and Shelly when looking for a Shul to attend in Johannesburg came across our website and decided to pay us a visit.

Peggy and Shelly are members of Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue Washington.      Temple B’nai Torah

Chanukah

8th Day Celebrated at Temple Israel

An introduction to Chanukah by Rabbi Julia Margolis.

This was followed by a lovely fare of Doughnuts and Latkes.

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah at Temple Israel 23 October 2016. Service most ably led by Lael Bethlehem. As usual imparted so much knowledge about Simchat Torah and Torah itself.

A joyous occasion enjoyed by all.

Sukkot

Sukkot 2016 service magnificently  given by Prof, David Bilchitz who
also gave an enlightening talk on the history and meaning of Sukkot.

Shimon Peres

It is with regret that we advise of the death on 28 September 2016  of Shimon Peres former President of Israel and elder statesman at the age of 93.

Our deepest condolences to the family and State of Israel.

Reeva Forman

Mazal tov to Reeva Forman (Chairman Temple Israel)  for being presented with the Bertram Lubner Leadership Award from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies –  Gauteng Council, for her “outstanding services to the Jewish community, the people of South Africa and the State of Israel.”

Temple Israel 80th Anniversary

Today, 9 July 2016, we celebrated our 80th Anniversary and the opening of the Temple Israel Heritage Centre. Celebrating it with us was a delegation from The World Union of Progressive Judaism led by Rabbi Joel Oseran and President Carole Sterling, Professor Joseph Weiler son of our first Rabbi MC Weiler, Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela, Israeli Ambassador Arthur Lenk, Johannesburg Mayor Parks Thau, Advocate George Bizos, Marlene Bethlehem and many other dignitaries. The event was a great success with more than 300 people attending.

Listen to Interview on ChaiFM