TEMPLE ISRAEL – HILLBROW opened in 1936 and has kept its doors open for 88 years to the Jews of Hillbrow and surrounding areas.
Today ……….
Not a Shabbat, chag or commemoration is missed! No matter how few attend. Pesach and High Holy days brings more than 50 people for the Services, the Pesach Seder and the Shabbat Shuvah dinner.
We work tirelessly to keep our small community up to date with news of our beloved historic homeland Eretz Yisrael and news within the Progressive Movement locally and internationally.
However many these fine people have little or no source of income except for a State pension so we have to rely on your assistance .
Please help Temple Israel – Hillbrow to keep our doors open for the Jews of Hillbrow and surrounding areas by giving today. As a non-profit, we only exist thanks to your generous donations…. Please donate today no matter how small the amount
We’re now registered for the SnapScan payment mechanism. Donations to Temple Israel (TI) or Temple Israel Heritage Centre (TIHC) can now be made using our unique QR code below! Don’t forget to enter your SURNAME TI or TIHC as the payment reference!
Our banking details are : Account name : Temple Israel Bank : First National Bank (Parktown) Account No. : 50533884489 Branch Code : 250 655 Swift Code : FIRNZAJJ
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.
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.”
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.
Purim celebration held on Saturday 19 March. Rabbi Julia Margolis entertained all with her unique and delightful way of relating the Purim story. A great time was held by all.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
TEMPLE ISRAEL IS A PLACE OF JEWISH WORSHIP, OFFERING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT AND COMMUNAL ENVIRONMENT, GUIDED BY COMMITTED LEADERSHIP.
Sunday 28 November 2014 saw an extraordinarily moving event in
which activist Reeva Forman’s campaign to preserve
Hillbrow’s Temple Israel, South Africa’s first Reform synagogue,
began to enjoy the public attention it warrants.
With the assistance of the Johannesburg Heritage
Foundation’s Flo Bird, a blue plaque was installed outside
the shul. Opened in 1936 under the leadership of Rabbi
MC Weiler, the shul in Paul Nel Street is an Art Deco gem
designed by architects Kallenbach, Kennedy and Furner,
and serves as the repository for the archives of Progressive
Judaism. Pictured are Johannesburg City’s deputy
director of Immovable Heritage, Eric Itzkin with Forman
and Temple Israel congregants unveiling the plaque.
