Temple Israel - Welcomes you
About us
With a vibrant community of over 3,000 members, our Rabbis, Professional Staff and Lay Leaders are always trying to grow the community in passion and learning. Learn more about these people below.
History
The Cape Town Progressive Jewish Congregation (CTPJC), also know as Temple Israel, is the umbrella body for the three Progressive Jewish Congregations in Wynberg, Green Point and West Coast. It is currently the second biggest Jewish congregation in Cape Town with almost 1,000 families registered as members.
Founded in 1944 in Green Point, inspired by our founding rabbinic couple, Rabbi Dr David Sherman (z”l) and Bertha Sherman, the congregation rapidly grew from strength to strength. In 1965, in order to service its congregants in the Southern Suburbs the Wynberg sanctuary became the second Progressive congregation in Cape Town.
By the 1970s and 80s the CTPJC was a major force in Jewish Cape Town.
In 1998 the West Coast Congregation was formed and a property purchased in 2006.
Under the strong leadership of our three locally produced rabbis, professional and lay leadership, the CTPJC is constantly introducing new and innovative programmes to ensure the continued growth and success of the congregation.
Affiliates
Temple Israel is proud to be associated to the organizations below. Please click on the links to find out more information about the work they do:
SAUPJ www.saupj.org.za
World Union for Progressive Judaism www.wupj.org
South African Association of Progressive Rabbis saupj.org.za/whowe/rabbis
Union for Reform Judaism (USA) www.urj.org
Movement for Reform Judaism, UK www.reformjudaism.org.uk
European Region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism www.europeanregion.org
South American Union for Progressive Judaism www.wupj-latinamerica.com
Australasian Union for Progressive Judaism – (Australia) www.arza.org.au
Israel Religious Action Centre www.irac.org
Religious Action Centre, Washington www.rac.org
Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism www.reform.org.il
Contact Us
General
Executive Director: Eric Beswick
Telephone: 021 762 1745
E-mail: executive-director@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 797 8309
Funeral Director: Roy Lipman
Telephone: 021 434 8901
E-mail: funeral-director@templeisrael.co.za
Bookkeeper: Inge Hemphill
Telephone: 021 762 1745
E-mail: accounts@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 797 8309
Beit Batya Religion School / Cheder Co-Ordinator: Melanie Beswick
Telephone: 021 671 3479
E-mail: melbeswick@mweb.co.za
Fax: 021 797 8309
Temple Israel Social Action (TISA) Co-Ordinator: Teri Jedeikin
Telephone: 021 434 8901
E-mail: teri-jedeikin@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 434 2400
Green Point Office
5 Upper Portswood Road, Green Point
Administration: Liza Levor
Telephone: 021 434 8901
E-mail: greenpoint@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 434 2400
Rabbi Malcolm Matitiani
Telephone: 021 434 8901
E-mail: rabbimalcolm@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 434 2400
Caretaker: Nicholas Parker
Telephone: 021 434 8901
Fax: 021 434 2400
5 Salisbury Road, Wynberg
Administration – Debbie Cape
Telephone: 021 762 1745
E-mail: wynberg@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 797 8309
Rabbi Richard Newman
Telephone: 021 762 1745
E-mail: rabbirichard@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 021 797 8309
Caretaker: Michael Solomon
Telephone: 021 762 1745
Fax: 021 797 8309
West Coast Office
25 Glanville Road, Tygerhof
Administration – Cathy Capouya
Telephone: 021 552 2484
E-mail: westcoast@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 086 604 7478
Rabbi Greg Alexander
Telephone: 021 552 2484
E-mail: ravgreg@templeisrael.co.za
Fax: 086 604 7478
Lay Leadership, Board and Councils - top
Board and Councils 2009/2010
The lay leadership is made up of elected Councils for each of our three centres, with two members of each being elected onto the Board, along with the Immediate Past President and Honorary Life Board Member.
Temple Israel Board
President: Roy Fine
Vice-President: Ian Morris
Vice President: Alvin Kushner
Immediate Past President: N’Tanya Gordon-Davis
Honorary Life Board Member: Harold sandak-Lewin
Board members: Michael Myers
Co-Opted Members: Greg Flash, Avril Myers
Elder: Phina Hoberman
Trustees: Cyril Saxe, Klem Druker and Simon Jocum
Ex-Officio: Executive Director Eric Beswick, who also sits on all three councils
Green Point Council
Rabbi Malcolm Matitiani
Ian Morris (Chairman)
Cyril Saxe
Diana Sochen
Paul Jacobson
Cathy Chames
Susan Bootcov
Connie Berman
Kate Thompson
Dillon Chapman
Sisterhood Representative: Phina Hoberman and Rochelle Weinreich
West Coast Council
Rabbi Greg Alexander
Alvin Kushner (Chairman)
Michael Myers
Alison Karon
Myer Casper
Diego Ostria
Avril Myers
Rolene Ressel
Wynberg Council
Rabbi Richard Newman
Peter Searll (Chairman)
Ilana Stone
Martin Cohen
Roy Fine
Alon Smily
Jonny Schwarz
Sandra Cohen
Melanie Beswick
Sisterhood Representative: Astrid Broll
Hadassah Representative: Penny Eberlin