Community
Temple Israel is a broad tapestry woven together from our lay leaders, rabbis, teachers and programming team and the many committees and organizations that help us thrive. Here you can meet some of them and learn about the work they do.
Sisterhood
The Sisterhood of the Cape Town Jewish Reform Congregation was launched at a meeting held in the Delmonico Restaurant in April 1944. We currently have 3 Sisterhoods in Cape Town namely: Green Point, chaired by Phina Hoberman, Wynberg, chaired by Astrid Broll and Hadassah, chaired by Penny Eberlin. Members of Hadassah Sisterhood are mostly working women and it is regarded as an ‘Umbrella Sisterhood’ as its members are drawn from Wynberg, Green Point as well as from the West Coast Temple which as yet does not have a sisterhood of its own. All Sisterhoods in Southern Africa are members of the South African Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS)and are nationally and internationally represented by this organization. SAUTS has full representation on the SAUPJ administrative bodies, and is an affiliated member of the Union of Jewish Women of South Africa. SAUTS also has a seat on the governing body of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and is represented on the Board of Directors of the Women for Reform Judaism, our parent body, based in the United States.
GREEN POINT SISTERHOOD
Sisterhood support the Congregation as much as possible including contributing generously towards the expenses of our Hebrew Schools. Community Involvement and Outreach: We send representatives to major gatherings of other Jewish organizations and have been privileged to be invited to various special community functions. Sisterhood participate at communal events such as the Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations organized by the Western Province Zionist Council. We are represented on the Jewish Women’s Co-ordinating Committee of the Western Cape. This committee consists of members of all the Jewish Women’s Organizations and Synagogue Guilds who work together to organize various communal functions. For more than 40 years, the Sisterhood used to entertain about 1000 elderly and disadvantaged people from various homes in the city, during or soon after the Succoth week. The event was known as “The Simchat Torah Party for Senior Citizens”. As the main hall in our new G P Temple complex is about a quarter of the size of the one we had in the previous premises, this annual event has had to be drastically curtailed. In recent years we have invited seniors of our congregation and from the Cape Jewish Seniors Association (CJSA) to join us for a Succoth Tea Party and have also tried to provide some entertainment for our guests. Our Annual Interfaith mornings were initiated more than 30 years ago. Invitations are extended to members of Christian, Moslem and other faith groups. These events have proved to be very popular and have been an opportunity for the different religions to learn and rejoice in the differences and similarities of our faiths. With assistance from Mazon (an American based organization providing food for needy or hungry people all over the world), we have for many years continued to support Ikamva La Bantu feeding schemes for disabled and underprivileged children attending day care centres in the local townships. We also on occasion assist local Jewish organizations and throughout the year support other worthy causes. Parcels of clothing are regularly donated for distribution to disaster victims via the Jewish Board of Deputies and to the Somerset Hospital for needy patients. Catering: Our hardworking catering team organise and provide refreshments for various temple functions including the many unsponsored brochas that are hosted and donated by Sisterhood. Surplus and left over food is donated to the needy. Fundraising:. Catering for various simchas such as Bnei Mitzvah, etc. forms the main source of our income. As part of our endeavours to raise funds for the various projects that we support, Judaica & Handmade Gifts are sold. We also organise an annual fete and have ongoing rummage sales. We greatly appreciate the support and donations received from our congregants without which this would not be possible.
“SISTERHOOD IS JUDAISM IN ACTION”
We appeal to all congregants who are not yet actively involved, to come forward and join the Sisterhoods. The more helpers, the lighter the load and the more can be achieved. We need your new ideas and enthusiasm to help Sisterhood and the Congregation to grow and flourish.
WYNBERG SISTERHOOD
We at the Wynberg Sisterhood have had a very eventful year and are engaged in many charity and social events. Our dedicated ladies are at the forefront of every occasion and challenge. We give many donations to various charities e.g. Red Cross, City Mission, Night Haven and to the refugees affected by floods or fire. Our Sisterhood is thriving in Wynberg and is always open for new ladies young and not so young to join us. We are also a family and look to events so we can be together. I am always available to anyone who would like more information about how we operate and we welcome any new members with pleasure. Please contact our shul email wynberg@templeisrael.co.za or call 021 762 1745 and the message will be forwarded on to me. Astrid Broll Wynberg Sisterhood Chairman
Hadassah
Helga Sandak-Lewin
Hadassah was born out of need. The need of a group of women who wanted to contribute to the life of their Temple and community but who were restricted because of their own life-styles. Their days were taken by their work or occupation and therefore they could not join the Sisterhood activities.
This group started meeting in the late 1980’s and tried out different names. In 1990 the Constitution was finalized and Hadassah became an affiliate of Temple Israel and an evening partner to the Sisterhoods. It is an “umbrella” organization as it has members from both Green Point and Wynberg and alternates its monthly meeting venues between the two centres. We look forward to including members from the West Coast too.
The mission statement of Hadassah is to promote friendship and fellowship among our own community and a caring outreach to the wider community. We chose the name ‘Hadassah’ as that was the Hebrew name of the Persian Queen Esther, a Jewess who used her courage, beauty and wit to save her fellow Jews from destruction. A true heroine and one we wished to honour.
The number of women serving on the committee has never been very large but our contribution has been substantial.
Hadassah inaugurated the holding of regular brochot after Saturday morning services as well as the communal dinners at which each person contributes towards the meal. We called them “Pot-Luck Suppers”.
Over the years we have held many interesting and innovative functions contributing to both our Temples coffers as well as supporting other worthwhile causes while encouraging friendship and fellowship amongst all those participating.
Some of our more memorable functions were the Symposium on Menopause held at the former Nico Malan Opera House and Theatre in the Round where we produced a play performed by Temple members, while the audience enjoyed both an excellent meal and the entertainment.
We have had many types of dances ranging from national themes to fancy dress and “Progressive” parties which moved from venue to venue in a bus and culminated at the Temple Hall.
Hadassah ran a literacy school at our Wynberg premises for some years.
Our relationship with the other Sisterhoods has always been excellent. We help each other and then work together for the same function, prime examples being the Annual Temple Fete and Yom Ha’atzmaut.
We welcome the addition of new members to perpetuate our ideals.
Caring Friends - top
Temple Israel is a warm and supportive congregation and Bikkur Cholim (visiting the sick), Nichum Aveilim (consoling the bereaved) and caring for people at all their moments of need are essential mitzvot for our community. If you, a family member or a friend would appreciate a visit from a rabbi or one of our Caring Friends, please contact Cathy at our Wynberg Office.
Fundraising - top
While membership fees do go a long way to paying the bills, all synagogues rely on donations. Temple Israel is a dynamic congregation that deals with nearly 1000 member families and a great number of non-members on a daily basis. Besides Shabbat and festival services, lifecycle celebrations, ongoing study and spiritual support we also have a substantial Social Action, welfare and interfaith programme that reaches out to a huge number of people. We also maintain three campuses, support Netzer, our youth movement, and run a yearlong variety of social and educational programmes.
Our Shabbat Magic evenings are attracting over 200 people to our synagogues twice a month and bringing back people who have not been regular attenders to our shuls.
If you would like to sponsor a project, cover the cost of a child to camp, donate your time or goods to one of our shuls or have your name on a Shabbat Magic evening, contact our Executive Director executive-director@templeisrael.co.za