Buried in the mists of time, a long-forgotten Pretoria shul

Harry Kanowitz, Pretoria

Someone mentioned that there was a shul in Andries Street, predating the Paul Kruger Street Shul.      

I found a single-storey building, which was then used as a storeroom of sorts. The frontage was bricked up, but across the width of the building there was a concrete lintel, which had been painted with white paint. Through the paint I could make out Hebrew lettering.

This was on the north-western block, just off the corner of Andries and Proes or Struben Streets. I am not sure which one.

I had a book on Jewish history, it was yellow and in it, it had a picture of this building.

As soon as I ask questions, I get answers which relate to the Adath Yisrael Shul which was on the corner of Vermeulen and Dorlas Streets (nicknamed the Amalieta Shul.) No-one seems to know anything about the building I am referring to. 

There is a story about Paul Kruger only giving a small piece of ground to the Jewish community as they only believed in half the Bible. This I think, relates to the Paul Kruger Street Shul. I know that some early Yomtov services were held in the Caledonian Hall.

Anyone who may have a picture of this early building, which is in the yellow history book, to please let me have a copy.