Jewish life in Cape Town during December

TALI FEINBERG

Kosher food:

Avron’s Place serves a wide variety of dishes, including beef ribs and sushi. It does takeaways, catering and will pack Shabbat meals for visitors. Opening hours Monday to Thursday are 11:00 – 15:00 and 17:00 – 22:30; Fridays 10:00 – 14:00; Saturday December 17, one hour after Shabbat till 23:30. Open on December 25 and 26. Closed during the day on January 1, but open from 17:30. Address: 19 – 33 Regent Road, Sea Point, tel (021) 439-7610.

Coffee Time: Milchik coffee shop in lovely surroundings. Gluten-free and sugar-free options. It also caters for functions. All proceeds go to supporting the Astra Centre. Opening hours Monday to Thursday are 0800 – 15:30pm; Fridays 08:00 – 15:00. Address: 20 Breda Street, Gardens, tel (021) 461 8414.

Café Riteve: Milchik café, conveniently located in the heart of town, in the Gardens Community Centre. Serves kosher wine and liquors. Special buffet evenings on December 21, 22, 27 and 29 and on January 3. Open on December 25, 26 and 27 and on January 1 and 2. Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 08:30 – 17:00; Friday 08:30 – 15:00. Address: 88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, tel (021) 465-1594.

Goldies Deli and Diner: A meat and parev deli, a sit-down diner and a bakery. The menu is increasing with more options like falafel/pita, schwarma and many interesting meat and chicken dishes. The weekly Shabbos special is running right through the season – R180 buys you a meal for 3 to 4 people. It includes one litre soup, four perogen or kneidlach, a main course (varies every week), a dessert and a challah. Opening hours: 08:30 Sunday to Friday, closing around 20:30 Sunday to Thursday and Friday 08:30 – 16:30. Address: 174 Main Road, Sea Point, tel (021) 439-300.

Where to buy kosher food and wine

The following supermarkets have dedicated kosher sections stocking warm and cold food products:

• Checkers Sea Point:  Regent Road, Sea Point, tel (021) 430-4680.

• Spar Sea Point: Regent Road, Sea Point, tel (021) 439-0914.

• Pick n Pay Adelphi: 127 Main Road,| Sea Point, tel (021) 434-8987.
• Pick n Pay Claremont: Cnr Campground and Main Roads, Claremont, tel (021) 674-5908.
• Shoprite Checkers Milnerton: Cnr Koeberg and De Grendel Roads, Milnerton, tel (021) 528-1680 (kosher meat section only).

The following Cape wine farms create kosher reds and whites under the supervision of the Beth Din:

• Kleine Draken: Pieter Hugo Street, Paarl, tel (021) 863-2368.
• Backsberg: Simondium Road, Klapmuts, Paarl, tel (0 21) 875-5141.

Shuls and Chanukah:

Chabad of the West Coast is having a Chanukah celebration at the Paddocks, Milnerton on Monday December 26 from 17:30. They will also be hosting a gala benefit dinner (R900 per person) on December 14, inaugurating the Sinai Foundation and celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the Sinai Academy. Contact: Mandy celebration@sinaiacademy.co.za or (021) 557-7560 for reservations and information.

Chabad in Sea Point will be running Camp Gan Izzy from December 12 – 23 at Herzlia Weizmann for ages three and up. To register e-mail reception@chabad.co.za or call (021) 434-3740.

Claremont Wynberg Shul will have a Chanukah programme on Thursday December 29. Information: shul office (021) 671-9006.

Temple Israel (Progressive Synagogue) has a special Chanukah Shabbat candle-lighting.  All three synagogues will run Chanukah lighting ceremonies in Green Point, Wynberg and West Coast on the evening of Friday December 30. Bring your own chanukiah or simply come along for the lighting and special Shabbat service. Information: www.templeisrael.co.za

Hermanus Hebrew Congregation: New Jewish Centre and Synagogue have modern facilities including a kosher kitchen, banqueting hall, garden space and ample parking. Services on Friday evenings and on all important Holy Days. Service times: Friday evening mincha starts at 18:30. Address: Corner Jose Burman Drive and Magnolia Street, Hermanus.

Plettenberg Bay Shul: Chanukah celebration and golf day planned. Contact: Shai (044) 533-4833 or PlettShull@mweb.co.za. Address: 16 Roche Bonne Avnue, Plettenberg Bay.

Jewish community sites:

The Gardens Community Centre (88 Hatfield Street, Gardens) includes the Cape Town Holocaust Centre (free entrance), South African Jewish Museum (small entrance fee), the Jacob Gitlin Library (free, with a new children’s library), the historic Gardens Synagogue and Cafe Riteve, and a small kids’ play area.

Visitors are requested to bring photo identification with them. Park in the Jewish Museum parking lot further up Hatfield Street, or get off at the Stop 8 of the “Hop-On, Hop-Off” Red Bus.

“The Space Between”, a fundraising art exhibition showcasing the work of Jewish artists in Cape Town, is on at the South African Jewish Museum until December 18. Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 10:00 – 17:00, Friday 10:00 – 14:00. 

The exhibition “Eva’s Story: The Promise” will be on display at the Cape Town Holocaust Centre until the end of February. It tells the story of Eva Schloss, Anne Frank’s posthumous stepsister. Entrance is free, donations welcome.

Mother City Jewish Tours will be hosting walking tours of sites with Jewish history in Cape Town, including the Castle of Good Hope, District Six, the City Hall, Greenmarket Square, the Slave Lodge, the Company’s Garden, the National Gallery, ending at Cafe Riteve. Contact Craig Nudelman for more information: craig.nudelman@gmail.com or 082-424-2545.