SA
Sprightly lady of 90 still going strong
The Muizenberg and Kalk Bay Hebrew Congregation turned 90 this year – and is still going strong.
JEAN TOCKAR
It was founded in 1918, and soon thereafter the first president, Nathan Emdin was elected and the Reverend Sam Michelson was appointed as minister.
After a few years of planning, the construction of the synagogue was completed and the foundation stone of the Muizenberg Shul was laid by Rev A P Bender on February 14, 1924.
Throughout the decades, visitors to Muizenberg from all over Africa attended services in the shul, where well-known chazonim and rabbonim officiated.
The Ladies Guild, a close-knit band of women, were famous for their lavish brochas all year round, as well as during the summer, when as many as 400 visitors and campers from Camp Kesher in Lakeside, attended the Shabbat services and enjoyed brochas at the Herzl Hall.
Although the numbers have diminished over the years, the summer still attracts hundreds of visitors to our shores, and we are proud to be their hosts in our beautiful shul and superior new banqueting facility next door.