Umhlanga Jewish Centre dedicated with jubilation

LAUREN SHAPIRO

Pictured: Rabbi Dr Pinchas Zekry of the Durban Hebrew Congregation, addresses the congregation in the new shul at the Umhlanga Jewish Centre at its dedication ceremony on Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH: RALPH BRONZIN

He unveiled the foundation stone along with Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Rosh Beth Din Rabbi Moshe Kurtstag and Dr Jonathan Beare.

Mezuzot were affixed to the entrances to the centre, and the rabbis, dignitaries and donor, rejoiced with Hakavod around the exquisite new shul. Two sifrei Torah were donated to the UJC Shul to mark the occasion.

The ceremony incorporated the official opening of the Leah Masinter Mikveh, the Beit Midrash library in memory of Walter and Lilly Wellisch, and the Gunter Lazarus Media Centre in the Umhlanga Jewish Day School, all on the same campus.

At the gala dinner that followed, guest of honour Rabbi Goldstein likened the builders of the UJC to the prophets Moses and Joshua, and the chalutzim of early Israel.

“This community has come together with vision and enormous courage,” he noted. “Tonight we salute and celebrate with the builders of the UJC.”

Rabbi Kurtstag paid tribute to Rabbi Zekry and his wife Dina for 30 years of service to the community this June. The full Beth Din was present to lend support to this worthy cause.

Rabbi Zekry thanked his steering committee as well as the many generous benefactors – chiefly Dr Jonathan Beare – whose support made this centre possible.

“In times when many communities in this country are sadly shutting down, we are privileged to witness the opening of a new community,” he said.

The UJC is a haven for Jewish life on the east coast, with its thriving school, flourishing shul with dedicated Beit Midrash, beautiful mikveh, superb function facilities, state-of-the-art auditorium, gym, tennis court, and more.

* Become part of this amazing development. For more information contact (031) 201-5177, or follow our blog on www.durbanshul.co.za