Piketberg Museum celebrated a major milestone in the history of the town on Friday, 22 August 2025, namely the centenary celebration of the local Jewish Synagogue.
Flower Week is also celebrated every year during the last week of August and, as a result, the two were simply combined. The result was a lavish Centenary Tea Party in proper 1920s fashion – feathers and frills, pearls and lace.
Forty-five guests, including Piketberg’s Municipal Manager, Councillors and two representatives from the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies, were treated to delicious tea and snacks. The programme included a very interesting and extremely informative talk by Emeritus Professor Matilda Burden, on the history of the Jews, as well as the importance of Heritage Preservation. Piketberg Museum’s manager, Marié Ehlers, gave a brief overview of the history of Piketberg’ synagogue, and certificates were presented to the top ten photographers of the photo competition held specifically for the centenary. ●
Calling back the past: the history of the Piketberg synagogue
MARIÉ EHLERS, Manager, Piketberg Museum
The first church in Piketberg was dedicated in October 1836 and the church council began to dispose of building plots around the church. The need for a church for worship directly led to the founding of Piketberg. About sixty years later, another group of people arrived in Piketberg, with a different culture and faith, but with the same need: their own church for worship. The first Jewish families settled in Piketberg in the 1880s and by 1891 Piketberg was mentioned as one of the towns in the Cape where many ‘well-to-do’ Jews had settled.
In 1922, The Piketberg Hebrew Congregation, with members from surrounding areas such as Redelinghuys, Het Kruis, Zuurfontein, Porterville, Moorreesburg and Citrusdal, decided to build their own synagogue. At that stage, there were already more than thirty Jewish families living in Piketberg. The Piketberg Synagogue was built in 1925, with Herman Myers laying the cornerstone. It was built on the same plan as the Malmesbury Synagogue by Ludwig Andras Simon, a Hungarian Jew. The pair of palm trees at the front entrance and also the entrance to the shul match the entrance of the ark.
The Jews played a big role in the community at that time. A close relationship between the Afrikaans and Jewish members was notable. It seemed very fitting to have the Jewish community, who came to settle in Piketberg about 100 years ago, lay claim to their heritage in and their contribution to the town this way.
It is evident from these anecdotes and memories that the Jewish people of Piketberg had a profound influence on the lives of the people in this area. They are remembered, not only for their achievements in business, school, farming or sport, but also with love and humour and as truly remarkable people. The Jewish people are and will always be God’s chosen people and wherever they may find themselves in the world, and in whatever circumstances, they are able to lift themselves up and rise to the forefront of society.
Hardworking people. People with strong convictions, resourceful and with a keen eye for business. Despite their rather small numbers, they have an influence everywhere that extends far beyond their numbers. This is true of Piketberg’s history and here their ‘monument’ stands in the middle of the historical heart of our town and is already celebrating a full century of glory this year. ●
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