The South African Holocaust Foundation (the recently formed umbrella organisation of the Holocaust Centres in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg), in partnership with Yad Vashem, has established an exciting Fellowship Programme to support teacher training across the country. The programme has been endorsed by the National Department of Education

In March this year, 21 senior educators from provincial regions, accompanied by education personnel from the SA Holocaust Foundation, will be attending a two week, specially designed programme at the International School of Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem. The programme is being fully sponsored by Yad Vashem.

Did you know that Progressive Judaism is not just a passing fad but has formally existed for over 200 years and its roots go back to the earliest rabbinic period, over 2000 years ago? Did you know that our movement includes over 1200 congregations across the world with over 1.7 million signed up members? Did you know that all Jewish movements including Orthodoxy have adopted some of the initiatives brought in by Reform movements across the world?

Many people seem to hold the belief that Progressive Judaism, Progressive Jews, our rabbis, synagogues and services are ‘not really Jewish’, ‘watered-down Judaism’ or ‘Orthodoxlight’.

In June 1958, 121 delegates gathered in Oudtshoorn for a Young Israel Rally Most of the delegates were from Cape Town, with others from Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Oudtshoorn.

A group of those now ‘veteran’ delegates are entertaining the possibility of having a 50th reunion for both the 1958 and 1959 Rallies in Cape Town next year and they are hoping that someone could produce a similar picture taken at the 1959 Rally.

Walking into the Shul at 45 William Street, Obs-Mowbray one senses and experiences in real time, the timeless, rich simplicity of the architecture dating back 80 years to 1927, when the building was designed.

It is a sanctuary in time; like nothing has changed. Yet this is contrasted by the vibrant community still enjoying its sacred atmosphere.

Everyone is very contemporary, friendly and in touch with all that is our new, modern world. The familiarity of the unassuming village atmosphere, the superb acoustics and the spaciousness makes one feel at home yet elevated — relaxed yet excited to be here.

On Tuesday 13 November Cyril Jaffe turned 92, a celebration that he enjoyed with a group of his ‘old’ friends.

So happens, such get-togethers have been going on for several years, but never on a Tuesday! Cyril and his pals have been gathering in his home for tea and cake every Friday morning — the Friday Club — most of whose members are today in their late 80s and early 90s.