{"id":146,"date":"2018-03-12T15:19:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T15:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/dpjc\/?page_id=146"},"modified":"2020-01-03T13:57:42","modified_gmt":"2020-01-03T13:57:42","slug":"history-of-shul","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/rbgstudios.co.za\/dpjc\/history-of-shul\/","title":{"rendered":"History of our shul"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Introduction<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our shul, like most shuls, has had an incredible history, made up of the wonderful men and women who have contributed so much to the development of our community. Our leaders have not only helped to develop our shul, but have worked in the Durban Jewish community and the wider community of the city.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rabbis<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We have had six rabbis as our spiritual leaders since 1948, when the Temple was launched; Rabbis Meyer Miller, Rabbi Isaac Richards. Rabbi Richard Levitan, Rabbi Michael Sternfield, Rabbi Michael Standfield and Rabbi Hillel Avidan. We have been so fortunate to have had such outstanding human beings who have given to every aspect of our Temple and the general community.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Services, Celebrations and Lay Readers<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our first services were held at the home of Mr & Mrs Mervyn Gild, but as more space was needed and so they were held in Caxton Hall in Masonic Grove. In 1948, our very first High Holy Days was held in Caxton Hall. One of the first committees we started was that of the Hebrew School and shortly afterwards, the Sisterhood of Temple David.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ongei Shabbatot<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the early years, and in fact , right up to the time of Rabbi Levitan, the last Friday of the month would be a late service. Instead of having the service at 6.00pm, we would have it at 8.00pm and this would be followed by an Oneg Shabbat in the Hall. There were so many different \u201centertainments \u201c at the oneg; talks on dozens of subjects, both Jewish and general, musical recitals of many genres, slide shows, plays, especially plays and musicals created by our members and members from the general Jewish community.<\/p>

There were candlelight theatres with many of the congregants being the \u201cOscar Winning<\/em><\/strong>\u201d actors. \u201cBonte Schweig\u2019s Trial in Heaven<\/em><\/strong>\u201d with Ookie Ucko in the title role, \u2018Tradition! Tradition!<\/em><\/strong>\u201d \u2013 a trio of stories from the stetl with traditional Jewish food for supper and Yiddish incidental music, \u201cMy Chair Lady\u201d<\/em><\/strong>, a musical skit that had been done by the ladies of WIZO who came to perform at an Oneg, not forgetting the \u201c A peep Inside A Council Meeting With Monty Prunejuice!\u201d<\/em><\/strong> with Leon Norton in the title role. So much fun was had by those creating the shows, as well as the audiences who enjoyed them. Musical interludes, both orchestral and singing. Quizzes with the Rabbi sometimes as the quiz master and of course, a favourties \u2018Questions You Were Afraid to Ask The Rabbi!\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Outstanding speakers and humorists were part of the entertainment offered at those regular last Fridays of the month. Of course, like all good Jewish functions, there was very good vituals provided by the different members of the congregation. Everyone had a turn!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Leadership<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our Temple has been blessed with many wonderful leaders in every sector. Their commitment, loyalty and expertise has allowed the congregation to grow and flourish, even in difficult times. Our early fathers were blessed with excellent financial knowledge and made provision for us to be able to completely renovate our Temple in time for our 25th<\/sup> Anniversary, without having to do any fundraising! What unbelievable vision!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Past Presidents<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our first President was the late Mervyn Gild, one of the visionaries who helped to build our temple. In those early days we were blessed to have an amazing group of lay leaders who set up a sound base for our Temple.<\/p>

Once we moved into our premises at 369 Ridge Road, we built our lovely Davida cr\u00e8che which was a part of the community for 50 years, and of course with the building of the hall, we were able to expand in so many ways.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tHistory<\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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