Maitland: Synagogue page and Rev Avraham Zalman Kaufman's scroll
Click here to see a picture of the synagogue as it nears completion.
In 1954, this splendid synagogue building was opened for the Maitland/Brooklyn Congregation Elnat Yisrael
Behind this foundation stone of the new synagogue in Maitland, proudly laid in August 1954 by Rev Kaufman, was hidden a scroll espousing the history of the community and the people who had been involved on the journey, from the time Jews arrived in the area at the turn of the 20th century during the Second Anglo-Boer War, and over the next half century. It was written by Rev Avraham Zalman Kaufman who had been at the forefront of activity in the congregation for over 50 years. This is what he said:
Hebrew Congregation of Maitland/Brooklyn, Elnat Yisrael
By Rev Avraham Zalman Kaufman 1954
I have no knowledge of what existed before my arrival in Africa, that is before the present century, and my knowledge is only from the year 1903. I only know what others have told me, that is, before the War with the Boers and the British in the years 1898-1901, there were almost no Jews in Maitland, but during the war many of our brothers left or rather fled from the Transvaal and came to the Cape and some of them settled in Maitland, which was then called Ysterplaat. There was then no congregation and on the High Holy days at Ysterplaat, they prayed at the house of Chaim Yosef Baker; and one year at the house of Yehuda Leib Ahrenson. In Maitland, they organised a Minyan for Shabbatot at the house of Mrs Saks and on the High Holy Days, they prayed one year in an empty house in Chapel Street. In 1904, when there was an established secular school under the local committee, we hired the school hall for prayers; also in the second year.
In the third year, two things happened; firstly the question arose about a Minyan and it was decided after debating the matter that they would combine with Maitland and establish a house of Prayer in Mr Saks' house which was in the centre of the town and members would pay £4.10s.0d. a month. Everybody paid one shilling monthly tax and I was appointed responsible for collecting the money.
Mordechai Simonhof served as Gabbai. This is how the Minyan went until Rosh Hashonah, but when we asked again for the school hall for the High Holy Days, our request was refused. That year the school management passed to the National Education Committee and they complained that children would lose valuable days while the Mikdash was being built - we also complained from our side very strongly and after much work from our colleague, Rev A. P. Bender, they agreed to give us the hall that year on condition we would not ask again; also they did not take rent.
We called a meeting of all the Jews of Maitland and Brooklyn and decided to establish a congregation with the name Holy Congregation or Community of Israel, Maitland/Brooklyn and we elected a working committee: Chairman Mr Friedman, Vice-Chairman Mr Koreski, Hon. Secretary Mr Slomowitz, Treasurer Shimshon, Honorary Vice-Treasurer Mr Kaufman. Members were Chaim Josef Baker, Zvi Shoveski - and thus we prayed on the High Holy days in the hall and on Motzai Yom Kippur after Ma'ariv I explained the situation to the congregation. Everyone promised a donation to the building of a House of Prayer - the total came to £150.0.0.
After the festivals in the month of Tevet (December) we bought the present plot for £100. The work was commenced. On Lag B'Omer of that year the foundation stone was dedicated by Hyman Liberman, who was then Mayor of Cape Town; and the day after the dedication of the foundation stone, we took account of our financial situation. We had in hand £23 with which they started to build. Everyone helped in the work, especially Tzvi Shovavski. On the building committee were Messrs Friedman, Ze-ev Shimshon, Chaim Yosef Baker, Avraja, Zachman Kaufman. Every week we collected almost enough to pay the building workers; we collected the material and in chodesh Elul we opened the door of the synagogue. The expenses of the building from the foundation to finish were £776, and on the High Holy days, the people of Brooklyn/Maitland prayed together in our synagogue. We were, however, frustrated and not satisfied as we saw our sons grow up without Jewish education. Although there were not many we started to worry about them and wanted to found a Hebrew school, or as it was called then, a Talmud Torah.
A Mr Mordechai Koresky became interested in helping me and after Pesach, we appointed Mr Yaakov Gitlin as teacher for three months because we were not sure we would be able to continue. We assembled eight children, all of them beginners, but not all of the same age. Mr Gitlin and I decided that they would be taught Ivrit b'Ivrit. I was elected Chairman of the Talmud Torah with Mr M. Sakinovsky as secretary and treasurer. On Lag B'Omer one year after laying the foundation stone of the synagogue we laid the foundation of the study of Torah which grew and when Mr Sakinovsky left, Mr Chaim Baker was chosen as chairman with me as honorary Secretary. We battled with the financial situation for a few years because the Talmud Torah only became viable after a few years. Mr Gitlin left in 1914; there had been two teachers, Gitlin and Yanikin; Mr H. Cohen substituted for Mr Gitlin. Expenditure increased but the congregation accepted the monetary responsibilities. The running of the Talmud Torah remained as before and we always chose the best teachers like Messrs Gitlin, H. Cohen, Z. Barman, H. Lederman, Moshe Nates, etc.
The place of study was in the synagogue; but after the year 1913, when the pupils increased, we had to find a second teacher. He taught in a small cheder room of the synagogue with two small departments; thus the Talmud Torah was conducted for ten years under the supervision of a principal and a deputy. In the year 1922 after the first World War, we appointed as teacher our friend, Shlomo Zabow and another who would assist - this lasted for many years. We appointed Mr Moshe Nates as principal and Mr H. Melmed as assistant. The Talmud Torah began to grow again but the venue was not satisfactory.
After many years of complaint, agitation started for a strong building. A hall was booked for us to buy to which we added two rooms needed for a school. On Sunday, 29th August, 1937, 22 Elul 5457, Mr Kaufman again laid the foundation stone; the building was completed in a few months to the joy of our congregation.
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(Top) The Talmud Torah and Communal Hall built in 1937 that served the community for nearly 20 years. Above left: Foundation stone. Above right: detail from building.
One teacher leaves and another takes his place. Mr R. S. Efron was principal of the school for thirteen years; the congregation was receiving good leadership. We also did not neglect the study of Torah, now Mishneh, now Gemorah, now Bible. The community increased and after the second World War, the settlers of our town gathered and expressed their need for a new synagogue. Again a committee was chosen to collect finance chaired by Mr Benzion Shov together with the Gabbai and the congregation and a few more of the good people of the city. However, the work proceeded with difficulty for a few years and only two or three years ago the work was recommenced. Truly they put in enthusiasm and much work - and so finished the work of many years.
The foundation stone was laid on Sunday .... Elul by the Gabbai Mr Moshe Dov Bar Chaim Schmuel HaLevi and on the same day, the doors of the synagogue were opened by Shraga .... from the Zeidel family - Sunday 29th August 1954 .... Elul 5714.
THIS SCROLL WAS WRITTEN FOR THE MEMORY OF THE COMING GENERATION.
But even as the synagogue opened, the community was starting to diminish. It continued to dwindle through the 1970s due to natural attrition, older children leaving home, and families moving out to Sea Point, Milnerton and other suburbs, and even other countries.
One particular memory that many ex-Maitlanders have of the Shul is the legendary erev-Simchat Torah tradition of presenting new brides and brides-to-be with a splendid box of chocolates. Rev Efron would say a few words about each recipient, and then call on one of the younger girls to present the chocolates. This was followed by another never-to-be-forgotten tradition whereby everyone in Shul would be given a slab of Cadbury chocolate. The Shul would be packed to the rafters, as Maitland must have been the only Shul in Cape Town to hand out those large slabs.
The Maitland Talmud Torah building was sold in 1977, and in 2000 the synagogue closed its doors as a Jewish house of prayer for the last time.
The Maitland Shul building still stands as a place of worship – but no longer ours. It is now the New Apostolic Church. (Information correct as at September 2024.)
