Witbank Activities
Witbank Hebrew Order of David Lodge, initiated 1925.
Witbank, with its dynamic community members, successfully ran many Jewish organisations. According to the Jewish Country Communities article we know that:
The Witbank Zionist Society was established by 1905 and carried on for many years. The first secretary was Mr W Behr. The smaller settlements around Witbank also participated in the Zionist Society, Mr M Lipson of Brugspruit being on the executive from 1906-08. In 1912 a new society was established and thrived. It participated in all major fundraising drives. Originally, both men and women were members of the society and in 1913 the society had 67 members.
The Witbank Jewish Dramatic Society was in existence by 1917, when it produced Jewish King Lear.
The Witbank Jewish Helping Hand and Burial Society or Chevra Kadisha was in existence from at least 1923, when Israel Slomoi was chairman. It is likely that it was founded many years before that date.
HOD-Witbank Lodge was established in 1924. The first president was Bro J E Manasewitz. The consecration of the lodge was described as one of the most outstanding of its kind. A special train was hired from Johannesburg and stopped at all stations en route to Witbank to pick up HoD members and their families. In 1944 this lodge was renamed the MM Ussishkin Lodge. The lodge was a strong outpost of the Zionist movement, collecting large sums of money for Zionist campaigns, with the result that overseas emissaries always included Witbank on their visits. Prominent members of the lodge included Messrs Barney Hope, Les Gafinowitz, Sam Young and Vic Burman. In 1964 the lodge’s membership of 72 included members from Middelburg, Ogies and Bronkhorstspruit. The lodge was officially closed in 1982 as it was no longer able to muster a quorum. For more information see Barry’s pages.
Witbank Young Israel Society was in existence by 1929.
Witbank Women’s Zionist Society came into existence sometime before 1936. Their activities included the publishing of a cookery book and the production of plays such as How to be a Jewish Mother and The Wooden Dish. Because their membership overlapped, the Women’s Zionist Society and the Union of Jewish Women worked together on a number of projects and the meetings of the two societies were held concurrently in the 1960s and 70s. Regular goodwill afternoons were held with guest speakers from Johannesburg.
A Ladies Cultural Society, first mentioned in 1936, operated under the auspices of the Witbank Women’s Zionist Society. The cultural society was still active in 1980.
The Witbank Zionist Youth Society was established in June 1937 at the home of Mrs Gertie Young, with Rev Goldberg presiding. Mr L Katz was the first chairman.
Habonim was recorded in Witbank in 1936 and 1937. It amalgamated with the Witbank Bnei Zion to form Ichud Habonim Bnei Zion in 1963.
The Witbank Jewish Ladies Guild was established in 1938. The founder and first chairman was Mrs Gertie Young. This was the forerunner of the Witbank branch of the Union of Jewish Women, to which they became affiliated in 1951.
The Witbank branch of the South African Jewish Orphanage was in existence by 1939.
Comradeship of Youth, a youth organisation, was active in the years 1943-44 despite opposition from the Zionist Youth Society.
Witbank Women’s ORT-OZE was established in 1950 with Mrs Gertie Young as honorary treasurer. The branch applied for membership to the SAJBD in 1951.
The Union of Jewish Women (Witbank) was established in 1951 with Mrs Gertie Young holding the position of chairman for 25 years and honorary life member from 1964. It had its roots in the Witbank Jewish Ladies Guild, which started in 1938. The Union of Jewish Women was admitted as a constituent member of the SAJBD in 1953. In later years, as the membership of the Union of Jewish Women and the Witbank Women's Zionist Society overlapped, meetings were held concurrently. In 1981, with the decline in the Jewish community, this branch of the Union of Jewish Women was deregistered.
South African Yiddish Cultural Federation (Witbank) was established in 1952, the first chairman being Mr I I Behrman.
Witbank Bnei Zion was started around 1957. Annual activities included concerts and picnics. Events on a national level, i.e., the disintegration of the United Zionist Party Youth Organisation by 1961 and the merging of its junior youth movement, Bnei Zion, with Habonim, meant that from 1963 the Witbank Bnei Zion was known as Ichud Habonim Bnei Zion.
The Witbank Youth Congregation was established in 1959. The youth held Sunday breakfast minyanim as well as regular Saturday morning services and a study circle for Jewish studies and conversational Hebrew. Mr D Gavshon was chairman in 1961. The Federation of Synagogues Schlichim was established in the 1960s for children between the ages of 8 and 12, who met every Sunday morning at the Hebrew Hall for two hours of fun-filled activities. The aim of the group was to forge a strong Jewish identity, both cultural and religious.
Witbank Jewish Youth Club was established in 1968 with the assistance of the SAJBD Youth Department and youth leaders from Johannesburg and Springs. Meetings were held every Sunday evening in the Hebrew Hall and activities included games, debates and social functions.
