Witbank Synagogue page
The Witbank synagogue in Paul Kruger Street, which was built in 1913, was the first place of worship built in the town – even before the Anglican Church in 1917. It served the congregation for 61 years. This building no longer exists.
Laying of the foundation Stone of the Witbank Synagogue in 1913. Front row, left to right: Mr Weiler, JM Zieman, Rev Mannie, Dr JL Landau, Emile Nathan esq. S Esakov, W Solomon, S Berkowitz. Second row: ?, Weinstein, ?, ?, Jacob Woolf Dembo, ?, ?, Israel Slomoi, Nachman Gordon, S Katz, Jekkie Friedman, Shulman.
The foundation stone was laid by Emil Nathan, who was a member of the legislative assembly. Rabbi Landau of the Johannesburg Hebrew Congregation, with Rev Mannie, led the service. At the time the historic Park Synagogue in Johannesburg was being demolished and one of its chandeliers was donated to the Witbank shul (below). The chandelier was moved to the new synagogue in Clarendon Street when it opened in 1974.
The elaborate New Synagogue in Clarendon Place (back view above) opened in 1974 and was in use for 33 years. Below is the interior of the new synagogue, including the chandelier from Johannesburg Park Synagogue. The building was sold in 2007 to the Shalom Christian Ministries.
See more pictures of the synagogue taken by Barry Mann in June 2002.
List of ministers in Witbank
Rev Hurwitz (first minister), 1912-1914
Rev I Hershman, 1914-c.1925
Rev Woolf, 1926-1929
Rev Becker, 1929
Rev Phillip Rosenberg, 1929-c.1930
Rev M Diamond, 1932-1935
Rev L Goldberg, 1936-1938
Rev L Zieve (Zive), 1938-1942
Rev N Menachemson, 1943-c.1944
Rabbi Dr M Chigler, 1946-c.1948
Rev W M Bernstein, 1948
Rev David Garb, c.1949-1956
Rev Shalom Barron, 1956-1961
Rabbi G M Engel, 1961-1970
Rabbi M Gordon, 1971-1976
Rev Caplan, 1978-1982
Rabbi S Udwin, 1983
Rabbi Moses, 1984-1985
