Editor: Dr Saul Issroff
Copyright © 2001 Saul Issroff, Mike Getz, SAfrica SIG
and Jewishgen Inc.
URL: http://www.jewishgen.org/SAfrica/synagogues/12/index.htm
Revised: 22 March 2001

By comparison with other European groups of the Strand community, the Jewish community have been more attached to The Strand than any others.   At the beginning of the century i.e. 1903 their "Shul" (Synagogue) was in Michau Street, just behind the Marine Hotel. Rent of 7s.6d. was paid monthly.   A permanent "Shul" opened in 1930 in Wesley Street and the foundation stone laid by Mr. Ben Friedman.   The Shul in Wesley Street, was sold in 1986 to the Ebed Gemeente as a Church and later re-sold. Although the inside has changed, the facade has remained.   One Sefer Torah was sent to the Beit Shemesh Shul, Beit Shemesh, Israel. The "Bimah" has been given to the Constantia Synagogue, Constantia, Cape Town.   The 5 Jewish families who reside to-day in the Strand attend services at the Somerset West Shul.   The first Rabbi was Rev. I. Green, followed by Rev. Hirshowitz. There were 40 families and subscription was 1 Shilling per month. Rev. Bordien followed as leader of the community between 1932-42 and he was succeeded by Rev. Gad and Rabbi Karwan in 1953.   There was a cheder, run in the Shul premises.   The remaining members of the Jewish community have now combined with the Somerset West Jewish Community and are known as The Strand-Somerset Jewish Community.