1. Botswana
2. South Africa
3. Moçambique
4. Zaire
5. Zambia
6. Zimbabwe

The following list of synagogues consists overwhelmingly of data which have been taken from The Jewish Year Book, 1969, SBN 900498-10-2, published by Jewish Chronicle Publications, London, and is published with the permission of the publishers. Additional information has been submitted by readers - they are acknowledged below. Yet more information has been taken from items which were circulated in the 'Safrica' electronic newsletter, books, newspapers and Internet newsgroup postings.
 
The intention behind this file has two parts. Firstly, to present a listing of as many of the functioning and defunct synagogues and Jewish houses of prayer in South Africa as possible. It was in these Batei Tefilah that births, marriages and deaths were recorded and solemnised. Secondly, to add to the listing whatever factual or anecdotal details might become available so as to build a genealogical resource. A future page is planned for the South African Jewish diaspora.
 
If you have some information or pictures which could be added to this file then please contact Dr Saul Issroff, Editor.
 
In some instances a synagogue may have more than one name, e.g. official, religious or colloquial. For example, Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, Great Synagogue, Gardens Shul and Kehilla Kedusha Tikvat Yisrael all refer to the same synagogue building and congregation. To these four could be added a fifth name since the congregation of the adjacent Old Synagogue (now the Jewish Museum) merely moved next door into new, larger premises. There may also be confusion where once geographically separate congregations share the same building but retain their individual identities. There are thus likely to be some ambiguities in the list. If you can supply some information to improve the descriptions then please contact Dr Saul Issroff at the address above.
 
The names of the four pre-1994 Union and Republic provinces, Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and that of South West Africa, now Namibia, are used here to reflect the position when the data was current. Where the data have been updated with more recent details so have the names been altered where appropriate.
 
According to The Jewish Year Book 1969, page 148, "The Jewish community began as an organised body at Cape Town on the eve of the Day of Atonement, Friday, September 26, 1841. Its first title was "The Society of the Jewish Community of the Cape of Good Hope," but there had been Jewish residents at the Cape long before the foundation of the Hebrew Congregation. In fact, Jews have been connected with the Cape of Good Hope from the earliest days of South African history."
 
Roger Harris.

Abbreviations:

 

C = Congregation

est = established

HC = Hebrew Congregation

J = Jewish

S = Synagogue

UHC = United Hebrew Congregation

UHI = United Hebrew Institutions

According to South African Jewish Report for 30 November 2001, page 14:

• In March 2000, there was only one Jewish grave in the Jewish section of the general cemetery.
• During the 1990's the community dwindled to about 30 members. It has since grown to about 70 identifying members with a further 30 unaffiliated persons.
• Friday Night and all Festival services are held in a specially designated room in a fully kosher home. The shul also functions as a cheder.
• The loan of a Sefer Torah from the African Jewish Congress has been requested.

Blue text indicates additional information.
Cross-references are shown in italic.

1. Aberdeen Hebrew Congregation, Cape
2. Adath Yeshurun Congregation, 41 Hunter Street, Yeoville 2198. (affiliated to United Orthodox Hebrew Congregation, London)
3. Aish HaTorah, Johannesburg
4. Aliwal North HC, Cape
5. Arthur's Road Orthodox Hebrew Congregation, Sea Point, Cape Town

 

6. Baal Shem Tov Synagogue, Johannesburg. (Breslov)
7. Barberton Hebrew Congregation
8. Beaufort West Hebrew Congregation, Cape
9. Bellville Hebrew Congregation, Cape
10. Benoni United Hebrew Institutions, Tvl
11. Berea Hebrew Congregation, Tudhope Ave, Berea, Tvl
12. Bertrams Hebrew Congregation, Bertrams, Tvl
     also known as Kimberley Road Shul.
Bet Hamidrash Hachadash, see Cape Town Orthodox Hebrew Congregation (Vredehoek)
13. Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, Doornfontein, Johannesburg.
Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, see Central Orthodox Synagogue
14. Beth Hamedrash, Fox Street, Johannesburg
15. Beth Menorah Congregation, Pretoria. (Rabbi Wallach, circa 2001)
16. Beth Yisrael, Johannesburg
17. Bethal HC, Tvl
18. Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation, OFS
19. Blairgowrie Synagogue, Johannesburg
20. Bloemfontein United Hebrew Institutions, OFS
21. Bloemhof Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
22. Boksburg United Hebrew Institutions, Tvl
Booysens, see Ophyrtown & Booysens HC
23. Bothaville Hebrew Congregation, OFS
24. Braamfontein Shul, Johannesburg, better known as Wanderers View Shul
25. Brakpan UHI, Tvl
26. Brandfort Hebrew Congregation,OFS
27. Brits Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
28. Bronkhorstspruit Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
Brooklyn, see Maitland-Brooklyn
 

29. Caledon Hebrew Congregation, Cape
30. Calvinia Hebrew Congregation, Cape [defunct]
31. Camps Bay Hebrew Congregation (Cape Town), Capecbhc@netactive.co.za
Cape Town - Camps Bay HC, see Camps Bay HC
32. Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, Gardens, Cape Town
33. Cape Town Jewish Reform Congregation, Cape
34. Cape Town Orthodox Hebrew Congregation (Vredehoek), Cape Town
35. Carletonville Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
36. Central Orthodox Synagogue (Beth HaMedrash HaGadol), Johannesburg
37. Ceres-Wolseley Hebrew Congregation, Cape
38. Chabad House, Cape Town
39. Chabad House, Umhlanga, North Coast, KwaZulu Natal
40. Chabad Synagogue, Sea Point, Cape Town
41. Chassidim, Doornfontein, Tvl
42. Claremont Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town, Cape
43. Clocolan Hebrew Congregation, OFS
44. Constantia Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town, Cape
45. Constitution Street Shul, Cape Town
Constitution Street Shul, Cape Town, see also Cape Town Orthodox Hebrew Congregation (Vredehoek)
46. Cradock HC, Cape
47. Cyrildene-Observatory Extension Hebrew Congregation, Tvl

 

48. Darling Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
49. De Aar Hebrew Congregation, Cape
50. Delmas HC, Tvl
51. Dewetsdorp HC, OFS
52. Doornfontein Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
53. Durban - Progressive J Congregation, Natal
54. Durban United Hebrew Congregation, Natal
55. Durbanville Hebrew Congregation, Cape

 

56. East London Hebrew Congregation, Cape
57. East London Progressive J Congregation, Cape
58. East London Reform Temple, Cape
59. Emmarentia Hebrew Congregation
    [Shul Hall at 105 Komati Road, Emmarentia.]
Englische Shul, see Queen Street HC, Oudtshoorn
60. Ermelo Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
61. Etz Chayim Congregation, Berea, Tvl

 

62. Ferreirasdorp Shul, Johannesburg
63. Ficksburg Hebrew Congregation, OFS
64. First Johannesburg Hebrew Orthodox Congregation, Tvl

Florida, see Roodepoort-Florida HC
65. Frankfort Hebrew Congregation, OFS

 
Gardens Shul, see Cape Town Hebrew Congregation
66. George Hebrew Congregation, Cape
67. Germiston United Hebrew Institutions, Tvl
Glendinningvale, See Port Elizabeth US Glendinningvale
68. Glenhazel: Yeshiva College: 'Synagogue 1': (est about 1965)
69. Glenhazel: Yeshiva College: 'Synagogue 2': (est about 1975)
70. Glenhazel: Yeshiva College: 'Synagogue 3': Tzeirei Tzion
71. Glenhazel Hebrew Congregation, Long Avenue, Glenhazel 2192.
72. Glenmore Minyan, Durban
73. Goodwood Hebrew Congregation, Cape
74. Gouda Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
75. Graaf-Reinet Hebrew Congregation, Cape
76. Grahamstown Hebrew Congregation, Cape
77. Great Park Synagogue, Johannesburg
78. Great Synagogue, Cape Town, (Gardens Shul), see Cape Town Hebrew Congregation
79. Great Synagogue, Wolmarans Street, Johannesburg (UHC - Jbg), Tvl
Great Synagogue - Cape Town, see Cape Town Hebrew Congregation
80. Green & Sea Point Hebrew Congregation (Cape Town), Cape
Greene Shul, see St John's Street S, Oudtshoorn Greenside, see Parkview, Greenside & Districts HC
81. Greenside Synagogue, Johannesburg
82. Griqualand West Hebrew Congregation, Kimberley, Cape

 

83. Harrismith Hebrew Congregation, OFS
Heidelberg, see Riversdale & Heidelberg S
84. Heidelberg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
85. Heilbron Hebrew Congregation, OFS
86. Henneman Hebrew Congregation, OFS
87. Hermanus Hebrew Congregation, Cape
88. Highlands House Home for the Jewish Aged, Cape Town, Shul in the
Highlands North, see Sydenham-Highlands North HC
89. Hopefield Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation

 

90. Jagersfontein Hebrew Congregation, OFS
91. Jeppestown & Eastern Districts Hebrew Congregation, Jeppestown
92. Johannesburg Hebrew Congregation (est 1891, now obsolete) (UHC - Jbg), Tvl
93. Johannesburg J Reform S (obsolete), now United Progressive J C of Jbg, qv.
94. Johannesburg Sephardi Hebrew Congregation
95. Johannesburg Synagogue

 

96. Kalabaskraal Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
97. Keetmanshoop Hebrew Congregation, SWA
Kehilla Kedusha Tikvat Yisrael, see Great Synagogue (Gardens Shul), Cape Town
98. Kempton Park United Hebrew Institutions, Tvl
99. Kensington Hebrew Congregation, Kensington
Keren Kayemet Tikvat Yisrael, see Great Synagogue, Gardens, Cape Town
100. Kimberley Hebrew Congregation, Kimberley, Cape
101. Kimberley Road Shul, See Bertrams Hebrew Congregation
102. Kingwilliamstown Hebrew Congregation, Cape
103. Kinross Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
104. Kirkwood Hebrew Congregation, Cape
105. Klerksdorp Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
106. Koffiefontein Hebrew Congregation
107. Koppies Hebrew Congregation, OFS
108. Kroonstad Hebrew Congregation, OFS
109. Krugersdorp UHI, Tvl (includes West Rand HC)

 

110. Laingsburg Hebrew Congregation, Cape
111. Lichtenburg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
112. Linksfield Senderwood Hebrew Congregation
Lions Shul (a.k.a. Two Lions Shul), Sivewright Avenue, see Doornfontein H.C.
113. Louis Trichard Zoutpansberg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl

 

114. Mafeking Hebrew Congregation, Cape
115. Maitland-Brooklyn Hebrew Congregation (Cape Town), Cape
116. Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation, Cape.
     Includes Darling HC, Gouda HC, Hopefield HC, Kalabaskraal HC, Morreesburg HC, Philadelphia HC, Piketberg Hebrew C, Saldanha HC.
117. Marquard Hebrew Congregation, OFS
118. Mayfair Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
119. Messina Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
Meyerton, see Vereeniging & Meyerton UHI, below
Michau Street Synagogue, see Strand HC, below
120. Middelburg Hebrew Congregation, Cape
121. Middelburg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
122. Milnerton Hebrew Congregation
123. Moorreesburg Hebrew Congregation, Cape
124. Morreesburg Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
125. Mossel Bay Hebrew Congregation, Cape
126. Mowbray, see Observatory & Mowbray
127. Muizenberg Hebrew Congregation, Cape

 

128. Namaqualand Hebrew Congregation, Springbok, Cape
129. New Hebrew Congregation (Schoonder Street), Cape Town
130. Nigel Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
131. Northfield Minyan, Johannesburg
132. North Eastern Hebrew Congregation
133. North-Western Reform S (obsolete) (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)
134. Northcliff & District Hebrew Congregation
135. Northern J Reform C (obsolete) (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)

 
Observatory, see Valley-Observatory HC
Observatory, Tvl, see Cyrildene-Observatory
136. Observatory & Mowbray Hebrew Congregation (Cape Town), Cape
137. Odendaalsrus Hebrew Congregation, OFS
138. Ohr Somayach, Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town [E-mail]
139. Ohr Somayach, Shingwetzi Road, Gallo Manor
140. Old Synagogue, Gardens, Cape Town, Cape. See also Cape Town HC.
141. Ophyrtown & Booysens Hebrew Congregation
142. Orange Grove Synagogue
Oudtshoorn: Queen Street HC, see Queen Street HC
Oudtshoorn: St John's Street S, see St John's Street S
143. Oudtshoorn UHI, Cape
144. Oxford Synagogue, Killarney Johannesburg
145. Oxford Synagogue, North Avenue, Riviera, Tvl (UHC - Jbg)

 

146. Paarl Hebrew Congregation, Cape
147. Parkview, Greenside & Districts Hebrew Congregation
148. Parow Hebrew Congregation, Cape
149. Parys Hebrew Congregation, OFS
150. Philadelphia Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
151. Pietersburg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
152. Pietermaritzburg Hebrew Congregation, Natal
153. Piketberg Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
154. Piquetberg Hebrew Congregation, Cape
155. Ponevez Hebrew Congregation, Doornfontein, Jbg
156. Ponevez Shul, Maynard St (formerly Vandeleur St), Cape Town
Ponevez Shul, Cape Town, see also Cape Town Orthodox Hebrew Congregation (Vredehoek)
157. Port Elizabeth Hebrew Congregation, Glendinningvale
158. Port Elizabeth Progressive J Inst
159. Port Elizabeth Raleigh Street Synagogue
160. Port Elizabeth Summerstrand Cong
161. Port Elizabeth UHI
162. Port Elizabeth US, Glendinningvale
163. Poswohl Hebrew Congregation, Mooi Street, Johannesburg, Tvl
164. Potchefstroom Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
165. Potgietersrus Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
166. Pretoria Adath Israel Synagogue, Sibelius Street, Pretoria, Tvl
167. Pretoria Great Synagogue, Paul Kruger Street
168. Pretoria Hebrew Congregation, Schroder Street, Groenkloof, Pretoria
169. Pretoria Progressive J Congregation Temple Menorah
170. Pretoria United Hebrew Congregation, 721 Pretorius Street, Tvl
171. Prieska Hebrew Congregation, Cape

 

172. Queen Street HC, Oudtshoorn. [Englische Shul]
173. Queenstown Hebrew Congregation, Cape

 
Raleigh Street Synagogue, see Port Elizabeth Raleigh Street S
174. Randfontein UHI, Tvl
175. Reitz Hebrew Congregation, OFS
176. Riversdale & Heidelberg Synagogue, Cape
177. Robertson Hebrew Congregation, Cape
178. Robben Island: On 23-24 November 2001, some 62 members of the South African Jewish community, including the Chief Rabbi Cyril Sacks and Rebbetsin Ann Sacks, Rabbi Lewis Furman (Ohr Somayach) and Jonny Altman (Cape Town Yeshivah) attended the first ever Shabbaton on the island. The Shabbaton was organised by the Cape Town Yeshivah and the Union of Orthodox Synagogues (Cape Council).
179. Roeland Street Shul, Cape Town
180. Rondebosch Hebrew Congregation, Cape
181. Roodepoort-Florida Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
Round Shul, see New Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town
182. Rustenburg Hebrew Congregation, Tvl

 

183. Sabie Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
184. St. John's Street Synagogue, Oudtshoorn. [Greene Shul]
185. Saldanha Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
Salt River, see Woodstock & Salt River HC
186. Sandton Synagogue, Johannesburg, Tvl
Schoonder Street shul, see New Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town
Schoonder Street shul, see also Roland Street Shul
Sea Point, see Green & Sea Point
187. Senekal Hebrew Congregation, OFS
188. Sephardic Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town
Sephardi Hebrew Congregation, see Johannesburg Sephardi Hebrew Congregation
189. Society of the Jewish Community of the Cape of Good Hope
190. Somerset West Hebrew Congregation, Cape
191. South-Eastern Hebrew Congregation, Rosettenville, Jbg
192. Spanish & Portuguese Jews, Congregation of
193. Springbok Hebrew Congregation, Cape
194. Springs & District Progressive J Cong
195. Springs UHI, Tvl
196. Standerton Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
197. Stellenbosch Hebrew Congregation, Cape
198. Strand Hebrew Congregation (Michau Street S), Cape
199. Strand Hebrew Congregation (Wesley Street S), Cape
200. Sydenham-Highlands North Hebrew Congregation, 24 Main Street, Rouxville, 2192, Jbg

 

201. Temple Beth Am, Hillbrow, Tvl (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)
202. Temple Emanuel, 38 Oxford Road, Parktown, 2193. (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)
203. Temple Hillel, see East London Reform Temple, above
204. Temple Israel, Paul Nel Street, Hillbrow, Tvl (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)
205. Temple Israel, Upper Portswood Road, Green Point, Cape Town (Reform)
206. Temple Israel Wynberg, Cape (Reform)
207. Temple Shalom, Louis Botha Avenue, Highlands North, Tvl (United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg)
208. Thaba'nchu Hebrew Congregation, OFS
209. Theunissen Hebrew Congregation, OFS
210. Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Upper Schoonder Street, Cape Town.
Tzeirei Tzion Synagogue, see Glenhazel: Yeshiva College: 'Synagogue 3'
 

211. Uitenhage Hebrew Congregation, Cape
212. Umtata Hebrew Congregation, Transkei Dist
213. Union of Orthodox Synagogues (UOS)
214. Uniondale Hebrew Congregation, Cape
215. United Hebrew Congregation, Johannesburg
216. United Progressive J Congregation of Johannesburg (est 1946)
217. Upington Hebrew Congregation, Cape

 

218. Valley-Observatory Hebrew Congregation, Jbg
219. Vanderbijlpark Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
220. Vereeniging & Meyerton UHI, Tvl
221. Volksrust Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
222. Vrede Hebrew Congregation, OFS
223. Vredefort J Soc, OFS
Vredehoek, see Cape Town Orthodox Hebrew Congregation (Vredehoek), Cape
224. Vredenburg & District Hebrew Congregation, Cape
225. Vredenburg Hebrew Congregation: merged into Malmesbury Hebrew Congregation
226. Vryburg Hebrew Congregation, Cape
227. Vryheid Hebrew Congregation, Natal
228. Vryheid Memorial Beach Synagogue, Durban

 

229. Wanderers View, Johannesburg, (also known as Braamfontein Shul, Johannesburg)
230. Warmbaths Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
231. Waverley Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
232. Welkom Hebrew Congregation, OFS
233. Wellington Hebrew Congregation, Cape
234. Wepener Hebrew Congregation, OFS
Wesley Street Synagogue, see Strand HC, above.
235. West Rand Hebrew Congregation, Tvl: merged with Krugersdorp UHI
236. West Street Shul
237. Willowdale Hebrew Congregation, Cape
238. Winburg Hebrew Congregation, OFS
239. Windhoek Hebrew Congregation, (SWA)
240. Witbank Hebrew Congregation, Tvl
241. Witwatersrand Old Hebrew Congregation (est 1887, now obsolete) (UHC - Jbg), Tvl
Wolseley Cape, see Ceres-Wolseley HC
242. Woodstock & Salt River Hebrew Congregation, Cape Town
243. Worcester Hebrew Congregation, Cape
244. Wynberg Synagogue, Cape (Orthodox)
Wynberg Synagogue, see Temple Israel, Wynberg, Cape (Reform)
 
Yeoville, see Adath Yeshurun Congregation
245. Yeoville Synagogue, Hunter Street, Johannesburg (UHC - Jbg)

 

246. Zastron Hebrew Congregation
Zoutpansberg, see Louis Trichard Zoutpansberg HC

1. Maputo

These refer to communities rather than to actual synagogues:

1. Kinshasa (formerly Leopoldville)
2. Lubumbashi (formerly Elizabethville)
3. Likasi
4. Kannga
5. Kisangani

1. Lusaka Hebrew Congregation
2. Ndola Hebrew Congregation

According to an article in South African Jewish Report for 5 October 2001, page 14, Zimbabwe Jewry is almost entirely concentrated in Harare (500 souls) and Bulawayo (250 souls) and the Jewish population of the country had declined by 90% since Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980. The Zimbabwe Board of Deputies mainly attends to cemetery maintenance in rural parts.

1. Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation
2. Gwelo Hebrew Congregation (defunct)
3. Gweru community
4. Harare Hebrew Congregation (formerly Salisbury HC)
5. Harare Sephardi Hebrew Congregation
6. Kadoma community
7. Kwe Kwe community