News & Reviews

75th Diamond Annversary 17 November 2011 Pine Street Shul celebrated its Diamond anniversary on the 17th of November 2011. A gala dinner was held at the HOD hall where the Chief Rabbi and Mr Mick Davis of Xtrata werre our guest speakers. The Dinner was an immense success and the First set of Mezzoth were auctioned off to Mr Davis, by Mr Jack Klaff. The Mezuzah Project September 2011 "The shul has been serving the community for 75 years, with 50 of those based where we are now," said synagogue chairman Ilan Mosselson. "We are marking this milestone through The Mezuzah Project, a collaboration between the late Eduardo Villa, Carrol Boyes, and the shul. We believe that the mezuzot will become rare Judaica art pieces that will appreciate in value as collectors' items do." Villa was born in Bergamo, Italy. While studying sculpture in Milan, Villa was conscripted into the Italian army at the outbreak of World War II. He was injured and captured in Egypt by the English. Some time between 1941 and 1942, he was shipped to South Africa where he spent the next four years at the Zonderwater prisoner of war camp. After his release Villa remained in South Africa working as a sculptor. At the time, the synagogue was being completed by a wealthy benefactor who requested architects of the building to include some decorative design to give it more prominence. They had heard that Villa, working from the Lupini Terrazzo factory in Louis Botha Avenue, Wynberg, was experimenting with a new architectural design feature of fixing moulded Terrazzo concrete panels to external wall surfaces, and commissioned a series of panels depicting the twelve tribes of Israel. Before Villa died on 1 May 2011 at the age of 95, he endorsed the reproduction of his Pine Street Synagogue murals for mezuzot. "Never has anyone been granted permission to replicate Villa's work in any way. Six of these panels have been recreated in a limited edition mezuzah series, designed by well-known artist Carrol Boyes." Only five hundred of each design of these mezuzahs have been produced and the moulds have been destroyed. Each mezuzah is etched with Villa's signature, has a unique series number engraved on it, and a signed certificate of authenticity. In his lifetime, Villa became a world recognised sculptor

Annual Kids Outing 5th August 2012 Thanks to everyone who came last Sunday the 5th of August to join in the fun at Avalanche in Fourways! All the kids had an absolute blast slipping ,sliding and tubing down the slopes – even the Rabbi joined in and had a turn or two :-). The afternoon ended with every child walking away with a fabulous prize and massive smile on his/her face – well done. We look forward to many more exciting times together with this wonderful gang of kids and parents too.

Lunch with David Weiss 16th of June 2012 A wonderful lunch was enjoyed by all who attended the Lunch with David Weiss. David was in South Africa as one of the guest speakers at the Sinai Indaba, and shares the story of his own religious journey, his discovery of Judaism and his life as a Torah Jew in Hollywood, with approximately 120 members of our community.

Purim 2013 24th February 2013 Thanks to everyone who joined our Purim Celebration on Sunday the 24th of Feb 2013. A wonderful time was had by all with the reading of the Megilah and the kids fancy dress competition. Thanks to Daniel and Feige for arranging a wonderful event. Click here to see the Purim Photo Gallery

Newcomers Tea 7th February 2013 We held a successful “New Comers” tea party on the 17th February 2013. This event is proving to be quite popular in welcoming our members to our Shul with eats and entertainment. We had about 70 people, including personnel, committee members and of course our guests of honour the “New Comers”. Rabbi Gerson, our President Ashley Buchalter and our youth director Daniel Swimmer all said a few words. Chazen Ezra Sher and our Pine Street Shul choir accompanied by Evelyn Green, played and sang popular songs that were enjoyed by all. Daisy from our kitchen prepared delicious snacks for tea. Sue Fleisher and Lilly Cohen co-ordinate and invited all our guests personally, thus the good attendance. This event is held bi-annually and we look forward to the next event and many more new members.

Seed Program with Arachim 5-26th june 2013 A wonderful learning program is running on Wednesday evenings at the Shul Hall. The hall has been packed to capacity with groups of people learning in one on one and small groups. Thanks to Rabbi Kaye and Rene of Arachim as well as the Rabbi, Sue and Ashley for aranging this wonderful learning program.

Shabbos Project 11/12 October 2013 Pine Street Shul celebrated the Chief Rabbi’s Shabbos Project with a range of communal activities starting with Shabbos dinner for the community and ended with Havdalah on motse Shabbos. A great time was had by all.

Visit by the Kalever Rebbe Sunday the 13th of October 2013/5774 Following on a wonderful Shabbos Project we had the priviliage of hosting the Kalever Rebbe at Pinestreet Shul from 5pm to 11:30pm Click Here for the Photo Gallery

Youth Ice Skating Outing 30 June 2013 As a reward for regularly coming to shul and participating in the Pine street Youth a number of kids were taken on an Ice Skating outing. Click on the Link to see the Gallery