01In brief
Temple Israel is a historic synagogue in Hillbrow, near Johannesburg's inner city. The World Jewish Congress lists it among South Africa's notable Jewish sites. A 2016 account called it an "80-year-old synagogue," without giving an exact founding date. Unlike many inner-city synagogues that closed or relocated as Johannesburg's Jewish population moved outward, Temple Israel remained in Hillbrow and continued weekly prayer services despite declining attendance and finances. Its history includes a 1983 bombing and a 2016 project to develop the synagogue as a center of Jewish social activism and community outreach.
02Overview
Temple Israel stands in Hillbrow, a neighborhood near Johannesburg's inner city. The World Jewish Congress identifies it as a notable Jewish site in South Africa, listing it alongside the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation and Johannesburg's Great Park Synagogue.[1]
The Jewish Virtual Library reports that Temple Israel continued to open for weekly prayer services after many congregants had moved away. Its continued presence in Hillbrow became a defining feature of its later history, even as attendance and finances declined.[2]
03History
Temple Israel's exact founding date is not given in the available sources. A 2016 Times of Israel article described it as a historic "80-year-old synagogue."[3]
The Jewish Virtual Library's account places the synagogue's later difficulties within broader apartheid-era urban change. It describes a building boom, the movement of Black South Africans into the city in search of work, and the departure of European residents, including most of the inner-city Jewish population.[2] It says many historic synagogues consequently closed or relocated. Temple Israel instead remained in Hillbrow, leaving it inconveniently located for many worshippers. It continued weekly services but had fewer congregants, lacked sufficient funds, and could not afford a full-time rabbi.[2]
In 1983, Temple Israel was bombed. A May 1985 American Jewish Committee background memorandum included the bombing among several recent events that had aroused concern among South African Jews.[4] The memorandum provides no further detail about the date, perpetrators, casualties, physical damage, or aftermath.
04Renewal and Community Outreach
In 2016, businesswoman Reeva Forman launched a project intended to transform Temple Israel into a center of Jewish activism working with local Black immigrant communities to address social problems in Hillbrow.[3] The project was presented at a gathering earlier that month and received support from Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau.[3]
Tau called the Hillbrow location "ideal" and described the neighborhood as a reception point for people beginning new lives in the city and country.[3] He also said the project would feature in Johannesburg's inner-city renewal program.[3]
Sources
- 1World Jewish Congress, Community in South Africa, accessed on September 28, 2026.
- 2Jewish Virtual Library, South Africa Virtual Jewish History Tour, accessed on September 28, 2026.
- 3The Times of Israel, accessed on September 28, 2026.
- 4The American Jewish Archives, Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum Collection, accessed on September 28, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Temple Israel in Johannesburg?
Temple Israel is a historic synagogue located in Hillbrow, near Johannesburg's inner city. The World Jewish Congress lists it among South Africa's notable Jewish sites, placing it alongside the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation and Johannesburg's Great Park Synagogue. Unlike many inner-city synagogues that closed or relocated as the Jewish population moved outward, Temple Israel remained in Hillbrow and continued holding weekly prayer services.
Why did Temple Israel struggle in its later history?
Temple Israel's difficulties stemmed from broader apartheid-era urban changes, including the movement of Black South Africans into the city and the departure of European residents, which left most of Hillbrow's Jewish population relocated elsewhere. The synagogue remained in Hillbrow, making it inconveniently situated for many worshippers. As a result, it had fewer congregants, lacked sufficient funds, and could not afford a full-time rabbi.
Was Temple Israel ever attacked?
Temple Israel was bombed in 1983. The event was included in a May 1985 American Jewish Committee background memorandum among several recent events that had aroused concern among South African Jews, though the memorandum provides no further detail about the perpetrators, casualties, physical damage, or aftermath.
What was the 2016 renewal project at Temple Israel?
In 2016, businesswoman Reeva Forman launched a project to transform Temple Israel into a center of Jewish activism focused on working with local Black immigrant communities to address social problems in Hillbrow. The project received support from Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau, who described the Hillbrow location as "ideal" and said the project would feature in Johannesburg's inner-city renewal program.