Durban Jewish Club

{{Infobox organization | name = Durban Jewish Club | logo = | type = | founded = {{start date and age|1931}} | founder = | location = 44 KE Masinga Rd, North Beach, Durban, 4056, South Africa | key_people = | focus = | coordinates = {{Coord|29|50|57.31393|S|31|2|2.80446|E|display=title,inline}} | website = }} '''Durban Jewish Club''', also known as '''Durban Jewish Centre''',<ref name=golden/> is an arts, culture and entertainment venue, an educational facility and a social and community hub in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was first established in 1931, and for a time it was the only country club in Durban that admitted Jews.<ref>[https://thecjn.ca/news/distinguished-architect-turns-100/ Distinguished architect turns 100] ''The Canadian Jewish News''. 27 August 2008</ref> It is also home to a number of Jewish organisations such as '''Beit David''' (formerly '''Temple David'''), a Reform synagogue.<ref name=sajr>[https://www.sajr.co.za/new-beit-david-shul-consecrated-in-durban/ New Beit David shul consecrated in Durban] ''The South African Jewish Report''. 13 December 2018</ref> It is also the site of the '''Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre''', which has sister centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Cape Town Holocaust Centre and Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre.<ref>[https://kznpr.co.za/kzn-photo-record-blog/durban-jewish-club/ Durban Jewish Club] KZN: A Photographic and Historical record. Retrieved on 31 October 2024</ref>

==History== Talks to establish the club began in earnest in 1919. The club was subsequently built and opened on 4 May 1931 partly in response to antisemitism in South Africa. Jewish benefactors supported the project as Jews were mostly barred at the time from the Durban Country Club and similar clubs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Leon |first=Tony |author-link= |date=2008 |title=On the Contrary: Leading the Opposition in a Democratic South Africa |url= |location=Johannesburg |publisher=Jonathan Ball |page= |isbn=9780868409276}}</ref><ref name=sabjd/> When Aaron Klug, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was growing up in Durban, his father, Lazar, regularly played chess at the club.<ref>{{cite book |last=Holmes |first=Kenneth C. |author-link= |date=2017 |title=Aaron Klug - A Long Way from Durban: A Biography|url= |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page= |isbn=978-1107147379}}</ref>

During the Second World War, Allied servicemen were invited to make use of its facilities such as its canteen, shower rooms, billiards, tennis, writing and reading rooms. An estimated two million soldiers and sailors of diverse nationalities and faiths are reported to have visited the club.<ref name=sabjd>[https://www.sajbd.org/index.php/media/durban-jewish-exhibition Durban Jewish Exhibition ] South African Jewish Board of Deputies. 26 July 2017</ref>

In the 1950s, Israel Goldstein, the American-born Israeli rabbi, author and Zionist leader addressed several Jewish groups at the club. Goldstein wrote about his visit in his memoirs: "The Durban Jewish Club, located near the seafront, was a large and impressive center of activity."<ref>{{cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Israel |author-link= |date=1984 |title=My world as a Jew: The memoirs of Israel Goldstein|url= |location=New York|publisher=Herzl Press: Cornwall Books |page=50 |isbn=0845347802}}</ref> Tony Leon, former leader of the opposition has been a guest speaker at the club on a number of occasions since 1990.<ref>[https://www.politicsweb.co.za/party/the-two-south-africas The two South Africas] ''Politicsweb''. 23 July 2013</ref>

The Goldene Medina celebrates "175 Years of Jewish Life in South Africa" was a special exhibition staged at the club in 2017. Part of the exhibition also includes the club itself and its historical role in bringing together Durban Jewry.<ref name=golden>[https://www.sajr.co.za/goldene-medina-exhibition-lands-in-durban/ Goldene Medina exhibition lands in Durban] ''The South African Jewish Report''. 3 August 2017</ref>

===Holocaust centre===

In March 2008, the '''Durban Holocaust and Genocide Centre''' opened at the club. It expanded in size three years later and stayed on the campus of the club, occupying a remodeled part of the building to the rear.<ref name=circle>[https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-02-11-bagels-blintzes-and-the-best-cheesecake-in-durban/ Bagels, blintzes and the best cheesecake in Durban] ''The Daily Maverick''. 11 February 2022</ref> The centre is also home to '''The Circle Café''', Durban's only kosher-kitchen restaurant.<ref name=circle/>

===Reform synagogue=== The '''Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation (DPJC)''', also known as '''Beit David''' (formerly Temple David) is a Reform congregation that was established in 1948. It was based at its purpose-built synagogue in Morningside since 1950, before relocating to the club in 2018, where it had created a new sanctuary.<ref name=sajr/>

Talks for the congregation began in November 1947, with Rabbi Moses Cyrus Weiler addressing a meeting at the home of Mervyn Gild.<ref name=mav>[https://www.progressivejews.co.za/durban Founding of the Durban congregation] Progressive Jews. Retrieved on 31 October 2024</ref> In May 1948, Weiler visited again to address a larger inaugural meeting at the Jewish club, where Gild was elected president of the new congregation.<ref name=mav/> In December 1949, a plot was purchased on Ridge Road in Morningside.<ref name=mav/> The foundation stone was laid in August 1950 and for the next twenty years the congregation was served by rabbi Meyer Miller, who was from Brooklyn in New York City and a graduate of the Jewish Institute of Religion.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1936/06/01/archives/jewish-institute-graduates-4-rabbis-prof-albright-sees-a-revival-of.html JEWISH INSTITUTE GRADUATES 4 RABBIS; Prof. Albright Sees a Revival of Historic Studies Which Will Stimulate Peace] ''The New York Times''. 1 June 1936</ref><ref name=mav/> Miller was succeeded by Temple David's long-term rabbi, Isaac Richards.<ref name=mav/> Richards was originally from Liverpool in England and raised under Orthodox Judaism. He served with the British Army during World War II and was one of the liberators of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.<ref>[https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/vha12255 USC Shoah Foundation Institute testimony of Isaac Richards] United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved on 31 October 2024</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Yq5qtKAFQ Liberator Isaac Richards Testimony | USC Shoah Foundation] YouTube. 20 April 2012</ref>

The professional surfer, Shaun Tomson, was raised in Temple David with his family and had his Bar Mitzvah there.<ref name=iol>[https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/lifestyle/wise-words-to-buoy-you-through-life-encouraging-a-path-of-purpose-hope-and-faith-599c3b4f-c038-4da0-a905-7b8e7ef8cf7c Wise words to buoy you through life, encouraging a path of purpose, hope and faith] IOL. 5 December 2022</ref> Following the death of his son in 2006, Tomson returned to his familial shul and reconnected with his faith.<ref name=iol/>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in South Africa Category:Jewish organizations established in 1931 Category:1931 establishments in South Africa Category:Durban Category:Jewish community centers Category:Jews and Judaism in South Africa Category:Culture of Durban Category:Buildings and structures in Durban Category:Reform synagogues in South Africa