Masorti congregation’s future uncertain after shul property sold

Quietly nestled between the Beyachad Community Centre and the ultra-Orthodox Chofetz Chaim Shul for decades, the Shalom-Masorti Congregation typifies the cohesiveness and diversity of the Johannesburg Jewish community. However, the sale of the shul’s property has made the congregation’s future uncertain.

Established by the late Rabbi Ady Assabi in 1993, it was the first and to date only egalitarian Conservative synagogue in South Africa.

“The property was sold as the congregation has dwindled considerably since the heady days of its establishment by Rabbi Assabi to the point where we have about 30 members,” said Toni Harman, the congregation’s chairperson.

Membership has declined due to the ages of congregants, as well as – in earlier days – the fact that families whose children were educated in the Orthodox shul system moved towards a more halachic congregation to allow them to spend more time together, especially on Shabbat. Death and emigration also reduced membership considerably.

However, Harman points out that the congregation is by no means inactive. It holds evening services via Zoom, attended by about 15 members. On Shabbat and over chaggim, the shul has full services, with leining and drashot given, where up to 25 people sometimes attend in person.

“Bear in mind that we are an egalitarian congregation, so women are counted into the minyan, and I don’t recall ever being without a minyan, although we have on rare occasions had just 10 in shul. From time to time, Barmitzvahs and Batmitzvahs take place at the shul, and we have the occasional Jewish conversion.”

The property was sold because it’s too big for the current congregation, and the costs of maintaining the premises were starting to become too high. “We have been helped by the Masorti Olami organisation in Israel. That has been a life-saving aid for the past few years, but Masorti has more important work to do as it is developing well in Spain, Portugal, as well as in the old Eastern European states,” Harman said.

“The congregation will still be around, albeit as a smaller group. We have a healthy association with Masorti Olami, which we believe will put more resources into the shul and help us to regrow the congregation. The decision to relocate and where to go is still uncertain. We may even remain on the premises as tenants, depending on the new owners’ requirements. Suffice to say, we’re exploring different options, both in the shorter and the longer term. I don’t think this is the end for Shalom-Masorti Congregation,” Harman said.