Doornfontein Synagogue
{{Short description|Orthodox synagogue in Johannesburg, South Africa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Doornfontein Synagogue
| image = Doornfontein Siemert Road, Johannesburg Postcard.jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| caption = Postcard of the synagogue, dated in 1905
| map_type = Greater Johannesburg
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the synagogue in Greater Johannesburg
| location = 120 Siemert Road, New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng
| country = South Africa
| coordinates = {{Coord|-26.194035755764038|28.058213272790876|region:ZA_type:landmark|format=dms|display=it}}
| religious_affiliation = Orthodox Judaism
| rite =
| status = Synagogue
| functional_status = Active
| leadership =
| website =
| architect = Morrie Jacob Harris
| architecture_type = Synagogue architecture
| architecture_style = Eclectic
| established = {{circa|1880s}} {{small|(as a congregation)}}
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = 1906
| consecration_year =
| construction_cost = £4,000
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
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}}
The Doornfontein Synagogue or Lions Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 120 Siemert Road, New Doornfontein, in Greater Johannesburg, in the region of Gauteng, South Africa. It is the oldest synagogue in use in South Africa.{{cite web |title=Doornfontein Pt.1 (Lion's Shul & Bettelheim Mansion) |url=https://johannesburg1912.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/doornfontein-part1/ |website=Johannesburg 1912 - Suburb by suburb research |accessdate=27 December 2019 |language=en |date=27 April 2011 }} The synagogue is located two blocks from Ellis Park Stadium.
History
The neighbourhood of Doornfontein was founded in 1886, and after wealthy residents moved to more affluent neighbourhoods in the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War, Doornfontein became popular with Jewish immigrants from the United Kingdom and Western Europe. Beit Street in Doornfontein was once the commercial hub of the neighborhood, with Kosher butchers and other Jewish merchants.{{cite web |title=The Lions Shul, Doornfontein, 1906 |url=https://www.joburg.org.za/play_/Pages/Play%20in%20Joburg/Culture%20and%20Heritage/Links/places%20of%20workship/links/The-Lions-Shul,-Doornfontein,-1906.aspx |work=City of Johannesburg |date= |accessdate=27 December 2019 |language=en-ZA}} During the 1880s, religious services were held at the nearby Rand Club and at private residences.
The Lions Synagogue was the third synagogue to be built in the neighbourhood. It was built in 1905 at a cost of £4,000 and nicknamed the "Lions Synagogue" (also commonly known as Lions Shul) after the two cast iron lions watching over either side of the entrance.{{cite web |last1=Blumenau |first1=Michelle |title=Lions Shul still open for business 116 years later |url=https://www.sajr.co.za/news-and-articles/2017/09/14/lions-shul-still-open-for-business-116-years-later |work=South African Jewish Report |date=14 September 2017 |access-date=27 December 2019}} The architect was Morrie Jacob Harris.{{cite web |title=LIONS SYNAGOGUE |url=https://www.africansynagogues.org/html/countries/s_africa/s_africa6.html |work=African Synagogues |date= |access-date=27 December 2019}} A fire damaged the building in 1930. It has been completely restored, but the original look has therefore changed.
The synagogue was documented and photographed by renowned photographer, David Goldblatt in 2014.{{cite news |author= |url=https://www.sajr.co.za/lions-shul-in-crisis-as-congregants-and-funds-dry-up/ |title=Lion's Shul in crisis as congregants and funds dry up |work=South African Jewish Report |date=7 December 2020 |access-date= }}[https://www.straussart.co.za/auctions/lot/27-mar-2023/9 Monochrome: Modern and Contemporary Art Timed Online Auction, 7 - 27 March 2023] Strauss Art. Retrieved on 1 November 2024
To the left of the synagogue was a Jewish Community Center, which was added in the 1950s as part of an extension to the building. This was later sold off and converted for other uses as the congregation's membership resettled to other suburbs. The synagogue was led by Rabbi Ilan Herrmann until 2017. Herrmann had served the congregation for the last 18 years. Today, the synagogue usually has about 60 congregants for weekly Shabbat services and about 200 congregants for the High Holy Days. Most current congregants live outside of Doornfontein, in Sandton, Morningside and Highlands North.
See also
{{stack|{{portal|South Africa|Judaism}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Synagogues in South Africa}}
{{Greater Johannesburg|religion}}
Category:1880s establishments in South Africa
Category:20th-century synagogues in South Africa
Category:Eclectic architecture
Category:Jewish organizations established in the 1880s
Category:Orthodox synagogues in South Africa