About Us

A litle bit of history

The Sea Point Congregation was founded in 1926 with the election of the first Committee. The Hebrew School, part of the original Shul establishment, was started in 1930 and in 1931 at a General Meeting it was proposed and accepted that a house of worship be erected. On 18th April 1934 in the presence of a large gathering, the Right Honourable J C Smuts laid the corner-stone of the new Sea Point Shul. This Shul has been used right up to the present with a few changes and expansion to the original Shul.

The Shul was officially opened in September 1934 by the then President, Mr A M Jackson, and consecrated by Rev A P Bender. The High Festival services were conducted by Rev Rosenberg and by Rev Pakter. Rev Rosenberg resigned his position as Minister in 1935 and Cantor Katzin was appointed in February 1936. He was assisted by an excellent choir which largely accounted for the growing attendances at our services. Rabbi Dr I H Levine came to the Congregation in October 1936 and under his guidance the community showed an increasing interest in Jewish affairs. Rabbi Levine left the Congregation in 1940 and Rabbi A T Shrock joined the Congregation on 1st March 1945.

The population continued to increase and a large site, bounded by Regent and Kloof Roads was purchased in 1946. A Hall and Talmud Torah was built on the site and the foundation stone was laid on 25th May by Cecil Hyman, the Minister for Israel. The new hall was named “Weizmann”. The new building enabled the Congregation to provide accommodation for many cultural functions, public and family celebrations, meetings, not only for the Sea Point Community but also for the larger Cape Town public. For the High Festivals the Weizmann Hall was converted into a Synagogue in which more than a thousand members worshipped. The school building provided for the Talmud Torah, Preparatory School, Kindergarten, Chevra Lomdei Torah, Youth Sections, Ladies Guild and Work Party. Rabbi Shrock left our Congregation in December 1956.

Should you wish to visit our Shul and office complex, we are situated at:

10 Marais Road, Sea Point between Beach and Main Roads, Marais being a one-way down from Main Road. Tel: 021-439 7543 Fax: 021-434 3760 Email: admin@maraisroadshul.com

Service Times

Find out when to daven

Services are held daily, Mon – Fri Shacharit is at 7.00 a.m. and Mincha at 5.45 p.m., on Shabbat Shacharit is at 8.15 a.m., Mincha at 5.45 p.m. and on Sundays and Public Holidays Shacharit is at 8.00 a.m. and Mincha at 5.45 p.m. Please note that Mincha times change according to the time of year and you are asked to refer to our Shabbas Shmooze for the Mincha time of the relevant Shabbat. Shiurim are held every Shabbat morning after the Kiddush Bracha in the Small Shul and Shabbat afternoon at 5.15 p.m. After Mincha on Shabbat a Sueda Shlishit is held. A lecture series is held every Wednesday evening at 8.00 p.m. by Dr Michael Renan.

Children's Services: Services are held Friday evenings at 6.00 p.m. for ages 3-7 and 8-12 and on Shabbat mornings at 10.30 a.m. for ages 6-12. Parents are urged to bring their children to these fantastic services.

Senior / Communal Dinner: We hold dinners for the Seniors of our community who have no family in Cape Town and who have nowhere to go for a Shabbat meal. Many of these people live alone and year in year out were not able to celebrate Shabbat in a meaningful way. We decided 8 years ago when we were approached by the Cape Jewish Seniors to take on this project and it is pleasing to note that since 2000 we have managed to find sponsors to support the dinners to which seniors are invited to and the sponsors cover the cost of their meal. This mitzvah has become renowned throughout Cape Town and we thank all those past and future sponsors who by their generosity have enabled us to continue with these dinners. Unfortunately we have not been able to organize enough sponsors for dinners in 2009 and we appeal to anyone who wishes to experience the joy in seeing the happiness and excitement on the faces of those seniors attending these dinners to please contact our office. Visitors to Cape Town who find they have nowhere to go for a Shabbat meal are asked to please contact our office timeously so as to arrange hospitality for them and not let them sit alone on a Shabbat evening. All visiting Cape Town during the next few months are invited to our services.

Shabbas Shmooze

22 July 2011 - 21 Tammuz 5771

View this week's Shabbas Shmooze online now: Click here to view

We hope to see you at Shul tonight for Shabbat Unplugged!