Rosh HaShanah Greetings from the Chairman
Dear Congregants
While this last year has been a difficult one for many South Africans, Bet David has been moving forward positively. Shul attendance has increased, we have shared many more life cycle events and the number of B’nei Mitzvah is expected to double in the coming year, as a result of our enhanced teaching programme. We are very grateful for the many more donations received. The new capital project of grassing the parking area under the powerlines will be completed before the High Holy Days and will enable us to use the area for parking over the holidays and to continue to lease the area to Rivers Church for parking.
A number of changes and additions to services have taken place at Bet David with the morning services starting at 9:30, talks after the service at 12:00 on a wide range of interesting subjects by speakers respected in their fields, as well as a monthly yoga minyan. All of the changes have been well received and are enhancing the experience of being at Bet David. This is in line with our vison developed some years ago to be “a leading world-class progressive campus, on which to Live, Learn, Pray and Play”.
Bet David is proud to be part of a new initiative to revitalize the Progressive movement and expand the profile of Progressive Judaism in South Africa. Further feedback on this will be provided in the coming months.
In the spirit of Tikkun Olam, Bet David organized a special Mandela Day outing with children from the Alexandra Orphanage. Wonderful social events have taken place at Bet David, which also successfully increased the profile of Bet David in the broader community. These included the “Sacred Cord” evening with Sean Brokensha (“The Music Guru”), and the Quiz evening. Events to diarize include the second Sean Brokensha show in the afternoon on Sunday 24 November, entitled “Weaving the Tapestry” and a concert by the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra in the
Middleton Hall on Sunday 29 March 2020. We hope that many of our congregants and friends and their guests will enjoy the programme specially developed for this not-to-be-missed event.
Wishing you and your family, health and happiness in the coming year,
L’shanah tovah tikateivu v’teichateimu.
Desmond Sweke
Chairman: Bet David