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central control, based in
Johannesburg, and enuring that each congregation follow the same formula. However, Cape Town wanted a looser federation where each city made its own decisions and pushed back against the notion of a Chief Minister, arguing that it was against the democratic principles of Reform Judaism. In 1951, Cape Town quit the
516:. âBeth Hatfutzotâ was intended as an institute for the development of studies of diaspora Jewish communities. The intention was to host seminars, conferences, assemblies and lectures on the diaspora communities. As part of his position, Weiler visited South Africa, Europe, Latin America and other diaspora communities.
473:
Although Weiler had been tasked with establishing a national Reform movement, he resisted establishing other congregations outside
Hillbrow during his first ten years. He felt that it was more important to build a significant membership at Temple Israel before expanding nationwide. In 1943, he agreed
414:
service at a later hour, from 8.15pm. He understood that
Shabbat meal preparation often prevented women from attending services, and with his innovation they could attend after the meal. Shortly after his arrival in South Africa he instructed women members to form a Sisterhood that would take charge
382:
at age 16, requiring students to study for an exam and then lead a service. However, in
Johannesburg, there was instant backlash to the Christian-sounding name of Confirmation and because of the ingrained rite of passage that a Bar Mitzvah held for Jewish boys. Weiler quickly reintroduced Bar Mitzah
523:
appointed Weiler as personal advisor to the chairman of the board of directors of the JNF. Weiler dealt specifically with matters appertaining to the international Jewish organizations and the Jewry on the
American continent. Since arriving in the country, Weiler was already serving as an executive
344:
to build a grand synagogue with lush gardens and where Weiler would serve as rabbi. However, just as building work was set to commence, a neighbourhood petition circulated against plans for a synagogue in a residential area. Eventually, a decision was made to sell the plot and buy a smaller plot on
491:
rejected a proposal for the creation of the position of Chief
Minister under which all Progressive congregations would fall. The appointee would have been Rabbi Weiler, who was based in Johannesburg. Weiler had sent Victor Brasch as his emissary to Cape Town to assure the community of the need for
486:
was hired. Weiler was surprised at its burgeoning success with just under 25% of Cape Town Jewry affiliating themselves with Reform
Judaism in a short time. In comparison, the percentage of Johannesburg Jews affiliated to the Reform branch has always been under 10%. Between the 1940s - 1960s there
560:
and Weiler were scheduled to attend the anniversary ceremony. There were no injuries but the blast destroyed walls, ripped out windows and seats and turned cupboards and furniture upside down. Nonetheless, the ceremony went ahead with
Viljoen and Weiler in attendance. Mahommed Iqbal Shaik of the
456:, where he recognised the need for a school. He worked with his wife Una and the United Sisterhood of progressive Jewry to achieve his vision. The school was opened officially by the mayor of Johannesburg and renamed the MC Weiler School, in honour of Rabbi Weiler. In 1950,
555:
when he made his historic peace trip to Egypt in 1979. In August 1983 he flew to
Johannesburg to attend the 50th anniversary of his former congregation, Temple Israel in Hillbrow. However, a limpet mine exploded outside the synagogue, four hours before State President
336:, a local Jewish periodical, distanced themselves from an alignment with Reform Judaism, yet described a speech by Weiler as âthe most outstanding literary lecture that has ever been delivered in Johannesburgâ. After his arrival, a plot was purchased on Empire Road,
445:. He attempted to advance a free membership model whereby the synagogue would be entirely funded by the city's wealthiest Jewish individuals such as mining magnates. The model was not feasible, an unsuccessful proposal was made to
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where he was ordained as a Reform rabbi in 1933. Weiler spurned the
Orthodoxy of his forefathers as he believed that Reform Judaism offered the best way to keep young people connected to their faith.
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Weiler fostered what has been referred to as âWeilerismâ, a specific form of Reform Judaism specific to a South African context. This was "rather more cautious than the principles of his
332:
to found the country's first Reform congregation. He quickly developed a reputation as a gifted orator and could give lectures and sermons in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and German. The
569:
hearings and he was granted amnesty. His final visit to South Africa was in 1995 at the age of 88, where he was invited to the 50th anniversary of the MC Weiler School in Alexandra.
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of catering, care of the sick, and charitable outreach. The Sisterhood was also entitled to elect two women to the management executive. He also pioneered the introduction of
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to raise support. He met his future wife, Una Gelman at a lecture he was giving. The couple subsequently had six children together and lived in a large home in
466:: "It is important that Reform Jewry in the United States take more interest in the welfare of progressive Judaism abroad and embark upon a Reform Jewish
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counterparts" however, still quite radical by South African standards. Weiler was keen to replicate a trend in American Reform Judaism, where
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of South Africa was on a committee of rabbis that honoured the brothers with the creation of The Adam and Gideon Weiler Garden in
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as chairman of the administrative committee of âBeth Hatfutzotâ (House of Jewish Communities), a project that is today known as
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and in the absence of finding suitable work as a rabbi, went into business. He noticed the lack of readily available
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JUDAISM OF ISRAEL DECLARED PATTERN; Rabbi Weiler Asks American Jews to Give Brethren Abroad 'a Reform Marshall Plan'
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military cemetery. Weiler became a counselor after their deaths, supporting those that lost loved ones during the
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and any dedicated students that were committed to Conformation did so under the guise of Hebrew names such as
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245:. He is credited with growing the movement, with 25 congregations established during his tenure. He made
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ceremonies in the country. He did not deem it compulsory for congregants to follow kosher dietary laws (
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and in 1962 was involved in establishing and chairing a new, independent and egalitarian congregation,
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was also replaced by professional mixed choirs. Weiler also made it compulsory for men to wear a
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rabbis, his father, grandfathers and great-grandfathers were all rabbis. His father emigrated to
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to Israel in 1958, as his father and grandfather had also done so. In 1960, he was hired by
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387:. The innovations in the services included the use of English alongside Hebrew, and the
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in the country and decided to start a chocolate factory and imported coffee beans from
221:(23 March 1907 â 4 December 2000) was a Latvian-born South African rabbi and founder of
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470:. It should assist the progressive Jewish communities abroad morally and financially."
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to Zalman Dov Ber Weiler and Hannah Weiler (née Hurwitz). He came from a long line of
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He was an early proponent of gender equality as he insisted on holding Friday night
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Committee Set Up to Memorialize Maj. Adam Weiler, Killed in Action Along Suez Front
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South Africa's Oldest Reform Synagogue Is a Place Where Few Jews Dare Venture
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Dr. Weiler, Honored in Johannesburg; Leaves So. Africa to Settle in Israel
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Plan for World Jewish Congress House in Israel Announced in New York
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Dr. Weiler Arrives in U.s.; Will Address Jewish Communities on U.j.a
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He emigrated to South Africa in 1933 at age 26 after being hired by
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Israelâs South African Community Mourns Death of Two Army Officers
405:
in services, likewise he expected women to cover their heads too.
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Dr. Weiler to Direct Drive for âbeth Hatfutzotâ Project in Israel
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Weiler was deeply upset by the schism with Cape Town and he made
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Dr. Weiler Named to High Post in Jewish National Fund World Body
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to help set up the first progressive congregation in Cape Town,
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A compelling new history of Progressive Judaism in South Africa
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reported on Weiler's trip to New York where he was speaking at
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design, but scaled it down according to the smaller plot size.
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625:. Two sons, Adam and Gideon were killed in combat serving the
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was a Johannesburg-Cape Town cultural split when progressive
613:. Upon making aliyah to Israel in 1958, the family lived on
262:
54:
1233:
Hebrew Union College â Jewish Institute of Religion alumni
782:
Rabbi Weiler and the founding of the Reform movement in SA
1002:
South African History Online. Accessed on 7 December 2019
888:
South African Jewish Museum. Retrieved on 15 October 2023
301:
and taught Hebrew at a local school. He then studied at
633:
in 1970 and Gideon was killed on the third day of the
482:. Weiler's friend and Hebrew Union classmate, Rabbi Dr
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The rookie rabbi who pioneered SA Progressive Judaism
253:
in 1958, where he spent the second part of his life.
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Moses Cyrus Weiler at the National Library of Israel
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Synagogue in Johannesburg is damaged by an explosion
303:
Hebrew Union College â Jewish Institute of Religion
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Hebrew Union College â Jewish Institute of Religion
528:. He also enrolled in advanced Jewish studies in
1144:
990:Roger Joseph Prize. Retrieved on 5 October 2023
1218:Israeli people of South African-Jewish descent
1193:South African people of Latvian-Jewish descent
1100:Sussex University. Retrieved on 5 October 2023
1039:Gov't honors Anglo brothers on Remembrance Day
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565:(MK) later assumed responsibility during the
225:in the country. He was Chief Minister of the
784:Progressive Jews (South Africa). August 2019
538:Progressive Community Synagogue in Tel Aviv
494:South African Union for Progressive Judaism
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293:offered him a scholarship to study in the
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1024:Special Shabbos at Temple Israel Saturday
1213:Israeli people of Latvian-Jewish descent
794:Hebrew Union College Exercises on May 27
241:, the mother synagogue of the country's
1000:Bomb explodes at Johannesburg synagogue
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227:United Jewish Progressive Congregation
199:United Jewish Progressive Congregation
1098:The Adam Weiler Doctoral Impact Award
464:Temple Israel of the City of New York
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617:for two years, before relocating to
131:Hannah Weiler (née Hurwitz) (mother)
1088:Telfed. Retrieved on 5 October 2023
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820:
802:
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567:Truth and Reconciliation Commission
449:, who was uninterested in Judaism.
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1124:Olami. Retrieved on 5 October 2023
1112:Olami. Retrieved on 5 October 2023
496:and refused to return until 1963.
297:. He graduated with a BA from the
14:
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1168:21st-century South African rabbis
1163:20th-century South African rabbis
1131:
1014:The New York Times. 7 August 1983
547:, was an emissary abroad for the
536:. He also served as rabbi at the
514:ANU - Museum of the Jewish People
1238:Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium alumni
587:South African Zionist Federation
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545:Hebrew Union College â Jerusalem
543:Further to this, he lectured at
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128:Zalman Dov Ber Weiler (father)
1:
1243:University of Delaware alumni
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661:. The brothers are buried at
435:, the national anthem of the
285:. His son meanwhile attended
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1183:Jews from the Russian Empire
621:and settling permanently in
378:at age 13 was replaced with
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1248:20th-century Latvian rabbis
1057:South African Jewish Report
859:South African Jewish Report
357:. Kallenbach used the same
10:
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1027:South Africa Jewish Report
886:Rabbi Dr David Sherman zâl
1072:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
973:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
958:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
938:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
923:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
901:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
815:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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629:. Adam was killed in the
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988:Rabbi Moses Cyrus Weiler
669:and the wars in Israel.
439:was also sung alongside
577:In 1941 he was sent to
1223:Israeli Ashkenazi Jews
1178:South African Zionists
639:Louis Isaac Rabinowitz
299:University of Delaware
155:University of Delaware
659:Ben Gurion University
627:Israel Defense Forces
551:, and he accompanied
526:World Jewish Congress
330:Abraham Zevi Idelsohn
549:United Jewish Appeal
521:Jewish National Fund
519:Two year later, the
1086:Major Gideon Weiler
940:. 27 September 1960
861:. 14 September 2023
452:In 1945 he visited
345:Paul Nel Street in
275:Mandatory Palestine
261:Weiler was born in
1042:The Jerusalem Post
903:. 12 December 1957
874:The New York Times
843:. 15 December 2020
459:The New York Times
454:Alexandra township
447:Ernest Oppenheimer
219:Moses Cyrus Weiler
41:Moses Cyrus Weiler
26:Moses Cyrus Weiler
960:. 12 January 1962
651:Sussex University
583:Southern Rhodesia
563:Umkhonto we Sizwe
442:God Save the King
355:Poswohl Synagogue
342:Herman Kallenbach
340:and Weiler hired
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1044:. 25 April 2012
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817:. 19 April 1960
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1054:Lest we forget
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975:. 6 April 1970
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799:. 21 May 1933
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51:23 March 1907
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1198:Latvian Jews
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1110:Weiler, Adam
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1059:. 8 May 2014
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239:Johannesburg
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195:Organisation
139:Denomination
99:South Africa
68:(2000-12-04)
1158:2000 deaths
1153:1907 births
663:Mount Herzl
643:Chief Rabbi
637:at age 23.
480:Green Point
417:Bat Mitzvah
385:Bnei Emunah
375:Bar Mitzvah
291:Cyrus Adler
92:Nationality
1147:Categories
673:References
655:alma mater
307:Cincinnati
257:Early life
109:Una Gelman
47:1907-03-23
667:Holocaust
657:) and at
641:, former
623:Jerusalem
611:Saxonwold
599:Saxonwold
530:Jerusalem
279:chocolate
177:Synagogue
74:Jerusalem
653:(Adam's
605:between
593:between
581:in then-
579:Bulawayo
432:Hatikvah
366:American
359:Art Deco
347:Hillbrow
338:Parktown
314:seminary
271:Orthodox
235:Hillbrow
187:Position
169:Position
114:Children
82:Religion
76:, Israel
57:, Latvia
32:Personal
689:Haaretz
603:Riviera
591:Riviera
585:by the
524:of the
427:Zionism
422:Kashrut
411:Shabbat
370:British
122:Parents
86:Judaism
506:aliyah
500:Aliyah
402:tallit
396:kippah
390:Hazzan
320:Career
311:Jewish
283:Brazil
267:Latvia
251:Israel
247:aliyah
205:Buried
106:Spouse
101:Israel
96:Latvia
647:Eilat
619:Haifa
172:Rabbi
23:Rabbi
609:and
597:and
399:and
368:and
353:and
328:and
309:, a
263:Riga
63:Died
55:Riga
37:Born
478:in
305:in
249:to
233:in
1149::
1078:^
980:^
945:^
908:^
848:^
822:^
804:^
696:^
540:.
265:,
237:,
117:6
49:)
45:(
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