Reform Movement in South Africa Establishes Its Own Council of Jewish Education

A decision to establish its own council of Jewish education was taken by the Reform Movement in South Africa at the third biennial conference of the South African Union for Progressive Judaism here, which was attended by representatives of Reform congregations from all parts of the country.

Rabbi Dr. M.C. Weiler, president of the Union, and Chief Minister of the Johannesburg United Jewish Reform Congregation, said he had hoped that the organization of Jewish education in South Africa would proceed on an all-inclusive basis, with the South African Board of Jewish Education providing for Jewish education as a whole, and meeting the needs of Reform as well as Orthodox congregations. This, he said, had not occurred because the Board catered only to the Orthodox groups.

Detailed proposals were considered by the conference and it was unanimously decided to establish the South African Council for Progressive Jewish Education. The parley also endorsed an agreement recently reached between the governing body of the Reform movement and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, for the participation of Reform congregations in the United Communal Fund for South African Jewry, the first united campaign to meet domestic needs. Rabbi Weiler was reelected president of the Union of Progressive Judaism for the fourth term.