Who We Are
The Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, Gardens Shul, is South Africa’s oldest Jewish Congregation founded in 1841. Its historic and magnificent Great Synagogue sanctuary serves as the heartbeat of a vibrant, warm, and welcoming traditional Orthodox community. The services are led by a world-class team of Rabbi, Rebbetzin, Chazzan, and Choir. The Gardens Shul offers daily morning and evening services with a full choral service on Shabbat and Festivals. To pray at the Gardens Shul is to enjoy a unique and inspiring spiritual and community experience at the tip of Africa.
Rabbi Osher & Sarah Feldman
Rabbi Osher and Sarah Feldman have been at the Gardens Shul since 2007.
They have been the driving force behind the rejuvenation and growth of the Gardens Shul. Warm, passionate, innovative, and dynamic, Rabbi and Sarah have endeared themselves to the community while creating a non-judgemental, inclusive. welcoming space for Divine worship, spiritual connection, and community bonding.
The popular Friday Night Live they launched in November 2007 has been a flagship event for the Gardens Shul and has been emulated internationally.
Rabbi Osher hails from Sydney, Australia and Sarah from Johannesburg. Both descend from a long line of Rabbinic leaders. Their way of being reflects the ethos of the Gardens Shul; a deep respect for history and tradition while embracing and leading the way toward the future with innovation, inclusivity, and compassion.
They are joined in their work by their children Menny, Chaim, Laya, Esta, Rosa, and Zali, each of whom are equal partners in their service to the community.
Rabbi has a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from Middlesex University. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Rabbinical Association of the Western Cape.
Sarah founded a popular, local modest fashion brand. Her inspiring philosophy on life, parenting, and spirituality, as well as her engaging soul circles attract a cross section of the community.
Rabbi’s take on life can be heard from the pulpit, at an engaging Shiur, or over a cup of coffee. As for Sarah, she is always open for a DMC (Deep & Meaningful Conversation), otherwise, you can join the thousands following her on Facebook or Instagram @sarah_feldman_capetown.
Chazzan Choni Goldman
Born in Johannesburg, Choni grew up in the Sydenham Shul, famous for its choral music, and from an early age developed a love for music. He was a child soloist there and sang duets with Oshy Tugendhaft. At age 11, he appeared in concert with Chassidic pop star Mordechai Ben David. He was choirmaster of the Pretoria Shul for three years. He has served as Chazan in both local Shuls and Synagogues in Philadelphia, Melbourne & California. Currently he is resident Chazan of the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation (Gardens Shul).
Besides his impressive career as a chazan he has performed with the Maccabeats, Yaakov Shwekey, Yonatan Razel and grammy nominee Matisyahu.
In 2012 he won the International Jewish Star, an international American Idol-style competition that showcases the singing talents of Orthodox Jews. He has performed at gigs in Australia, Kenya, Mauritius, Brazil and the US; and cemented his reputation as South Africa’s most sought-after Jewish wedding singer.
You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
Bookings: manager@chonigmusic.com
The Gardens Shul Choir
The internationally acclaimed Gardens Shul choir was permanently established in 1912. Since its establishment, its Chazzan and four-part choir has filled the magnificent Gardens Shul sanctuary with a soulful, powerful and inspiring sound.
In it’s heyday, the choir comprised of up to 40 choristers with about 20 young sopranos and some of the finest Jewish tenors of their day.
The Chazanim that graced the Bimah of the Shul included Cantor’s Louis Kirschner, Boris Rome, David Ullmann, Stanley Brickman, Max Badash, Joel Lichterman, Ian Camissar and presently Choni Goldman.
Today the choir is a smaller group of just under 15 men but the quality of the four-part choir has been maintained, with a unique blend of modern pieces interspersed with the classical compositions of yesteryear.
Our Dedicated Team
Philip Kawalsky
Chairman
Steve Arelisky
Vice Chairman
Albert Glass
President and Trusted Member
Brian Kawalsky
Treasurer
Cedric Glick
Trusted Member
Mr Rosenbaum
Trusted Member
Josh Daniel
Youth Director