The Jewish Community of Muizenberg

Location:   Latitude: 34° 7′ 0″ S    Longitude: 18° 28′ 0″ E

14 miles or 22.53 Kilometers from Cape Town

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Muizenberg, South Africa

Muizenberg, the small seaside village, 25 km due south of Cape Town on the North-Western corner of False Bay, has especially significant resonance for all Jews who lived in South Africa in the 20th century. Not only did it have a vibrant resident Jewish population, but Muizenberg was also the preferred destination for thousands of Jewish families from all over the country, who flocked there for their summer holidays. It was the place where families united across the generations, where young children played with parents and grandparents on the long sandy beach and experienced the warm waters and gentle waves of False Bay. It was where near-naked, bronzed and oiled youth, fell in love, where businesses were floated, and where family and friendship bonds were reinforced – in the special ‘freshe luft’.

 

On these pages, we feature ‘Memories of Muizenberg’ – both the exhibition, created by Joy Kropman and her team, that has been shown world-wide, as well as personal memories and photographs. We look at the hotels where people stayed, the activities they indulged in and the concerts they attended. We look at those that lived there and point you to the current Jewish Community of Muizenberg.

 

This site is managed by me, Eli Rabinowitz, along with my 88 other community sites, kehilalinks and blogs. I was born in Cape Town, spent my youth in Johannesburg and emigrated to Perth, Australia with my wife and two sons in 1986. If you have memories or photos of Muizenberg, (or other places) please send them to me at Eli Rabinowitz