Settling in Cape Town

The beautiful Gardens Synagogue in Cape Town was built in 1849.

While Jews were part of the community before 1800, a steady flow came from Europe after the British occupation in 1806. Cape Town is home to the oldest Jewish community in South Africa. The first synagogue 'Tikvath Israel' was built in 1849. As the community grew, we began to establish other congregations and synagogues. The present great synagogue was inaugurated in 1905.

For many years, Cape Town was the center of Jewish communal life in South Africa and today it is home to the second largest Jewish population in South Africa. Over the years, Jews have made significant contributions to the cultural and civic advancement of Cape Town through art galleries, museums and historical collections.