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PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM IN THE NEWS Photographs of Israel's 60th birthday celebrations Jews around the country celebrated Israel's 60th birthday in May 2008, and Progressive Zionists joined in the festivities. Photographs from Johannesburg Photographs from Cape Town The meaning of Yom Ha'atzmaut Leslie Bergman honoured in Austria Leslie Bergman, former SAUPJ chairperson and now World Union vice-chairperson, is honoured by the Austrian state for services to the Jewish community and to Austrian arts and culture Photographs of Purim fun How we celebrated Purim around the country, in Cape Town, Pretoria and Magaliesberg. A better world for all? United Sisterhood chair Marilyn Trujillo speaks at Temple Emanuel on Women's World Day of Prayer Mitzvah schools turns 21 The Mitzvah School in the grounds of Bet David, Sandton, celebrated its 21st birthday. Among the guests were scores of succesful alumni including doctors, lawyers and business leaders. Jews play key role in interfaith council Members of the Durban Jewish community have played a key role in setting up an inter-faith project to combat poverty. A new building for East London East London's Temple Hillel consecrates a new building with a ceremony that draws visitors from around the country Durban Sisterhood wins world award The Durban Sisterhood wins the international Or Ami Award for Excellence in Sisterhood Programming for its work with the Mavela Creche over the past four years. Number three for Phina Cape Town's Phina Hoberman has been chosen a third time by the SA sisterhoods to serve on an international Progressive Jewish women's board Landmark 'yes' to gay marriages In a landmark decision in May 2007, the National Assembly of the SAUPJ agreed that there be no distinction in the status of same-sex and heterosexual marriages. PLUS: Questions and answers about same-sex marriages and Judaism. Personal impressions of the WUPJ SAUPJ treasurer Jeff Carel gives his impressions of the South African delegation's experiences at the WUPJ convention in Jerusalem . PLUS: Pictures of the delegation Tributes to Benny Stalson at 90 Benny Stalson, spiritual leader of Temple Israel in Hillbrow, celebrates his 90th birthday. PLUS: Tribute by Rabbi Charles Wallach Biography of Benny Stalson Pictures of the service Tribute to Ruby Caplan Ruby Caplan, who passed away in February aged 97, was one of our movement's earliest members.

New chair for rabbis The Progressive rabbis select as their new chairman, Cape Town's Rabbi Malcolm Mattitiani, the youngest person to hold that post. Rabbi Ann Folb inducted Rabbi Ann Folb, inducted in April 2008 at Bet Menorah in Pretoria, was one of the world's first women to begin rabbinical studies, in the nineteen sixties. A trio of new rabbis ... After years with only one rabbi between four congregations, Gauteng appointed three new rabbis in mid-2007. ... and a new Shaliach Meet Netzer Gauteng's new shaliach, Michael Szczupak, previously an instructor in an Israeli youth movement. Netzer's big 2007 summer camp Get a taste of the fun you can have with our youth movement Netzer, from these photographs of the December 2007 camp at Glencairn, near Cape Town. Yad that survived the Nazis The silver Yad in the Ark at Bet Menorah, Pretoria, has a sad history that takes us back to the Nazi era. Tribute to Yiska Schmaman Yiska Schmaman, who passed away in March aged 96, was the daughter of one of our founders. Rabbi Isaac Richards: A lifetime of service Rabbi Isaac Richards, who played a key role in drawing up Minhag SA, was the longest-serving Rabbi in South Africa. He died on May 25 2007, aged 93. PLUS: Tribute to Rabbi Richards from Rabbi David Hoffman