H.O.D. (Hebrew Order of David)
M M Ussishkin Lodge, Witbank

Consecrated 1924
 
This is an extract from the HOD book:

“THE FIRST 80 YEARS OF HEBREW ORDER OF DAVID”. 

M M Ussishkin

          In 1905 the first Minyan in the little village of Witbank was held in the dwelling house of the late Mr. S. Esakov, and in that year the Witbank Hebrew Congregation was formed. The town, the district and the community grew fast, and in 1913 the Synagogue was built.
          In 1924 a young man, Barney Hope, arrived in Witbank from Benoni. He was a member of the Benoni Lodge of the Hebrew Order of David who spread enthusiasm amongst the community in Witbank. On his initiative the late Wor Bro M. Ostrofsky of Benoni was invited to Witbank to address the community, and as a result thereof it was decided to form a Lodge. A charter was granted the same year.
          The Lodge had assisted in all Jewish activities in the town and the district, and it helped largely in the building of the communal hall in 1939. During the Second World War the members of the Lodge who proceeded on active service were cared for, and a most effective system of rehabilitation was embarked upon when they returned.
          In 1943 this Lodge applied for and was granted permission to re-name itself the M M Ussishkin Lodge after the great Zionist leader of that name.
          The M M Ussishkin Lodge No. 10. H.O.D. was formerly known as “The Witbank Lodge” renamed in 1943 - 5702, by the Wor. Bro. Rev. N. Menachemson. H. CF. P. Pres.
          The vibrant Jewish community of Witbank continued to play a noteworthy role in the affairs of South African Jewry. It was a strong outpost of the Zionist Movement whose influence was indeed formidable. Large sums were raised for all the Zionist Campaigns and no overseas emissary failed to visit Witbank.
          The Lodge maintained its activities with speakers visiting Witbank regularly and the brethren from nearby Middelburg attended meetings regularly. Visits were also undertaken to sister lodges in Bethal and Springs and from time to time the Lodge meetings were held in Middelburg.
          The 1960's began to see the decline of the rural Jewish communities. Whereas Witbank itself had become a large mining and industrial town with the population trebling in numbers within a decade, the Jewish community was shrinking in numbers. Young people had left to go to University in the big cities and never returned.
          The Shul which had been the hub of Jewish communal activities but was now situated in the centre of the Commercial Centre was sold and a beautiful Jewish Centre was built in the suburbs. It was hoped that the new centre would cater for a growing Jewish community in the Eastern Transvaal. Alas, this does not appear to have materialised.
          Because of the proximity to the Military Camp the Lodge took upon itself to cater to the needs of the Jewish trainees who would attend Shul on Friday nights and be entertained to supper by the community.
          Towards the end of 1982 the Lodge decided to go into recess as it could no longer muster a quorum for meetings and the Lodge finally handed back its charter to the Grand Lodge. Amongst those who played a noteworthy part in the Lodge activities were Wor Bro Barney Hope, Wor Bro Les Gafinowitz, Wor Bro S J Young and Wor Bro Vic Burman.