21 December 2007 RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS - SYNAGOGUE FINANCES Pay 'n pray By Nicky Smith

How do the Jews do it? Ian Maltz, executive director of SA's largest orthodox synagogue, Cape Town's Green and Sea Point Hebrew Congregation, says most synagogues raise the bulk of funds through annual membership fees. He says that The Green, as it is known, charges families R2 298/ year, while single people pay R1 380/ year to attend services. "Obviously prices differ between synagogues, but they all raise money this way," he says. Maltz says The Green raises between 50% and 60% of funds through fees. Much of the rest is derived from seat sales at times such as Rosh Hashanah (the new year) and Yom Kippur (the most solemn of Jewish days). Seats in the front of the synagogue are more sought-after because they offer a better view of the service - Maltz jokes that they command higher prices because "God hears those prayers first". Prices range from R900/ seat to about R220. Maltz says some families will buy the same seats year after year, because they like sitting where their father or grandfather sat. Other revenue is from donations and bequests. Maltz says these donations are not deductible for donors, since The Green has no welfare activities. There is a synagogue finance sub committee, which falls under the 10-member management committee that is elected each year. "All cheques have to be signed by two people," says Maltz. The financials are seen "by a top auditing company" and presented to the members of the synagogue at the AGM. "When you're dealing with public funds you have to be above board. You can't just waste people's money. You have to be able to prove that you haven't gone on holiday to Mauritius," says Maltz. The Green does not pay any tax and is registered as a public benefit organisation. After initially declining to provide The Green's annual income, Maltz said it was between R3m and R4m. Synagogues are independent entities but subscribe as members to the Union of Orthodox Synagogues, which provides services such as cemeteries and certification of kosher food production. The union also houses the Jewish ecclesiastical court, the Beth Din.

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