Benny Stalson celebrates his 90th birthday at Temple Israel
Photographs: Darryl Egnal

From his student days until his nineties, Benny Stalson played a central role in almost every important initiative by the movement

Benny thanks the Temple Israel congregation for their good wishes on his ninetieth birthday. At left is long-time congregation secretary Cissy (Cecilia) Gluckmann. Behind Benny are Anne and John Marks and Luiz Goncalves. Next to him are his daughters Robyn and Lynn, with Robyn’s husband Kevin Johns behind. At far right is former sisterhood chair Sybil Abro.

The Stalson family: daughter Lynn, wife Mae, Benny and daughter Robyn

Benny with long-serving congregation chair Reeva Forman, who organised the party

Rabbi Charles Wallach and his wife Marilyn with Benny, Mae and Cissy Gluckmann

Benny with SAUPJ chairman Steve Lurie

Benny with John Marks, son of movement pioneers Max and Rita Marx, and his wife Anne (left) former leader of the United Sisterhood

Stan Abrahams, former president of the United Progressive Jewish Congregation of Johannesburg