Nine months after the opening of its first Jewish community center, the fledgling Jewish community of Mauritius took another important step forward on 11 January when its members met to adopt a constitution and appoint a committee. Officially named the Island Hebrew Congregation, the new organization is the first formally constituted Jewish communal body comprising Jewish residents and citizens in the history of the island.

Until fairly recently, there were virtually no long-term Jewish residents on Mauritius. Israel-related activities have up until now been conducted primarily by the Amicale Maurice Israel (Mauritian Friendship Club of Israel), established by local Tamils who had been to Israel on various agricultural and other training courses.

The meeting took place in Curepipe, at the Amicale Maurice Israel Center. The centre, on whose premises are located a small shul, communal hall and offices, was opened on 23 May 2005. Former Australian Owen Griffith was appointed as the committee's first chairman. Also appointed were a vice-chairman, treasurer, fundraiser and secretary. The meeting was presided over by Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, Spiritual Leader to the African Jewish Congress.

In the course of his visit, Rabbi Silberhaft also inspected the St. Martin's Jewish Cemetery, in whose restoration and maintenance he has been centrally involved for a number of years. 127 Jewish refugees from Nazism who were interned on the island by the British are buried in the historic cemetery, which was handed over by Deed of Grant to the SAJBD in 1946 and has been maintained by it ever since with the assistance of members of the Amicale.

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