Plymouth Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth Synagogue is a synagogue
in the city of Plymouth
, England. Built in 1762 it is a Listed Grade II* building and the oldest synagogue
built by Ashkenazi Jews
in the English speaking world
.
by the mid-18th Century. The members were immigrants, primarily from the German lands
and the Netherlands
. Most were members of an extended family with the surname Emden.
They are known to have been meeting regularly for services in private homes by 1745, at some point the services moved to rented rooms. Plans for building a synagogue had begun by 1759. In 1762 building land was leased, but the lease was signed by a Christian named Samuel Champion since it was not clear that leases signed by Jews were legal. The Congregation bought the freehold in 1834.
, the leading expert on Jewish buildings in Britain, believes that an unobtrusive location was chosen to avoid provoking the destructive riots that non-Anglican houses of worship often provoked in the eighteenth century. Nothing on the exterior distinguishes the building from the meeting houses of Nonconformist Protestants.
Kadesh believes that the corniced entrance, the date and Psalms 95:6 ( O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.) written in Hebrew dates form the renovation of 1863-4. The cornerstone of the adjacent three-story building housing various synagogue offices is dated with the Jewish year 5634 (1874.) A mikveh in the basement has been boarded over.
The vestibule is floored with Minton terracotta tile dating from a Victorian-era renovation, the present stairs to the women's galleries were built at the same time. The vestibule appears to be a Victorian addition to a prayer hall that was originally entered without a vestibule, the women's galleries probably had external staircases as was once common.
As was usual in British synagogues, there is a prayer board with the Hebrew prayer for the welfare of the Royal family. The prayer board at Plymouth dates from 1762. It was usual for the name of each new king to be painted over the names of previous monarchs. At present the names being prayed for are listed as King George V
and Queen Mary.
The interior is simple, with the exception of the elaborate Torah Ark. The building has a flat ceiling and a women's gallery along three walls. Originally, the women's gallery was confined to the west end. The windows were originally clear glass. The present stained glass was a 20th century addition. Interestingly the pair of windows that flank the Torah Ark and open onto the street were added in 1874. Kadish believes that putting synagogue windows on a public street may have been judged unwise in the religious climate of the eighteenth century.
Torah Ark rises two stories, the full height of the building. It features fluted Corinthian columns, a broken pediment, carved finials and urns in gold leaf. On the second story are a pair of tablets of the Ten Commandments, in gold leaf on a royal blue ground. Inscribed on the cornice is the Hebrew date 5522 (1761-2) and a passage form Psalms 5:8 ( Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.)
It is a free-standing piece of cabinet work. Kadish believes that it may have been crafted by cabinetmakers in the Netherlands or the German lands. For many years the Ark had "a gentle golden patina." A 2002 restoration has made the Ark bright with gold leaf, white and blue paint.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in the city of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England. Built in 1762 it is a Listed Grade II* building and the oldest synagogue
Oldest synagogues in the world
The designation oldest synagogue in the world requires careful definition. Many very old synagogues have been discovered in archaeological digs. Some synagogues have been destroyed and rebuilt several times on the same site, so, while the site or congregation may be ancient, the building may be...
built by Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
in the English speaking world
Anglosphere
Anglosphere is a neologism which refers to those nations with English as the most common language. The term can be used more specifically to refer to those nations which share certain characteristics within their cultures based on a linguistic heritage, through being former British colonies...
.
History
A Jewish community was present in PlymouthPlymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
by the mid-18th Century. The members were immigrants, primarily from the German lands
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Most were members of an extended family with the surname Emden.
They are known to have been meeting regularly for services in private homes by 1745, at some point the services moved to rented rooms. Plans for building a synagogue had begun by 1759. In 1762 building land was leased, but the lease was signed by a Christian named Samuel Champion since it was not clear that leases signed by Jews were legal. The Congregation bought the freehold in 1834.
Architecture
No architect's name is recorded, and it is assumed that the rectangular, pitched-roof structure was designed and erected by a local master builder. The building is of whitewashed brick and stone with a roof of Cornish slate. The street front is the eastern end of the synagogue, so the door is placed on the western front, in what is effectively the back garden. The building is tucked on a side-street, Sharman KadishSharman Kadish
Sharman Kadish is a contemporary scholar, author, and historian with particular expertise in Jewish British history and with several publications under her name. Of particular note is her monograph, Bolsheviks and British Jews...
, the leading expert on Jewish buildings in Britain, believes that an unobtrusive location was chosen to avoid provoking the destructive riots that non-Anglican houses of worship often provoked in the eighteenth century. Nothing on the exterior distinguishes the building from the meeting houses of Nonconformist Protestants.
Kadesh believes that the corniced entrance, the date and Psalms 95:6 ( O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.) written in Hebrew dates form the renovation of 1863-4. The cornerstone of the adjacent three-story building housing various synagogue offices is dated with the Jewish year 5634 (1874.) A mikveh in the basement has been boarded over.
The vestibule is floored with Minton terracotta tile dating from a Victorian-era renovation, the present stairs to the women's galleries were built at the same time. The vestibule appears to be a Victorian addition to a prayer hall that was originally entered without a vestibule, the women's galleries probably had external staircases as was once common.
As was usual in British synagogues, there is a prayer board with the Hebrew prayer for the welfare of the Royal family. The prayer board at Plymouth dates from 1762. It was usual for the name of each new king to be painted over the names of previous monarchs. At present the names being prayed for are listed as King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary.
The interior is simple, with the exception of the elaborate Torah Ark. The building has a flat ceiling and a women's gallery along three walls. Originally, the women's gallery was confined to the west end. The windows were originally clear glass. The present stained glass was a 20th century addition. Interestingly the pair of windows that flank the Torah Ark and open onto the street were added in 1874. Kadish believes that putting synagogue windows on a public street may have been judged unwise in the religious climate of the eighteenth century.
Torah Ark
The elaborate, BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
Torah Ark rises two stories, the full height of the building. It features fluted Corinthian columns, a broken pediment, carved finials and urns in gold leaf. On the second story are a pair of tablets of the Ten Commandments, in gold leaf on a royal blue ground. Inscribed on the cornice is the Hebrew date 5522 (1761-2) and a passage form Psalms 5:8 ( Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.)
It is a free-standing piece of cabinet work. Kadish believes that it may have been crafted by cabinetmakers in the Netherlands or the German lands. For many years the Ark had "a gentle golden patina." A 2002 restoration has made the Ark bright with gold leaf, white and blue paint.
External links
- www.plymouthsynagogue.com
- Plymouth Hebrew Congregation on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).
- Virtual tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkDzxGByOdo