Wembley United Synagogue
Encyclopedia
Wembley Synagogue is a synagogue
in Wembley
, London
in England
. It is part of the United Synagogue
family of synagogues and offers an extensive range of religious, spiritual and social activities.
Jews
that was founded with the sanction of an act of parliament
, in 1870 and which is the largest religious grouping within the British
Jewish community, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities, and takes its religious authority from the Chief Rabbi
of the United Kingdom (UK). The synagogue has celebrated its 80th anniversary and 50th year in its current building.
.
Services have been led by the congregation's Chazan
(Cantor) Rev. Anthony Wolfson since 1991. He officiates with the synagogue choir once a month and on festivals and special occasions. The choir, which is one of the few remaining voluntary synagogue choirs left in London, has been going over 40 years and since 2005 has been directed by David Druce who is also the Musical Director of the London Cantorial Singers.
, communal hall, a kosher kitchen and a complex with facilities for all ages.
, Harrow
and Ealing
. But the movement of Jewish populations from east, north and Central London
had already begun and one of the directions it took was towards the Northwestern suburbs of London which had been made accessible by the rapid transport facilities afforded by the Metropolitan
and other railways lines.
The first meeting at which it was decided to form the Wembley Hebrew Congregation took place on 5 September 1928. Mr H Hooberman was appointed Chairman of the Congregation. The first classes were held in January 1929. A Ladies' Guild was formed in February 1930 and the Congregation became affiliated to the United Synagogue in 1931.
At first the services were held only at Festival times and without any congregational premises various halls had to be used such as the Union Hall in Ealing Road, Mitchell's Restaurant in Wembley High Road and later the Capital Ballroom in Empire Way. At the end of 1931 membership had risen to 64 and already the feeling for finding a permanent home had prompted the Committee to purchase part of the site of the present synagogue buildings. 1934 saw the firm establishment of the Wembley Community. On 22 April, Sir Isidore Salmon
laid the Foundation Stone of the first temporary synagogue. In June the decision was taken to appoint a Minister and a call was extended to the then Rev. Myer Berman. In the same year, the status of the synagogue was raised to that of a District Synagogue. On 2 September, the Induction of the Minister and the Consecration of the Synagogue was performed by the then Chief Rabbi of the UK, Joseph H. Hertz
.
In August 1939 the Ladies Guild purchased the first Sefer Torah
for the synagogue. In November of that year the house next door to the open site, 12 Forty Avenue, was purchased. A Building Fund had been formed with Sir Isidore Salmon, who was the Member of Parliament for the Harrow West constituency
, which then included Wembley, as President. Membership rapidly increased between then and the outbreak of World War II
and further building operations of a temporary character had to be undertaken.
Rev. Berman was commissioned in 1940 as a Chaplain in the Army until his return to Wembley on demobilisation in March 1946. The Rev. S. Venitt was appointed as temporary Minister during his absence. In 1949 it was realised that the site of the synagogue would be too small to accommodate the new synagogue whenever it was built. And when the opportunity arose, 10 Forty Avenue was purchased so that a total frontage of some 200 ft. was made available for future development. It was felt that one comprehensive scheme should be prepared and building operation commenced on that section which would house the Classes Wing. Accommodation for the children’s education was thought to be a priority.
On 23 March 1953 the foundation stone
of the classroom wing was laid and on 25 October the classroom wing was consecrated by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie
. After numerous appeals and fund raising efforts, building operations on the new synagogue were commenced in 1956 and the foundation stone was laid on 17 November 1956.
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 Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is part of the United Synagogue
United Synagogue
United Synagogue is an organisation of London Jews that was founded with the sanction of an Act of Parliament, in 1870. , it remains the largest religious grouping within the British Jewish community and indeed in Europe, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities...
family of synagogues and offers an extensive range of religious, spiritual and social activities.
Synagogue
Wembley United Synagogue is a member of the United Synagogue, an organisation of LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Jews
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
that was founded with the sanction of an act of parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, in 1870 and which is the largest religious grouping within the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Jewish community, covering 62 Orthodox Jewish communities, and takes its religious authority from the Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the United Kingdom (UK). The synagogue has celebrated its 80th anniversary and 50th year in its current building.
Rabbi and Cantor
The current minister is Rabbi Simon Harris, who was appointed in May 2007 and whose induction took place in March 2008, attended by Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan SacksJonathan Sacks
Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks, Kt is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. His Hebrew name is Yaakov Zvi...
.
Services have been led by the congregation's Chazan
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
(Cantor) Rev. Anthony Wolfson since 1991. He officiates with the synagogue choir once a month and on festivals and special occasions. The choir, which is one of the few remaining voluntary synagogue choirs left in London, has been going over 40 years and since 2005 has been directed by David Druce who is also the Musical Director of the London Cantorial Singers.
Facilities
In addition to the synagogue, facilities include a Beth HaMidrashYeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, communal hall, a kosher kitchen and a complex with facilities for all ages.
History
By 1928 there were already a few isolated Jewish families living in Wembley who felt they wanted to get together for the purpose of worship and in order to facilitate Hebrew and Religious Education. At that time the nearest organised communities were at CricklewoodCricklewood
Cricklewood is a district of North London, England whose northeastern part is in the London Borough of Barnet, western part is the London Borough of Brent and southeastern part is in London Borough of Camden.-History:...
, Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
and Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
. But the movement of Jewish populations from east, north and Central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
had already begun and one of the directions it took was towards the Northwestern suburbs of London which had been made accessible by the rapid transport facilities afforded by the Metropolitan
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
and other railways lines.
The first meeting at which it was decided to form the Wembley Hebrew Congregation took place on 5 September 1928. Mr H Hooberman was appointed Chairman of the Congregation. The first classes were held in January 1929. A Ladies' Guild was formed in February 1930 and the Congregation became affiliated to the United Synagogue in 1931.
At first the services were held only at Festival times and without any congregational premises various halls had to be used such as the Union Hall in Ealing Road, Mitchell's Restaurant in Wembley High Road and later the Capital Ballroom in Empire Way. At the end of 1931 membership had risen to 64 and already the feeling for finding a permanent home had prompted the Committee to purchase part of the site of the present synagogue buildings. 1934 saw the firm establishment of the Wembley Community. On 22 April, Sir Isidore Salmon
Isidore Salmon
Sir Isidore Salmon CBE DL JP was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.He was the son of Barnett Salmon, cofounder of Salmon & Gluckstein tobacconists. The company later expanded into the catering business under the name of a third partner, Joseph Lyons...
laid the Foundation Stone of the first temporary synagogue. In June the decision was taken to appoint a Minister and a call was extended to the then Rev. Myer Berman. In the same year, the status of the synagogue was raised to that of a District Synagogue. On 2 September, the Induction of the Minister and the Consecration of the Synagogue was performed by the then Chief Rabbi of the UK, Joseph H. Hertz
Joseph H. Hertz
----Rabbi Joseph Herman Hertz, CH was a Jewish Hungarian-born Rabbi and Bible scholar. He is most notable for holding the position of Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom from 1913 until his death in 1946, in a period encompassing both world wars and The Holocaust.- Early life :Hertz was born in the...
.
In August 1939 the Ladies Guild purchased the first Sefer Torah
Sefer Torah
A Sefer Torah of Torah” or “Torah scroll”) is a handwritten copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. The Torah scroll is mainly used in the ritual of Torah reading during Jewish services...
for the synagogue. In November of that year the house next door to the open site, 12 Forty Avenue, was purchased. A Building Fund had been formed with Sir Isidore Salmon, who was the Member of Parliament for the Harrow West constituency
Harrow (UK Parliament constituency)
Harrow was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Harrow suburb of North London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, which then included Wembley, as President. Membership rapidly increased between then and the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and further building operations of a temporary character had to be undertaken.
Rev. Berman was commissioned in 1940 as a Chaplain in the Army until his return to Wembley on demobilisation in March 1946. The Rev. S. Venitt was appointed as temporary Minister during his absence. In 1949 it was realised that the site of the synagogue would be too small to accommodate the new synagogue whenever it was built. And when the opportunity arose, 10 Forty Avenue was purchased so that a total frontage of some 200 ft. was made available for future development. It was felt that one comprehensive scheme should be prepared and building operation commenced on that section which would house the Classes Wing. Accommodation for the children’s education was thought to be a priority.
On 23 March 1953 the foundation stone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
of the classroom wing was laid and on 25 October the classroom wing was consecrated by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie
Israel Brodie
Sir Israel Brodie KBE was the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth 1948–1965.He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. He served as a Rabbi of Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Australia from 1923-1937, was evacuated from Dunkirk, and finished the War as Senior Jewish Chaplain...
. After numerous appeals and fund raising efforts, building operations on the new synagogue were commenced in 1956 and the foundation stone was laid on 17 November 1956.
Ministers / Rabbonim
Rabbi Myer Berman,Rabbi Ivor Abrams, Rabbi Yisroel Fine, Rabbi David Radomsky, Rabbi Martin van den Bergh and Rabbi Simon HarrisCantors / Chazzanim
Rev. L Klein from 1949 to 1956, Rev. Ahrn Meir Lev from 1958 to 1974, Rev. Stephen Robins from 1974 to 1986, Rev Alan Bright from 1987 to 1990, Rev Mark Goldman from 1990 to 1991 and Rev Anthony Wolfson 1991–presentChoirmasters
Arnold Chazen, Stephen Glass, Lew Jackson, Lawrence Lederman, Harvey Pollins, Stephen Games and David DruceConcerts
In recent years due to the unparalleled acoustics in the synagogue building, Wembley Synagogue has proved a popular concert venue for Chazanut Concerts. On Sunday 7 December Stephen Glass from Montreal hosted a the Voices in Harmony Concert featuring Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and a choir from North America. The London Cantorial Singers held their annual Selichot Services in September 2006 and again in September 2009 featuring international Cantor Dovid Weinbach. In February 2009 the London Jewish Male Choir and The London Cantorial Singers held the Peter Heimann Memorial Concert.External links
- Wembley Synagogue official website
- The United Synagogue
- Wembley Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).