New West End Synagogue

The New West End Synagogue, located in St. Petersburgh Place, Bayswater, London, is one of the oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom still in use. It is one of two synagogues which have been awarded Grade I listed status by the British government, and has been described by Historic England as "the architectural high-water mark of Anglo-Jewish architecture". It can accommodate approximately 800 people.

History

Designed by George Audsley of Scotland in collaboration with Nathan S. Joseph, its foundation stone was laid on June 7, 1877 by Leopold de Rothschild in the presence of the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler, and the building was formally opened on March 30, 1879.

Chaim Weizmann, the first president of the State of Israel, and Herbert Samuel, the British High Commissioner for Palestine during the British Mandate, were both members of the synagogue. Their seats are marked with plaques. The synagogue's first rabbi was Simeon Singer, who translated and edited the Authorized Daily Prayer Book, which is still used in Orthodox synagogues across Great Britain.^[2]

Perhaps the most famous rabbi of New West End Synagogue was Louis Jacobs, whose ties with the synagogue were severed in what became known as the Jacobs affair, and went on to found the Masorti movement.

In August 2007, the New West End Synagogue was declared a national monument.^[2]

Community

The New West End Synagogue is a constituent of the United Synagogue (Orthodox) and serves the Jewish communities of Bayswater, Notting Hill, Kensington, Hammersmith and West London. Opened in 1879, it has in recent years enjoyed a major communal renaissance under the leadership of Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler and his wife Anne.

As well as regular services, the synagogue provides regular children's services for the under 5s and over 5s; Hebrew classes for children up to Bar or Bat Mitzvah age; a Mothers & Toddlers Group, regular adult education seminars and lectures; a keep fit group for ladies. There is a social committee; a Guild, which organises a range of lectures, outings and charitable activities; an Israel Group which arranges lectures and briefings on the Middle East by experts from all sides of the political spectrum; a Cares Group, which ensures that elderly and infirm members receive regular contact; and a Friendship Club, which meets monthly for more senior members.

The Synagogue has recently made two new appointments to its Clergy. Earlier this year Rabbi Moshe Freedman was appointed senior minister for the community and last August Jonathan Garcia became the pro-tem Chazan. Jonathan is a Lyric Baritone. Other singing commitments have included bass solo in Mozart’s ‘Requiem’, Beethoven’s ‘Choral Fantasia’ and Handel’s ‘Messiah’ for the Centenary Choir. During the summer of 2013, he sang the role of Antonio in a production of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ by Mozart at the Bedford Park Music Festival.^[3]

Music

The New West End is known for its music and choir. The first choirmaster was David M. Davis, the compiler of The Voice of Prayer and Praise, known as the Blue Book, and the standard work on Anglo-Jewish minhag (customs). Davis spend 50 years as choirmaster, from 1879.^[4]

Architecture

Interior

Particularly notable is the splendid Torah ark. Designed by Joseph, it closely resembles the ark he designed for Glasgow's Garnethill Synagogue; both arks are raised on platforms, approached by a series of circular marble steps, and project into the room in the form as a multi-domed and arched building.^[5]

See also

• Oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom

References

External links

• English Heritage: New West End Synagogue, Bayswater
• Official site
• New West End Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).

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