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the former

Kettering United Synagogue Membership Group

Kettering, Nothamptonshire

 

 

   

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congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.

Town of Kettering

Kettering, a town in England’s East Midlands on the river Ise, is some 15 miles northeast of Northampton. It was an urban district in of the county of Northamptonshire until 1974, when it merged with neighbouring localities to form the local government district (later borough) of Kettering. On 1 April 2021, the borough of Kettering was merged with three other local authorities to form North Northamptonshire, a unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire. The town has a population of about 60,000.

Kettering Jewish Community

There were a number of Jews among those evacuated to Kettering during World War II, who established a local synagogue group.

Congregation Data

Name:

Kettering United Synagogue Membership Group

Address:

From 1943 services were held at the USF club in Kettering.

Previously and from May 1941 services were held at the Boot Union Hall, Club Street, Kettering described as "more commodious" than previous premises used.

Formation:

In October 1940 a meeting of Jewish evacuees and residents decided to form the first ever Hebrew congregation in the town and to arrange the supply of kosher meat. The Rev. Ephraim F. Einhorn, then resident in nearby Northampton, presided.(iv)

In 1943 the community apparently needed reviving after a fall off in membership and activities.(v)

Activities:

The supply of kosher meat was a concern for the community. Local non-kosher butchers refused to sell kosher meat and were supported by the local Food Control Committee. The community had to appeal to the Government for assistance.
Another key concern was the education of evacuee children who were billeted in Kettering and over a wide area in outlying villages. Rev. Wurman discovered that in the village of Thrapston (some 12 miles east of Kettering) there were 15 Jewish children who were being sent to church and Christian Sunday schools. He set up Hebrew classes there, at Burton Latimer, Rothwell and elsewhere. Over 100 children were estimated to have been billeted in Kettering itself and about half were aged under nine. By 1941 an average of 35 children were attending the Hebrew and religious classes in Kettering.

Date Closed:

Closed in or about 1945.(viii)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

In March 1941 the fledgling congregation came within the growing United Synagogue Members Group scheme.(ix)

Ministers:

Rev. Ephraim F. Einhorn - from October 1940 until October 1941(xii)

Rev. I. Wuman - from October 1941 until 1942 or 1943(xiii)

Rev. W. Neier - from 1942 or 1943 until 1945(xiv)

Lay Officers:

1940(xvii)

Chairman: M. Goldberg

Vice-Chairman: J. Lee

Treasurer: A. Rapber

Other Committee Members:

R. Silvermann and Salamon Bronstein

1943-1945

February 1943(xviii)

Chairman: - A. P. Segalov

July 1943(xix)

Wardens: - A. P. Segalov & S. Bronstein

Financial Representative: - L. Norman

1945(xx)

Wardens: - A. P. Segalov & S. M. Sank

Financial Representative: - L. Norman

Registration District (BMDs):

North Northamptonshire, since 1 April 2021.(xxiii) - Register Office Website

Cemetery Details

There is no Jewish cemetery in Kettering. Any burials would probably have taken place in one of the United Synagogue cemeteries, most likely Willesden Cemetery (see Cemeteries of the United Synagogue) or in the Jewish section of the Towcester Road Cemetery, in nearby Northampton.

 

Other Kettering Jewish Institutions & Organisations

Educational & Theological

  • Hebrew & Religious Classes - see under Activities, above

Other Institutions & Organisations

  • Ladies Guild (founded by 1941)

  • Kettering Jewish Ex-Servicemen's Social and Benevolent Guild (founded by 1941)
    Formed with the object of raising funds for communal and local war charities and of offering hospitality to Jewish serving men and women. Hospitality was offered to over 200 US and British servicemen over Passover.(xxiv)

 

Notes & Sources
( returns to text above)

  • (i) to (iii) Reserved.

  • (iv) Jewish Chronicle report of 18 October 1940.

  • (v) Jewish Chronicle report of 12 February 1943.

  • (vi) and (vii) Reserved.

  • (viii) The last minister left in about July 1945. The congregation was listed in Jewish Year Book 1945/6 but not in 1947.

  • (ix) Jewish Chronicle report of 7 March 1941.

  • (x) and (xi) Reserved.

  • (xii) Jewish Chronicle report of 18 October 1940 on formation of congregation, at which Rev. Einhorn (also known as Eisenhorn) presided. He was still ministering to the congregation, according to a Jewish Chronicle report of 24 October 1941, which reported that he was apprehended by police for breach of curfew - he was returning from his farewell party at Kettering and his journey back to Northampton on motorbike took longer due to bad weather.

  • (xiii) Jewish Chronicle of 31 October 1941 reported on Rev Wuman's appointment just before High Holydays.

  • (xiv) Jewish Chronicle of 271 July 1945 reports on Rev. Neier's appointment at Northampton. He is listed as minister at Kettering in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6

  • (xv) and (xvi) Reserved.

  • (xvii) Jewish Chronicle report of 18 October 1940.

  • (xviii) Jewish Chronicle report of 12 February 1943 which reported that A.P. Segalov became chair of the revived Kettering congregation.

  • (xix) Jewish Chronicle report of 2 July 1943.

  • (xx) Jewish Year Book 1945/6.

  • (xxi) and (xxii) Reserved.

  • (xxiii) Previous Registration Districts:  Kettering (from 1 July 1837);  Northamptonshire (from 1 October 2010 to 1 April 2021). Any registers would now be held by the current register office.

  • (xxiv) Jewish Chronicle reports of 13 October 1944 and 31 July 1981.


List of United Synagogue Congregations (and Membership Groups)

World War II Evacuee Communities

Jewish Congregations in Northamptonshire

Jewish Communities of England homepage


Page created: 2 May 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 25 August 2021
Page most recently amended: 10 September 2023

Reserach by David Shulman, assisted by Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman


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