Ilford Federation Synagogue

Ilford, Essex

JCR-UK is a genealogical and historical website covering all Jewish communities
and congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.
NOTE: We are not the official website of this congregation,
which can be reached by clicking on the logo below.

Ilford Federation Synagogue, Clarence Avenue
© David Newman 2017

*Congregation Data*
Name:	Ilford Federation Synagogue
Former Name:	Ilford and Valentine's Park Synagogue, until about 1953.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Address:	2a Clarence Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex IL2 6JH, since 2013^(iv) The building, a new purpose-built synagogue and community centre,^(v) is situated on the corner of Clarence Avenue and Beehive Lane, and was initially described as the Dennis Centre, 84 Beehive Lane, Ilford IG1 3RS.^(vi)
Former Address:	14-16 Coventry Road, Ilford, Essex IL1 4QR, until October 2013. The synagogue was originally, from about 1930, situated solely at 16 Coventry Road.^(ix) In the late 1930s, it appears that the congregation moved to alternative premises, for reasons not currently known.^(x) It had returned to number 16 sometime prior to the end of World War II^(xi) and in 1960, the adjoining property at 14 Coventry Road was purchased and both buildings were demolished and redeveloped into a new purpose-built synagogue, with a ladies gallery, a hall, classrooms and an offices.^(xii) This remained to congregation's synagogue until 2013, when, as a result of decreasing numbers and the fact that the location of the synagogue was no longer compatible for a majority of its members, it relocated to its present site.^(xii) Prior to 1930, the congregation was at 316 Perth Road, Ilford, Essex.^(xiii)
Formation:	The congregation is believed to have been established in 1927.^(xvi)
Current Status:	Active
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	Originally a congregation affiliated to the Federation of Synagogues, in about 1960 it became a constituent synagogue of the Federation.^(xvii)
Ministers: *(To view a short profile of a minister or cantor whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over his name.)*	Rev. G.G. Bloch - minister from about 1930 until about 1936.^(xx) Rev. G.R. Young - minister from at least 1945 until about 1946.^(xxi) Rev. Isaac Nodel - minister from 1957 until 1984.^(xxii) Rabbi Yehuda Marmorstein - minister from 1984 until 1988.^(xxiii) Rabbi Reuben Livingstone - minister from 1988 until1999.^(xxiv) Rabbi Harvey Belovski - minister from 2000 until 2003.^(xxvii) Rabbi Alexander Chapper - minister from 2003 until 2017.^(xxviii) Rabbi David Singer - minister from 2018 until present (August 2025).^(xxix)
Cantors / Readers:	Rev. Judah Hersch Goldstein - reader from at least 1945 until about 1957.^(xxxiii) Rev. Stanley Ivan Brickman - reader from 1966 until about 1969.^(xxxiv) Rev. Geoffrey Shisler - part-time reader in about 1969/70.^(xxxv) Rev. H. Leonard Sober - reader from 1970 until about 1979.^(xxxvi) Rev. Brian Segal - reader from about 1980 until about 1985.^(xxxix) Rev. Shimon Samet - reader from 1987 until about 1995.^(xl) Rev. Elimelech Yitzchak Sufrin - reader from 1996 until 2000.^(xli) Rabbi Shneur Zalmam Rodal - reader from 2000 until uncertain date.^(xlii)
Lay Officers:	All data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books.^(xlvii)
	Presidents 1929-1931 - J. Weinstein 1931-1933 - L. Clements 1933-1934 - A.L. Oppenheim 1934-1936 - J. Weinstein 1936-1938 - L. Clements 1938-1945 - no data 1945-1947 - Nathan Cohen 1947-1951 - S. Abrahams 1951-1956 - S. Synett from 1956 - no data Vice Presidents 1932-1933 - H. Bloom 1933-1934 - L. Clements 1934-1935 - H. Bloom 1936-1938 - P. Goldstein 1938-1947 - no data 1947-1949 - I. Weinberg 1949-1950 - S. Kitsberg 1950-1953 - no data 1953-1956 - G. Mays from 1956 - no data Wardens 1929-1930 - J. Weinstein, J. Swersky & A. Lebetkin 1930-1931 - J. Swersky & L. Clements 1931-1932 - A. Goldberg & L. Clements 1932-1933 - no data 1933-1934 - Judah Hersch Goldstein & A. Rudoff 1934-1935 - Judah Hersch Goldstein & A.I. Goldberg 1935-1938 - Judah Hersch Goldstein & A. Rudoff 1938-1953 - no data or none elected 1953-1956 - S. Kitsberg & B. Feldman from 1956 - no data	Chairmen 1930-1932 - J. Solomon 1932-1955 - no data 1955-1956 - Dr. I.M. Segal from 1956 - no data Vice Chairman 1931-1932 - A. Wilks Treasurers 1929-1933 - A. Lebetkin 1933-1934 - H. Bloom 1934-1936 - A. Gabriel 1936-1937 - J. Monsovitch 1937-1938 - P. Goldstein 1938-1946 - no data 1946-1953 - Barnet Feldman 1953-1956 - S. Marlowe from 1956 - no data Secretaries or Hon. Secretaries 1929-1931 - L. Clements 1932-1936 - Aaron Abrahams 1936-1937 - S. Abrahams 1937-1938 - W. Slasburg 1938-1945 - no data 1945-1946 - J. Goldstein 1946-1952 - J. Gay 1952-1955 - J. Froumin 1955-1957 - H. Passe 1957-1959 - I.L. Schryer 1959-1969 - R. Joseph 1969-1978 - G Swermer 1978-1987 - M. Ezekiel 1987-1990 - Mrs. J. Zeff 1990-1991 - M.L. Levy
Membership Data:	National Reports & Surveys^(xlviii) 1977 - 560 male (or household) members and 129female members 1983 - 671 male (or household) members and 147 female members 1990 - 920 members 1996 - 799 members 2010 - listed as having 300 to 399 members (by household) 2016 - listed as having 400 to 499 members (by household)
Local Government Districts:	Ilford, a neighbourhood with a significant Jewish population, in northeast London, is in the London Borough of Redbridge. ^(xlix) Prior to 1965, Ilford was in the former Municipal Borough of Ilford (which was an urban district until 1926) in the county of Essex.
Registration District (BMD):	Redbridge from 1 April 1965^(l) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	For Federation of Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the Federation of Synagogues.

Online Articles, Bibliography and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on JCR-UK

Photographs of the Synagogue

on Third Party Websites

About Ilford Federation Synagogue on the congregation's website.

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

Hebrew & Religious Classes later known as the Talmud Torah - founded by 1931.^(lvi)

Other Institutions

Ladies Guild - founded by 1933.^(lvii)
Parents Association.^(lviii)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) and (ii) Reserved.
(iii) The congregation was listed under this name from its first appearance in Jewish Year Books (1930) through 1953, after which it was listed under its present name, although solely in the 1945/6 edition it was listed as Ilford and Valentine's Park Synagogue and Talmud Torah. Valentine's Park lay just to the north of Coventry Road, the congregation's previous address. ↵
(iv) The congregation was first listed with this address in the Jewish Year Book 2015 (the last edition of the Year Book). The Jewish Chronicle of 14 October 2013 reported that the congregation had held its last Shabbat service at its Coventry Road premises before moving to its new home, which it described as the former Dennis Centre in Beehive Lane. ↵
(v) "About Ilford Federation Synagogue" on the congregation's website, accessed August 2025. ↵
(vi) This is the address as listed in Jewish Year Book 2014, clearly the same building as the Clarence Avenue premises. ↵
(vii) and (viii) Reserved.
(xi) It was the listed address in Jewish Year Books from 1931. ↵
(x) Although the address listed in Jewish Year Books from 1931 through 1936 was 16 Coventry Road, in 1937 the address was given as 36 Argyle Road, Ilford, and in 1938 through 1940, it was 53 Coventry Road, Ilford. There is no data for 1941 to 1945, as publication of the year book had ceased during these years due to the war. ↵
(xi) The address listed in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6 was again 16 Coventry Road, Ilford. ↵
(xii) "About Ilford Federation Synagogue" on the congregation's website, accessed August 2025. ↵
(xiii) This was the address listed in the Jewish Year Book 1930. ↵
(xiv) and (xv) Reserved.
(xvi) Although this is the year generally given for the founding of the congregation (on the congregation's website and in Jewish Year Books from 1956), the Jewish Year Book 1945/6 gave the date as 1929 and the 1947 edition gave it as 1930. ↵
(xvii) It was listed as a constituent synagogue from the Jewish Year Book 1962. ↵
(xviii) and (xix) Reserved.
(xx) Based upon Rev. G.G. Bloch's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1931 through 1936. ↵
(xxi) Based upon Rev. G.R. Young's listing as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6, the first to be published since the cessation of publication in 1940. ↵
(xxii) Congregation's website. Rev. I. Nodel was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1958 through 1984. ↵
(xxiii) The Jewish Chronicle of 17 February 1984 reported the appointment of Rabbi Marmorstein at Ilford Federation and on 5 August 1988 it last reported him at Ilford, and his successor was in post by December 1988. Rabbi Marmorstein was listed as Rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1985 through 1989. ↵
(xxiv) The Jewish Chronicle of 11 November 1988 reported that Rabbi Reuben Livingstone starts his new post at Ilford Federation Synagogue the following month and on 12 March 1999 it reported that the congregation had lost Rabbi Reuben Livingstone to Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue the previous month. Rabbi Livingstone was listed as Rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1990 through 1999. ↵
(xxv) and (xxvi) Reserved.
(xxvii) The Jewish Chronicle of 10 March 2000 reported that Rabbi Harvey Belovskis, Ilford Federation's new minister, said this week that he was planning a series of "exciting projects," especially in education, and on 28 March 2003 it reported that Rabbi Belovski was due to leave Ilford the following month. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2001 and 2002. ↵
(xxviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 28 March 2003 reported Rabbi Chapper's appointment and on 7 April 2017 it reported that Rabbi Chapper had been given a fond farewell by the congregation. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 2003 until the last edition (2015). ↵
(xxix) Congregation's website, last accessed August 2025. ↵
(xxx) to (xxxii) Reserved.
(xxxiii) Based upon Rev J.H. Goldstein's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1945/6 through 1957, except for 1956, when he was listed as minister. ↵
(xxxiv) Rev. S. Brickman was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1967 through 1969. ↵
(xxxv) Although Rev. G. Shisler was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1970 and 1971, he commenced his professional (full-time) career in 1970 at the New Synagogue. ↵
(xxxvi) Although Rev. L. Sober was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1972 through 1980, he had joined the congregation by 1970 and had started at his next post in 1979. ↵
(xxxvii) and (xxxviii) Reserved.
(xxxix) Based upon Rev. B. Segal's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1981 through 1985. ↵
(xl) The Jewish Chronicle reported in 1987 that "Rabbi Yehuda Marmorstein has now been joined by the Rev. Shimon Samet as chazan". Rev. S. Samet was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1988 through 1995. ↵
(xli) Online reports. Rev. Elimelech Y. Sufrin was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1998 through 2000. ↵
(xlii) Michael Jolles' Encyclopaedia of British Jewish Cantors, Chazanim, Ministers and Synagogue Musicians: their history and culture", 2024, pp. 827/8. Rabbi S.Z. Rodal was not listed in Jewish Year Books with regard to this congregation . ↵
(xliii) to (xlvi) Reserved.
(xlvii) Where a person is first listed in a year book as holding a particular office, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book (which was generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book) and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was vacant (e.g. if he is listed in Jewish Year Books 1951 through 1955, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1950 and continued in office until 1955). However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and accordingly his actual years of office may differ slightly from those shown here. Jewish Year Books were not published during WWII subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵
(xlviii) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by or on behalf of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and which can be viewed on the website of the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Click HERE for links to the various reports. ↵
(xlix) The London Borough of Redbridge, an Outer London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the former municipal boroughs of Ilford and Wanstead and Woodford, plus smaller areas from the municipal borough of Dagenham and Chigwell urban district. All these municipalities had been within the county of Essex. ↵
(l) The former Registration Districts were: Romford, from 1 July 1837 until 1 July 1939; and Ilford, from 1 July 1939 until 1 April 1965. All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵
(li) to (lv) Reserved.
(lvi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1932, which by 1945/6 was referred to as the Talmud Torah. In fact the congregation was listed as as Ilford and Valentine's Park Synagogue and Talmud Torah in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6 ↵
(lvii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1934 ↵
(lviii) "About Ilford Federation Synagogue" on the congregation's website. ↵

List of United Synagogue Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Redbridge

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 16 November 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 12 August 2025
Page most recently amended: 18 August 2025

Research and formatting by David Shulman

Explanation of Terms | About JCR-UK | JCR-UK home page

Contact JCR-UK Webmaster:
jcr-ukwebmaster@jgsgb.org.uk
(Note: This is to contact JCR-UK, not the above Congregation)

Terms and Conditions, Licenses and Restrictions for the use of this website:

This website is owned by JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. All material found herein is owned by or licensed to us. You may view, download, and print material from this site only for your own personal use. You may not post material from this site on another website without our consent. You may not transmit or distribute material from this website to others. You may not use this website or information found at this site for any commercial purpose.