Sutton & District United Synagogue

London Borough of Sutton

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Town of Sutton

The town of Sutton is situated in the far south of the Greater London area, adjacent to the boundary with Surrey. Sutton is now part of the London Borough of Sutton, created on 1 April 1965. Previously, Sutton was part of the former Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam, incorporated as a borough in 1934, which was within the County of Surrey.

Sutton Synagogue, London
Sutton Synagogue, Cedar Road

The Jewish Community

The Jewish community in Sutton dates from World War II. Also during World War II, the Jewish Day Nursery, as it was known, was evacuated to Sutton. It was previously known as the Alice Model Nursery in the New Road, east London. It was closed down as the children reached the age of five and went to regular schools.⁽ⁱ⁾

Congregation Data

Name:

Sutton & District Synagogue, from about 1994,
generally known as Sutton & District United Synagogue⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Former Names:

Sutton Jewish Community (until about 1947)⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Sutton Hebrew Congregation (from about 1947 until about 1964)^(iv)

Sutton Affiliated Synagogue (from about 1964 until about 1994)^(v)

Address:

14 Cedar Road, Sutton SM2 5DA,

Built in 1964, the new synagogue and communal centre, designed by architect, J. Godfrey-Gilbert, was consecrated on 18 October 1964 by Chief Rabbi Dr Israel Brody.^(viii)

Former Addresses:

5 Worcester Gardens, Sutton, from 1951 until 1964.^(ix)

Wellesley Lodge, 62 Brighton Road, Sutton, from at least 1948 until 1951.^(x)

Date Formed:

Established during World War II.^(xi)

Current Status:

Active

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Joined the United Synagogue as an affiliated synagogue in 1946.^(xiii) It became a constituent synagogue in about 2005.^(xiv)

Website:

https://www.suttonsynagogue.org.uk

JSCN Link:

Click on Sutton & District United Synagogue (a member community), on the Jewish Small Communities Network website. It is currently the only congregation within Greater London to be a member community of the Network.

Ministers:
(To view a short profile of a minister - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rev. Joseph Smulovitch - from about 1948 until about 1949.^(xviii)

Rev. Avraham Moshe Rose - from 1952 until 1962.^(xix)

Rev. Maurice Joseph Golomb - from 1962 until 1963.^(xx)

Rev. Irving Jacobs - from 1963 until 1966.^(xxi)

Rev. Stephen Roth - from 1966 until about 1968.^(xxii)

Rabbi Refoel Kahan - from about 1970 until 1972.^(xxv)

Rev. Laurence L. Tann - from 1972 until 1982.^(xxvi)

Rabbi Israel Geoffrey Hyman - from 1982 until 1986.^(xxvii)

Rev. Dr. Ze'ev Amit - from 1987 until 2000.^(xxviii)

Rabbi Reuven Groyer - from 2000 until 2001 (five months).^(xxix)

Rabbi Avromi Groner - from 2002 until about 2008.^(xxxii)

Rabbi Meir Lev - from 2010 until about 2014.^(xxxiii)

Rabbi Shmuli Sagal - from 2015 until 2018.^(xxxiv)

Rev. Shmully Aronson & Tamara Aronson - rabbinic couple from 2019 until 2021.^(xxxv)

Rev. Cantor David Rome - from 2022 to present (July 2025).^(xxxvi)

Lay Officers:

All data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books.^(xxxix)

Chairmen

1946-1947 - M. Sugar

1947-1951 - Dr. J. Fishman

from 1951 - no data

Vice Chairmen

1946-1947 - Dr. H. Sharpes

1947-1948 - M. Hopton

from 1948 - no data

Treasurers

1946-1951 - Dr. D. Shaw

1951-1953 - F.H. Taffel

1953-1954 - V. Landau

1954-1955 - W. Phillips

1955-1956 - V. Landau

from 1956 - no data

Wardens

1951-1954 - J. Cohen & Dr. D. Shaw

1954-1955 - J. Cohen & J. Prizant

1955-1956 - J. Beaver & J. Prizant

from 1956 - no data

Secretaries & Hon Secretaries

1946-1947 - B. Frickers

1947-1949 - H.A. Appel

1949-1952 - Dr. S. Morris

1952-1955 - J. Beaver

1955-1962 - L. Friedler

1962-1963 - S. Dinkin

1963-1973 - J.R. Baxendale

1973-1975 - B. Dorfman

1975-1978 - A.J. Raphael

1978-1984 - M. Harris

1984-1987 - H.T. Goldberg

1987-1989 - L. Cohen

1989-1991 - L. Gooblar

Membership Data:

United Synagogue (male seat-holders)^(xl)

1946

1950

1960

1970

66

91

133

202

National Reports & Surveys^(xli)

1977 - 219 male (or household) members and 46 female members

1983 - 240 male (or household) members and 50 female members

1990 - 303 members (comprising 301 households, 1 individual male member and 1 individual female member)

1996 - 273 members (comprising 268 households, 2 individual male and 2 individual female members)

2010 and 2016 - listed as having 100 to 199 members (by household)

Charitable Status:

As a constituent of the United Synagogue, the congregation operates within that organisation's registered charity status (registered charity no. 242552).

Registration District (BMD):

Sutton from 1 April 1965^xliv - Link to Register Office website

Worship Registration:

The synagogue in 14 Cedar Road (described as the ground floor and three rooms on first floor) is registered as a Place of Worship - Worship Register Number 69721 - under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.^xlv

Cemetery
Information:

For United Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the United Synagogue.

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Jewish Chronicle of 16 September 1949. ↵
(ii) Although listed as Sutton & District Synagogue in Jewish Year Books from 1995 until the cessation of publication, the congregation's website uses the name Sutton & District United Synagogue. ↵
(iii) The congregation appeared under this name solely in its first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1947 when it was listed as an independent congregation. ↵
(iv) The congregation appeared under this name in Jewish Year Books 1948 through 1964. ↵
(v) The congregation appeared under this name in Jewish Year Books 1965 through 1994. ↵
(vi) and (vii) Reserved.
(viii) From Jewish Chronicle report of 23 October 1964:
"A gem of a synagogue" was how the Chief Rabbi described the new building of the Sutton Synagogue and communal centre which he consecrated on Sunday. Dr. Brodie, who also inducted the Rev. Irving Jacobs as minister of the synagogue, described the building as well-planned with attention paid to the needs of the congregation.
To view a description of the architect's Jewish architectural works, hold your cursor over his name
Cedar Road was listed as the congregation's address in Jewish Year Books from 1965. ↵
(ix) Jewish Chronicle report of 11 January 1952:
About 400 people, including a number of non-Jews, attended the third annual dinner and ball, held by the Sutton and District Hebrew Congregation in aid of its building fund at the Savoy Hotel, London, last Saturday evening. The congregation, established during the war, has, I was informed, a membership of over 100. Until a few months ago it met in premises in Brighton Road, Sutton. At the end of last year the new premises in Worcester Gardens, Sutton, were acquired and converted into a synagogue. The congregation, which is affiliated to the United Synagogue, has an active Ladies' Guild under the chairmanship of Mrs. E. Fisham.
Worcester Gardens was listed as the congregation's address in Jewish Year Books 1949 and 1950. ↵
(x) Listed as the congregation's address in Jewish Year Books 1951 through 1964. See also the Jewish Chronicle report in the previous note. ↵
(xi) Note in Jewish Chronicle report of 11 January 1952 - see note (ix). The first lsiting was in the Jewish Year Book 1947. ↵
(xii) Reserved.
(xiii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 222. Listed as an affiliated synagogue in Jewish Year Books 1949 through 1980. ↵
(xiv) First listed as a constituent synagogue in Jewish Year Books from 1981. ↵
(xv) to (xvii) Reserved.
(xviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 4 April 1953 contained a report of a Rev. Joseph Shaw being called by the defendants to legal proceedings during which he stated that, under the name of Smulovitch, he was minister of the Sutton Congregation in 1948. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1949 and 1950. ↵
(xix) Rev. A.M. Rose was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1953 through 1962. ↵
(xx) Rev. M. Golombe's Jewish Chronicle obituary of 20 June 1997. He was listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Books 1963. ↵
(xxi) The Jewish Chronicle of 23 October 1964 reported on the consecration of the new synagogue and Rev. Jacob's induction, which would have taken place some time after he commenced serving the congregation. Jewish Chronicle of 25 March 1966 contained farewell tributes to the Rev. Irving Jacobs who was leaving Sutton Synagogue, after serving as minister of the synagogue for the past three years. He was listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Books 1964 (which indicates he was in office by 1963) through 1966. ↵
(xxii) Jewish Chronicle report of 7 October 1966 places Rev. Roth in Sutton and Jewish Chronicle of 26 April 1968 contained a United Synagogue wide advert for an adult education programme which lists Rev. Roth in Sutton. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1967 through 1969. ↵
(xxiii) and (xxiv)
(xxv) Jewish Chronicle of 29 September 1972 reported that Rabbi Raphael Kahan, minister of the Sutton Synagogue for the past three years, had been appointed minister of the Edgware Adath Yisroel Synagogue and would take up his new position the following month. He was, however, listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1971 through 1975. ↵
(xxvi) Jewish Chronicle of 6 October 1972 reported that Rev. Leonard Tann, youth and assistant minister of the Hendon Synagogue for the past 18 months, has been appointed minister of the Sutton Synagogue in succession to Rabbi R. Kahan. On 9 April 1982 it reported that over 150 members of Sutton Synagogue heard the farewell address as minister of the Rev Leonard Tann. Mr Tann, the new spiritual leader of the Hale and District Hebrew Congregation, recalled almost a decade in Sutton and thanked the congregation for its friendship. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1976 through 1982. ↵
(xxvii) Jewish Chronicle of 29 November 1985 reported that Rabbi I.G. Hyman has been chosen as the new minister at Woodside Park Synagogue, after serving at Sutton Synagogue since 1982. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1983 through 1986. ↵
(xxviii) Jewish Chronicle of 10 April 1987 reported that Rev Ze'ev Amit, who was born in Haifa, joins Sutton Synagogue as its minister on May 1, on returning to Britain after serving four years in Nairobi, and on 1 September 2000 it reported that the congregation has appointed a new minister to replace the Rev Dr Zev Amit, who moved to the Catford and Bromley Synagogue earlier that year. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1988 through 2000. ↵
(xxix) Jewish Chronicle of 1 September 2000 reported that South African-born Rabbi Yitzhak Reuven Groyer will take up his post in time for the the High Holy-days. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation solely in the Jewish Year Book 2001. ↵
(xxx) and (xxxi)
(xxxii) Jewish Chronicle report of 30 November 2001 headed "New rabbi for Sutton". On 19 March 2010 it reported that "Rev. Meir Lev has filled the vacancy in the Sutton synagogue pulpit caused by the departure of rabbi Avremi Groner". The Chabad website says Rabbi Groner moved to Stamford Hill in 2008. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books 2004 through 2011. ↵
(xxxiii) Jewish Chronicle of 19 March 2010 reported that Reverend Meir Lev has filled the vacancy in the Sutton synagogue pulpit caused by the departure of rabbi Avremi Groner. On 3 October 2014 it reported that Rev Meir Lev had left the community. He was listed as minister of the Sutton congregation in Jewish Year Books 2012 through the final edition (2015). ↵
(xxxiv) Jewish Chronicle of 17 July 2015 reported that Rabbi Shmuli Sagal has been overwhelmingly endorsed by Sutton synagogue members as their new minister and will take up the role next month. On 31 August 2018 it reported that he would take up his new role as minister of Shomrei Hadath Synagogue this weekend after three years as spiritual leader of Sutton United Synagogue. ↵
(xxxv) Jewish Chronicle of 24 January 2020 confirms their appointment in March 2019. Rev. Aronson's linkedin account, accessed June 2025, appears to indicate they served until December 2021. ↵
(xxxvi) The congregation's website, accessed July 2025, confirmed Rev. Cantor Rome's appointment in September 2022 and that he continues in office. ↵
(xxxvii) and (xxxviii)
(xxxix) 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 year appearing the 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 1948 through 1951, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1947and continued in office until 1951). 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. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵
(xl) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 218/9. ↵
(xli) 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. ↵
(xlii) and (xliii) Reserved.
(xliv) The former Registration Districts were: Croydon, from 1 July 1837 until 1 April 1934; and Surrey, Mid Eastern, from 1 April 1934 until 1 April 1965. All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵
(xlv) Page 1370 of the 2010 List of Places of Worship ↵

List of United Synagogue Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Sutton

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 25 October 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 25 June 2025
Page most recently amended: 1 July 2025

Research by David Shulman, assisted by Steven Jolles (rabbinic profiles)
Formatting by David Shulman

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