Willesden Green Federation Synagogue

Name:

Willesden Green Federation Synagogue (from 1936)⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

previously known as Willesden Green Hebrew Congregation⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Foundation:

From early 1933, and possibly earlier, services were held in the home of Mr S. Kipernick at 46 Park Avenue, Willesden Green. At a meeting held on 5 November 1933 at the home of Mr M. Mehlman at 27 Kenneth Crescent, Willesden Green, the eleven men present decided that a synagogue should be built in that locality and a small congregation was accordingly organised and officers elected.^(iv)

Address:

17 Heathfield Park, London NW2 (5JE)^(v)

The congregation was informed on 31 January 1934 that a house at 17 Heathfield Park with a large garden, suitable for a synagogue, was available. It was decided to proceed with the purchase of the plot at the cost of £1,900, a deposit of only £200 being raised relatively quickly and the balance was secured through a bank loan. The congregation also acquired, for £112, an extra 60 feet of land situated between Heathfield Park and Brondesbury Park (at the rear of the plot), which had been owned by a tennis club.^(viii) An option was taken to buy a piece of land fronting Brondesbury Park belonging to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.^(ix)

Initially, the house at Heathfield Park was converted into a synagogue and this was officially opened by Rev. Dayan H.M. Lazarus on Sunday, 29 July 1934.^(x)

However, despite the congregation's precarious financial position, it was decided to press ahead with plans to construct a grandiose synagogue on the site.^(xi) In May 1937 Chief Rabbi Hertz laid the foundation stone^(xii) and construction commenced of the new synagogue, designed by German-born architect, Fritz Landauer, in collaboration with Wills and Kaula^(xv) to seat more than 500 worshippers^(xvi) (which would later be increased to over 1,000^(xvii)).

Closure:

Throughout 1938, the financial pressures on the congregation increased, it was massively in debt and it became clear that the synagogue project was financially well beyond the capability of the congregation. Discussions had been taking place with the Willesden District (United) Synagogue on the prospects of amalgamation, and this was finally agreed during the course of the year. Accordingly, on Thursday, 16 February 1939, the congregation was dissolved, and the  Heathfield Park congregation merged into the United Synagogue congregation, which became a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue. The merged synagogue (to be known as Willesden Synagogue) would take over the Heathfield Park premises, which was to be extended to accommodate one thousand people, with the entrance moved to Brondesbury Park.^(xviii)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Shortly after formation, the congregation sought affiliation with the Federation of Synagogues. However, the Federation required a minimum of 40 paying members before it would take the nascent congregation under its wing and it was concerned about the proximity of the congregation to Gladstone Park and Neasden Synagogue, a Federation congregation, from which the new synagogue needed to be at least three miles away and from whom it would not be permitted to take members.^(xix)

By April 1934, the congregation was able to meet the Federation's minimum membership requirement and it accordingly joined the Federation as an affiliated synagogue changing its name to Willesden Green Federation Synagogue.^(xx)

Ministers & Readers:

Rev. Jacob Lepkivker - minister and chazan in 1935^(xxiii)

Mr Kesilefsky - chazan from November 1935^(xxiv)

Rev. Abraham Pinchas Behrman - chazan from 1937 until about 1938^(xxv)

Lay Officers:

Unless otherwise stated, all data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books.^(xxviii)

Chairman

1934-1938 - M. Mehlman

Treasurer

1933-1936 - Marks Leigh^(xxix)

1936-1938 - A. Zeidman

Wardens

1934-1937 - H. Mitterpearl

1937-1938 - H. Mitterpearl & L. Sobel

Hon Secretary

1934-1935 - H.I. Alexander

1935-1938 - A. Bookey^(xxx)

Membership Data:

In 1933, the congregation had 29 paying members and 16 non-paying members,^(xxxiii) although by April 1934, it had reached the number of 40 paying members to allow Federation affiliation.^(xxxiv)

In April 1935 there were 110 paying members.^(xxxv)

Locality & Local Government District:

Willesden Green, a suburban neighbourhood in northwest London, is in the London Borough of Brent, within the administrative area of Greater London, both of which entities were established on 1 April 1965.^(xxxvi)

It  was previously in the former Municipal Borough of Willesden (incorporated as a borough in 1933) in the former County of Middlesex, both of which entities were abolished in 1965.