the former

Aberavon and Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation

Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot, South Wales

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Towns of Port Talbot and Aberavon

Port Talbot, with a population of about 37,000, lies on the east shore of the Swansea Bay at the mouth of the river Afan, about 10 miles east of Swansea and about 33 miles west of Cardiff. Neath is some 7 miles to the north. Aberavon, a small market town from which Port Talbot grew, was incorporated into Port Talbot in 1921.

From 1894 until 1921, Aberavon was a borough in the county of Glamorganshire. In 1921 it was merged with adjoining districts to form the municipal borough of Port Talbot, still in the county of Glamorganshire. From 1974 until 1996, Port Talbot was part of the district of Port Talbot in the newly created county of West Glamorgan. Since 1996, it has formed part of the county borough of Neath Port Talbot - a unitary authority (in the ceremonial, or preserved, county of West Glamorgan).

The Jewish Community

There was a Jewish resident of Aberavon from at least the 1870s, although there does not appear to have been an organised congregation until the beginning of the twentieth century. According to G. Alderman "Into the Vortex" p.2 (quoting an article by I. Factor in the December 1961 issue of Cajex - Magazine of the Cardiff Branch of AJEX), the community was organised at the turn of the century by a Lithianian immigrant, Raphael Levi, but a synagogue was not established until after World War I.

Congregation Data
Name:	Aberavon and Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation The congregation was previously also known as Aberavon Hebrew Congregation⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ until it was united, or re-united, with the Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation in 1913.^(iv) The latter congregation would appear to have been a short-lived congregation, which probable broke away from the main congregation a short while before.^(v)
Addresses:	The earliest address was 38 Mansel Street, Port Talbot, until about 1915,^(vii) then 29 Castle Street, Aberavon, until 1921,^(viii) and finally Tydraw Place, Port Talbot, which was consecrated on 31 March 1921.^(ix) The congregation presented Rev. Harris Jerevitch of Cardiff with an inscribed silver Kiddush cup in appreciation for services rendered by him in connection with the consecration of the synagogue and the raising of substantial sums for the building fund.^(x)
Formation:	The congregation was formed in 1904.^(xiii)
Closure:	The congregation had ceased to hold regular services by 1953^(xiv) and probably become defunct in the 1960s.^(xv)
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation was an unaffiliated congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.
Ministers and Readers: (To view a short profile of a minister - hold the cursor over the name.)	Rev. Solomon Fogelnest - teacher from 1904 until about 1905/6.^(xix) Rev. Isaac Domnitz - reader from in 1906.^(xx) Rev. I. Rabinowitz - reader from about 1908 until about 1911.^(xxi) Rev. Abraham Shinerock - reader, shochet and teacher from at least 1913 until 1914.^(xxii) Rev. Nathan Salas (Salasnik) - reader, shochet and teacher from 1914 until 1914/5.^(xxiii) Rev. Hermann Abrahams - reader and shochet from about 1915 until 1918.^(xxvi) Rev. Samuel Wolfe - reader and shochet in and shortly after 1919.^(xxvii) Rev. Dovid Dryan - reader and shochet in about 1921.^(xxviii) Rev. Ticktin - reader and teacher in 1922.^(xxix) Rev. Phillip Isaacs - reader, teacher and shochet from at least 1925 until 1926.^(xxx) Rev. Joshua Eskin - minister from 1926 until 1928.^(xxxiii) Rev. Israel Litovitch - minister from about 1931 until 1936.^(xxxiv) Rev. Maurice Landy - minister from 1936 until 1942.^(xxxv)
Lay Officers:	Unless otherwise stated, all data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books.^(xxxix)
	Presidents 1904-1905 - Mr. Finkelstein 1905-1906 - I. Whippman 1906-1908 - Sam Joseph^(xl) 1908-1909 - J.D. Rosenberg 1909-1910 - L. Raphael 1910-1911 - Sam Joseph^(xli) 1911-1912 - D. Joseph 1912-1913 - J.D. Rosenberg^(xlii) 1913-1914 - A. Factor^(xliii) 1914-1915 - I. Rowman 1915-1917 - N. Joseph^(xlvi) 1917-1921 - H. Factor 1921-1923 - A. Factor 1923-1927 - data contradictory or uncertain The following served as the president during this period but dates conflict: A. Carengold;^(xlvii) N. Joseph^(xlviii) 1927-1928 - J.D. Rosenberg^(xlix) 1928-1931 - Isaac Factor^(l) 1931-1932 - M. Milner^(liii) 1933-1938 - Aaron Factor^(liv) 1939-1940 - H. Cohen^(lv) 1940-1945 - no data from 1945 - Isaac Factor^(lvi)	Treasurers 1904-1905 - Mr. Rosenberg 1905-1906 - S. Marienburg 1906-1908 - Nat Joseph^(lix) 1909-1910 - S. Marienburg 1910-1911 - L. Novick^(lx) 1911-1912 - J. Freedman 1912-1913 - Maurice Rosenberg^(lxi) 1913-1914 - N. Stern 1914-1915 - J. Freedman 1915-1917 - A. Carengold 1917-1921 - C. Norvick 1921-1923 - J.D. Rosenberg^(lxii) 1923 - N. Joseph^(lxiii) 1924-1925 - Mr. Stern^(lxvi) 1928-1929 - Isaac Factor^(lxvii) 1931-1932 - M. Milner^(lxviii) 1936-1937 - I.D. Rosenberg^(lxix)
	Secretaries and Hon. Secretaries
	1905-1906 - I.L. Finkelstein 1906-1907 - Nat Joseph^(lxxii) 1907-1908 - M. Rosenberg 1908-1909 - S. Marienburg 1909-1910 - Nat Joseph 1910-1911 - J. Freedman 1912-1913 - Maurice Rosenberg^(lxxiii) 1913-1914 - N. Stern 1914-1915 - J. Freedman 1915-1916 - A. Carengold 1916-1920 - C. Norvick 1920-1922 - B. Newman^(lxxiv)	1922-1924 - data contradictory or uncertain The following served as the hon. secretary during this period but dates conflict: C. Norvick;^(lxxv) N. Joseph^(lxxvi) 1924-1925 - I. Goldberg^(lxxix) 1927-1928 - Isaac Factor^(lxxx) 1928-1931 - E. Milner^(lxxxi) 1931-1933 - I.H. Ginsberg^(lxxxii) 1934-1937 - Isaac Factor^(lxxxiii) 1939-1940 - S. Shimilove^(lxxxiv) from 1945 - Isaac Factor^(lxxxv)
Registration District:	Neath Port Talbot, since 1 April 1996^(lxxxix) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	There was no Jewish cemetery in Port Talbot, the nearest being at Swansea.

Online Articles and Other Material relating to
the Aberavon and Port Talbot Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

Press Reports relating to the Aberavon and Port Talbot Jewish Community 1874 - 2005, compiled by Howard Pollins.

Other Jewish Institutions & Organisations in Aberavon and Port Talbot

Hebrew and Religious Classes, established with the founding of the congregation in 1904, if not earlier.^(xc)
Order of Ancient Maccabaeans, established in Aberavon by 1908.^(xci)
Aberavon and Port Talbot Zionist Society, founded in about 1918.^(xcii)
Aberavon and Port Talbot Jewish Social Club, founded in about 1935.^(xciii)
JNF Commissioner, appointed by 1938.^(xciv)

Port Talbot (including Aberavon) Jewish Population Data
Year	Number	Source

1904	7 families	The Jewish Chronicle of 28 September 1923
1915	22 families	The Jewish Year Book 1916
1921	20 families	The Jewish Year Book 1922
1923	22 families	The Jewish Year Book 1924
1939	46	The Jewish Chronicle of 15 December 1939
1947	44	The Jewish Year Book 1948
1948	37	The Jewish Year Book 1949
1954	25	The Jewish Year Book 1952
1958	19	The Jewish Year Book 1959
1959	26	The Jewish Year Book 1960
1960	24	The Jewish Year Book 1961
1964	18	The Jewish Year Book 1965
1965	17	The Jewish Year Book 1966
1966	19	The Jewish Year Book 1967
1967	18	The Jewish Year Book 1968
1973	4 families	The Jewish Year Book 1974
Click HERE to view Jewish population figures for the whole county borough of Neath Port Talbot from UK Censuses since 2001.

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) and (ii) Reserved.
(iii) This congregation was listed in Jewish Year Books as Aberavon Hebrew Congregation until 1915 and was thereafter listed as Aberavon and Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation. However even prior to the 1913 unification or re-unification, there were reference to the latter name in press reports including the Jewish Chronicle reports of 24 May 1912 and 26 October 1912 ↵
(iv) Jewish Chronicle report of 25 July 1913. ↵
(v) There is very little information available on the separate Port Talbot congregation. The Jewish Chronicle report of 25 July 1913 specifically refers to two distinct congregations which then came together to unite. There is a single Jewish Year Book entry for a Port Talbot congregation, but this was in 1915, after the congregations had united, in which the only data is that a Rev. N. Salar(sic) was the reader and teacher. This is clearly a reference to Rev. N. Salasnik (see below), also known as Salas. ↵
(vi) Reserved.
(vii) Listed as the address in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1915. ↵
(viii) Listed as the address in Jewish Year Books 1915 through 1921. ↵
(ix) The Jewish Chronicle report of 8 April 1921. Tydraw Place was also the address listed in Jewish Year Books from 1922 ↵
(x) Jewish Chronicle report of 3 June 1921. ↵
(xi) and (xii) Reserved.
(xiii) The Jewish Chronicle of 28 September 1923. ↵
(xiv) The Jewish Year Book 1954. ↵
(xv) The congregation remained listed in The Jewish Year Books until 1974, merely providing the name and address of the hon. secretary, who remained unchanged from 1945. ↵
(xvi) to (xviii) Reserved.
(xix) Jewish Chronicle reports of 9 December 1904 and 30 December 1905 place Rev. Fogelnest in Aberavon. ↵
(xx) Rev. Domnitz was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1906/7 and 1907/8. However, by later in 1906, he was serving in Tonypandy. ↵
(xxi) Although Rev. I. Rabinowitz was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1915 (and The Jewish Chronicle of 24 March 1911 places Rev. Rabinowitz in Aberavon in 1911), It appears that the office was vacated by May 1912 (The Jewish Chronicle advert of 24 May 1912. ↵
(xxii) The Jewish Chronicle of 25 July 1913, reporting on the union of the Aberavon and Port Talbot congregations, stated that Rev. Shinerock's "remains at Port Talbot" as chazan, shochet, and teacher, from which it appears that he previously served the Port Talbot congregation. The Jewish Chronicle of 27 March 1914 reported Rev. Shinerock's resignation as chazan, teacher and shochet of the congregation. ↵
(xxiii) Jewish Chronicle report of 27 March 1914 refers to Rev. Nathan (sic - should read Nathan Salasnik, also known as Salas) succeeding Rev. Shinerock at the Aberavon and Port Talbot congregation. The only Jewish Year Book reference to a separate Port Talbot congregation was in 1915 (which after the union of the two congregations), which listed a Rev. Salar(sic, clearly Rev. Salasnick) as reader and teacher. ↵
(xxiv) and (xxv) Reserved.
(xxvi) Although Rev. Abrahams was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1916 through 1922, it appears from the Jewish Chronicle report of 6 September 1918 that Rev. Abrahams was already in Southport. ↵
(xxvii) Rev. Wolfe's Jewish Chronicle obituary August 1970. ↵
(xxviii) Rev. Dryan was listed as reader in Jewish Year Books 1922 and 1923. However, by March 1922, someone else was appointed. ↵
(xxix) The Jewish Chronicle of 3 March 1922 reported Rev. Ticktin's move from to Tredegar. ↵
(xxx) The Jewish Chronicle of 25 December 1925 places him in Aberavon / Port Talbot, and The Jewish Chronicle of 27 August 1925 reports his move to Coventry. ↵
(xxxi) and (xxxii) Reserved.
(xxxiii) The Jewish Chronicle of 17 September 1926 reports the appointment Rev. Eskin (late of Limerick) as minister of the congregation and The Jewish Chronicle of 4 May 1928 reports his move to Birmingham. ↵
(xxxiv) Rev. Litovitch was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1932 through 1936, and his death was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 17 January 1936, which included his obituary. ↵
(xxxv) Rev. Landy was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1937 through 1940 (the last edition before the war-time cessation of publication), his appointment being reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 24 April 1936. His obituary appears in the The Jewish Chronicle of 24 May 1996. ↵
(xxxvi) to (xxxviii) Reserved.
(xxxix) Where a person was first listed in a year book as holding a particular office, it has generally been assumed (unless press reports indicate otherwise) that his term of office commenced in the year prior to the year of publication of the relevant year book (as it appears that the election of officers of the congregation took place late in the year) and that the officer continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was shown as vacant. Initially year books corresponded to the Hebrew year, and thus ran roughly from autumn of one year - the year of publication - until autumn of the next year. From 1909, year books were published according to the Gregorian year, being published generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book. For example, if an officer is listed in Jewish Year Books 1919 through 1922, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1917 and continued in office until 1921. However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and, accordingly, his actual years of office may differ somewhat from those shown here. Publication was suspended during the war years 1941 to 1945.↵
(xl) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1907/8), S. Joseph's election as president in 1906 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1906. ↵
(xli) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1911), S. Joseph was referred to as president in the Jewish Chronicle report of 9 June 1911. ↵
(xlii) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1913), J.D. Rosenberg's election as president in 1912 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1912. ↵
(xliii) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1914), A. Factor's election as president of the united congregation of Aberavon and Port Talbot in 1913 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 25 July 1913. ↵
(xliv) and (xlv) Reserved.
(xlvi) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1916 and 1917), N. Joseph's election as president in 1915 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 19 November 1915. ↵
(xlvii) A. Carengold was referred to as president of the congregation in the Jewish Chronicle report of 28 September 1923 and his election as president was reported on 21 November 1924, but he was not listed as president in any Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xlviii) Although N. Joseph was listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1924 through 1928 and was referred to as president in the Jewish Chronicle report of 25 January 1924, his resignation from the post of president is reported on 28 March 1924. ↵
(xlix) Although J.D. Rosenberg was listed as president of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1929, The Jewish Chronicle of 16 November 1928 reported that he presided over the 1928 annual meeting I. Factor was elected president, and thus he was presumably outgoing president. ↵
(l) Although I. Factor was listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1930 through 1933, The Jewish Chronicle reported his election as president somewhat earlier, on 16 November 1928 and on 29 November 1929. ↵
(li) and (lii) Reserved.
(liii) The Jewish Chronicle of 27 November 1931 reported M. Milner's election as president. He is not listed as such in any Jewish Year Books. ↵
(liv) A. Factor was listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1934 through 1938 and The Jewish Chronicle of 4 December 1936 was the only report of his election as president ↵
(lv) H. Cohen was listed as president of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1940. There was no president listed in the 1939 edition and publication was suspended 1941 to 1945. ↵
(lvi) I. Factor was listed as president (and hon. secretary) of the congregation in Jewish Year Book from 1945/6 through the last listing of the congregation in 1973 (although the congregation may have defunct somewhat earlier). ↵
(lvii) and (lviii) Reserved.
(lix) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1907/8), N. Joseph's election as treasurer (and hon. secretary) in 1906 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1906. ↵
(lx) Not listed in the Jewish Year Book listing (1911), L. Novick was referred to as treasurer in the Jewish Chronicle report of 9 June 1911. ↵
(lxi) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1913), Maurice Rosenberg's election as treasurer (and hon. secretary) in 1912 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1912. ↵
(lxii) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1922 and 1923, being the last listing of a treasurer for this congregation), J.D. Rosenberg is referred to as president in the Jewish Chronicle report of 8 April 1921. ↵
(lxiii) N. Joseph was listed as treasurer of the congregation in the Jewish Chronicle report of 28 September 1923. ↵
(lxiv) and (lxv) Reserved.
(xlxvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 21 November 1924, reported Mr. Stern's election as treasurer of the congregation. ↵
(lxvii) The Jewish Chronicle of 16 November 1928 reported I. Factor's election as treasurer (and president) of the congregation. ↵
(lxviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 27 November 1931 reported M. Milner's election as treasurer (and president) of the congregation. ↵
(lxix) The Jewish Chronicle of 4 December 1936 reported I.D. Rosenberg's election as treasurer of the congregation. ↵
(lxx) and (lxxi) Reserved.
(lxxii) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1907/8), N. Joseph's election as hon. secretary (and treasurer) in 1906 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1906. ↵
(lxxiii) In addition to the Jewish Year Book listing (1913), Maurice Rosenberg's election as hon. secretary (and treasurer) in 1912 is confirmed in the Jewish Chronicle report of 26 October 1912. ↵
(lxxiv) B. Newman was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1922 and 1923, it thus being assumed that his term of office commenced in 1920 and from press reports it is known that by September 1923, someone else was already hon. secretary. ↵
(lxxv) C. Norvick was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1924 through 1928 but does not appear as such in any press reports. ↵
(lxxvi) N. Joseph was referred to as hon. secretary of the congregation in the Jewish Chronicle report of 28 September 1923 but he was not listed as hon. secretary in any Jewish Year Books around this period. ↵
(lxxvii) and (lxxviii) Reserved.
(lxxix) The Jewish Chronicle of 21 November 1924, reported I. Goldberg's election as hon. secretary of the congregation. He was not listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(lxxx) I. Factor was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1929, immediately prior to the listing of E. Milner. ↵
(lxxxi) The Jewish Chronicle of 16 November 1928 and 29 November 1929 reported E. Milner's election as hon. secretary of the congregation, in 1928 and 1929, respectively. He was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1930 through 1933. ↵
(lxxxii) The Jewish Chronicle of 27 November 1931 reported I. Ginsberg's election as hon. secretary of the congregation. He was listed as hon. secretary in the Jewish Year Book 1934. ↵
(lxxxiii) I. Factor was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Book 1935 through 1938. and The Jewish Chronicle of 4 December 1936 was the only report of his election as hon. secretary. ↵
(lxxxiv) S. Shimilove was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1940. There was no hon. secretary listed in the 1939 edition and publication of the year book was suspended from 1941 to 1945. ↵
(lxxxv) I. Factor was listed as hon. secretary (and president) of the congregation in Jewish Year Book from 1945/6 through the last listing of the congregation in 1973 (although the congregation may have defunct somewhat earlier). ↵
(lxxxvi) to (lxxxviii) Reserved.
(lxxxix) Previous Registration Districts: Neath from 1 July 1837 to 1 October 1970; West Glamorgan from 1 October 1970 to 1 April 1974; and Neath from 1 April 1974 to 1 April 1966. All records would now be held by the current office. ↵
(xc) The Jewish Chronicle of 9 December 1904 refers to the examination of the children at the classes. ↵
(xci) The Jewish Chronicle of 25 September 1908. ↵
(xcii) The Jewish Chronicle of 11 January 1918. ↵
(xciii) The Jewish Chronicle of 22 February 1935. ↵
(xciv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1939. ↵

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Page created: 9 October 2005
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 23 February 2025
Page most recently amended: 2 March 2025

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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