the former

Ohel Jacob Beth Hamedresh

Ilford, Essex

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*Congregation Data*
Name:	Ohel Jacob Beth Hamedresh⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ often referred to as the Ilford Shteibel⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Earlier Names:	Initially known as the Ilford Beth Hamedresh^(iv) (and at one stage known as Ohel Shem Beth Hamedresh^(v))
Address:	1st floor, 478 Cranbrook Road, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex IL2 2LE. The premises, acquired in 1991, were a converted storeroom above a supermarket.^(viii)
Previous Addresses:	Previously the congregation held services at a number of venues including a shop, classrooms at the Beehive Road synagogue, private houses, and even above a mikva.^(ix) In the mid-1960s, the listed address was 16 Cranbrook Rise, Ilford.^(x)
Formation:	The congregation was formed in 1962.^(xi)
Final Status:	Closed in early 2000s.^(xii)
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation appears to have originally been a constituent congregation of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC).^(xiii) However by 1970, it was an affiliated congregation of the Federation of Synagogues, becoming a constituent congregation of the Federation in about 1991.^(xiv)
Ravs of the Congregation: *(To view a short profile of a rav whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over his name.)*	Rabbi A. Greenberg - from about 1970 until uncertain date.^(xvii) Rabbi Boruch Salzman - from uncertain date (early 1970s) until 1983.^(xviii) Rabbi Refoel Godlewsky - from 1996 until about 2004.^(xix) Rabbi A. Kahan - from about 2004 until no later than 2007.^(xx)
Lay Officers:	Secretaries and Hon. Secretaries^(xxiii)
	1970-1971 - I. Rider 1971-1973 - S. Levinson 1973-1979 - A. Vitkovsky	1979-1989 - M.D. Pressman 1989-1993 - D. Grant 1993-2007 - Mrs. R. Pressman
Membership Data:	National Reports & Surveys^(xxiv) 1977 - 35 male (or household) members 1983 - 53 male (or household) members and 33 female members from 1990 - not listed
Local Government Districts:	Ilford, a neighbourhood with a significant Jewish population, in northeast London, is in the London Borough of Redbridge.^(xxv) 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^(xxvi) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	For Federation of Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the Federation of Synagogues.

Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.

(ii) The congregation was listed under this name in Jewish Year Books from 1972 and it is given as the name of the congregation in the two Jewish Chronicle articles extracted below. ↵

(iii) Name referred to in the Jewish Chronicle articles 19 January 1996, extracted below. ↵

(iv) Jewish Year Books 1964 through 1969, list a congregation under this name, a constituent congregation of the UOHC, with an address at 16 Cranbrook Rise (but with no other data), which is believed to be this congregation. ↵

(v) There was no listing in the Jewish Year Book 1970, and solely in the 1971 edition the congregation was listed under this name. ↵

(vi) and (vii) Reserved.

(viii) The Jewish Chronicle article of 15 November 1991, extracted below. This address was first listed in Jewish Year Books from 1992. ↵

(ix) The Jewish Chronicle article of 15 November 1991, extracted below. ↵

(x) This was the address listed Jewish Year Book 1964 through 1969. ↵

(xi) The Jewish Chronicle article of 15 November 1991, extracted below. It was first listed, as Ilford Beth Hemedresh, in the Jewish Year Book 1964. ↵

(xii) Final listing was in the Jewish Year Book 2007. ↵

(xiii) Jewish Year Books 1964 through 1969, list the Ilford Beth Hamedresh as a constituent congregation of the UOHC. ↵

(xiv) Listed as an affiliate of the Federation in Jewish Year Books 1971 through 1991, and as a constituent from the 1992 edition. ↵

(xv) and (xvi) Reserved.

(xvii) Although listed as Rab. of the congregation in Jewish Year Book 1971 through 1975, this data for the congregation is not considered reliable and it is believed that Rabbi Greenberg left the congregation much earlier than 1975. ↵

(xviii) Jewish Chronicle obituary of 26 November 1982. He was not listed at Ohel Jacob in any Jewish Year Books, which do not list any rab from 1976 through 1999. ↵

(xix) Jewish Chronicle of 19 January 1996, reported Rabbi Godlewsky's appointment. He was listed as rab at the congregation in any Jewish Year Books 1999 through 2004 ↵

(xx) Based upon Rabbi A. Kahan's listing as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2005 until the congregation's final listing in 2007. ↵

(xxi) and (xxii) Reserved.

(xxiii) All data extracted from Jewish Year Books, which only provided details of the secretaries or hon. secretaries of this congregation and only from 1971 until 2007 (after which the congregation was no longer listed). Where a person was first listed in a year book as secretary of the congregation, it has been assumed that his or her 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 or she continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, (e.g. if he is listed in Jewish Year Books 1981 through 1985, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1980 and continued in office until 1985). 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. ↵

(xxiv) 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. ↵

(xxv) 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. ↵

(xxvi) 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. ↵

Extracted Newspaper Articles
relating to the congregation

The Jewish Chronicle, 15 November 1991
A converted storeroom above a Gants Hill supermarket was cause for a small congregation's celebratory service on Sunday. The unconventional premises represent the end of the Ohel Jacob Beth Hamcdrash shtiebl's 29-year search for a permanent base.
Since its formation in 1962, the congregation has held services in classrooms, houses, and even above a mikvah. "At last we have our own home where we can hold shiurim or study," secretary, Mr David Grant, commented. "It is certainly a big improvement on our previous arrangements. We used to hold services above a shop during the week, then daven at the Beehive Lane synagogue classrooms on Shabbat."
The shtiebl is affiliated to the Federation of Synagogues, which helped in its hunt for a home. The premises in the Cranbrook Road building are within walking distance of the Ilford Federation Synagogue in Coventry Road. Mr Grant explained: "Representatives of the Federation appreciate that some people prefer to daven in small congregations close to their own homes. That said, we are not going out of our way to recruit members. It is not part of our aim to take people away from Coventry Road. We shall continue in our usual low-key way, maintaining a close-knit congregation."
Among some 30 regulars are a handful who have been with the shtiebl since its inception. "Whenever people have left, we seem to have found replacements immediately," said Mr Grant. "I am sure our wandering existence has generated a toughness among the congregation in an area, let's face it, not known for its religious observance."
Mr Grant added that the service on Sunday was dedicated to the shtiebles first minister, Rabbi Baruch Salzman.
The Jewish Chronicle, 19 January 1996
The Ilford shtiebel, correctly known as the Ohel Jacob Beth Hamedrash, has taken on a new rabbi after almost 13 years. With the appointment of Rabbi Rephoel Godlewsky as its new part time rabbi - its first minister since the death of Rabbi Baruch Salzman 13 years ago - the popular shtiebel has also taken on a new lease of life. Two Torah learning days held there recently were particularly successful. "I hope we showed men and women the satisfaction of a full Torah life," Rabbi Godlewsky said. "So many people who consider themselves Jews don't get the full benefit of Jewish life. I see this shtiebl as a beacon of light guiding people to happiness."
Harvey Goldberg, a shtiebl member for over 20 years, who has just been appointed junior warden, was equally enthusiastic. "We are bubbling with ideas," he said. "We want to start an outreach programme. We have a membership of some 25 families. But we have always been used by far more people not officially members."
Affiliated to the Federation of Synagogues, the shtiebl has moved house three or four times since it was founded in 1962. Four years ago, with Federation help, it took new premises in Cranbrook Road and can now accommodate 100 people. - Support for the rejuvenated shtiebel has come from all synagogue bodies and the present and former Chief Rabbis.

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Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Redbridge

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Page created: 14 June 2007
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 21 August 2025
Page most recently amended: 24 August 2025

Research by David Shulman and Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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