Rev. Herschel Caplan
(d. 30 April 2005)

Rev. H. Caplan served as (reader) chazan of Hull Old Hebrew Congregation (c.1976-c.1978), Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation and in Muizenberg, South Africa and as minister of Staines and District Synagogue (1981-1986), Margate Hebrew Congregation (1986-1988), Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation (c.1990-c.1996) and Portsmouth and Southsea Hebrew Congregation (c.1997-c.2004). (Jewish Chronicle reports, information provided by former members of the Staines community and Jewish Year Book listings.)

Rabbi Dr. Alexander Carlebach
(1908 - 1992)

Cologne-born Rabbi Carlebach (m. Marga nee Lowenstein), the son of Rabbi Emanuel Carlebach, studied at Slobodka Yeshiva, Lithuania and at Universities in Cologne, Leipzig, Paris and Strasbourg and enrolled as a student on the rabbinical course at Jews' College, London in 1933. He served as assistant minister at Golders Green Beth Hamedrash ("Munk's Shul"), London (1938-1947) and as principal of its Hebrew School. In about 1945, Carlebach served with the Jewish Relief Unit in Germany. By 1947 he was education officer at the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC), London and served as minister of the then newly-formed North Hendon Adath Yisroel Synagogue, London (c.1947-c.1955). In 1954 he accepted the call to become rabbi to the Belfast Hebrew Congregation (1954-1965). In 1965, Rabbi Carlebach emigrated to Israel where he was actively involved in various religious and educational projects. He died in Jerusalem. In 1955. Carlebach was awarded a doctorate in law from the University of Strasbourg. He authored Adass Yeshuron of Cologne (Belfast, 1964) and Men and Ideas: Selected Writings 1935-80 (Jerusalem, 1982). (Jewish Year Book listings and research by Steven Jaffe.)

Rabbi Avrom Simon Chaitowitz
(17 February 1921 - 1992)

Rabbi Chaitowitz, BA, (m. Judith in 1949), born in Notting Hill, London, was educated at Etz Chaim Yeshiva and at Jews College, London, from where he obtained semicha in 1956. He served as minister of St Albans Affiliated Synagogue (1949-1951) and Finsbury Park Synagogue (1951-1954) before becoming minister of Stanmore and Canons Park District Synagogue, London (1954-1986), following which he retired to Jerusalem, where he died. (Jewish Year Book listings and "Who's Who" entries and various Jewish Chronicle reports and obituary, 27 November 1992.)

Rabbi Mordechai Chalk

London-born Rabbi Chalk (m. Shira), who has a bachelor's degree in social psychology, spent eleven years in Israel during which he studied at Bais Yisroel Yeshiva, Mir and taught at Yeshivat Sha'arei Mevaseret Zion. He and Rebbetzen Shira returned to Britain in 2018 and have served as part-time rabbinic couple at Watford & District Synagogue from May 2020 to present (December 2020). (Watford congregation's website.)

Rabbi Alex Chapper

Rabbi Chapper (m. Eva) studied at London School of Jewish Studies (obtaining semicha and a London University degree in Jewish Studies) and yeshivot Mir and Darchei Noam in Israel. He served as minister of Hammersmith & West Kensington Synagogue, London, Reading Hebrew Congregation and Ilford Federation Synagogue, London (2002-2017). In 2017, he joined Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue (BES), Hertfordshire, initially as community rabbi (and rabbi of the synagogue's Yavneh minyan), becoming senior rabbi in 2019 until present (June 2020). (Jewish Year Book listings and Rabbi Chapper's profile on BES's website.)

Rev. Adolph Treitel Chodowski
(1862 - 1926)

Rev. Chodowski (m. Fanny nee Philips from London) was the son of Rabbi Isaac Jacob Chodowski of Berlin, brother of Rev. A.D. Chowdoski of Sheffield and Rabbi Dr. S. Chodowski of Oels, Germany (now in Poland). He was a graduate of Jews' College, London and was minister of Leicester Hebrew Congregation(1887-1889). From 1890 he served various communities in New Zealand and Australia: including Christchurch, New Zealand (1890-1896), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (1896-1898), Dunedin New Zealand (1898-c.1910), Carlton, Victoria, Australia and Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. In 1922 he was the founder and first editor of the Sidney-based pro-Zionist Australian Jewish Chronicle, a position he held until his death (the newspaper folded in the early 1930s due to the depression). (Jewish Chronicle reports and obituary of Fanny Chodowski, 20 October 1933.)

Rev. Dr. Joseph Chotzner
(11 May 1844 - 30 April 1914)

Krakow-born Rev. Chotzner (m. Helen nee Banasch of Breslau, 1872) was educated in Breslau Rabbinical Seminary and University of Breslau. He served as the first minister to the newly-formed Belfast Hebrew Congregation (1869-1880). He then left Belfast to become a Hebrew tutor and keeper of a house for Jewish pupils at Harrow School, Middlesex (known as Beeleigh House). In 1893, Rev. Chotzner returned to the Belfast Hebrew Congregation and served as its minister for a second term (1893-1897). In 1897, he became senior scholar in residence at the Judith Montefiore College, Ramsgate until 1905, when he retired to London. Died in Harrogate. A scholar and translator, he published books in Hebrew, German and English, particularly on the subject of humour in the Hebrew Bible. (Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History (2011) by W. Rubinstein (ed.) and M.A. Jolles and H. L. Rubinstein (ass. eds.), p.155; and Research by Steven Jaffe, including Joseph Chotzner in Men and Ideas: Selected Writings 1935-1980 by Rabbi Alexander Carlebach, Koren publishers, 1983 and Jewish Chronicle articles.)

Rev. Jacob Mendes Chumaceiro
(c.1844 - 18 December 1912)
Amsterdam-born Rev. Chumaceiro (m. Henrietta de la Bella) came from a Dutch family of dayanim and rabbis, prominent in Sephardi communities both of Amsterdam and Curacao in the former Netherlands Antilles. He was described by the Jewish Chronicle as of "a class which has by now almost disappeared in Anglo-Jewry, that of the Minister who combines a secular calling with his sacred vocation". A diamond broker, he served as the chazan of the private Sephardi Andrade Synagogue, Islington, London (from at least 1877 until its closure in 1884) and then of the Sephardi Mildmay Park Synagogue, Canonbury, London (from its opening in about 1885 until his death in late 1912), also officiating at the services held in a private home during the interim period. (Jewish Chronicle tributes 3 January 1913 and internet research.)

Rabbi Abraham Citron
(b. 22 June 1976)

Los Angeles-born Rabbi Citron (m. Devorah Leah nee Kagan), the son of Rabbi Chaim Zev Citron, studied at yeshivot in Jerusalem, Melbourne, and New York, where he obtained semicha. He served as minister of the Belfast Jewish Community (2002- 2007) and subsequently as rabbi of Walford Road Synagogue, Stoke Newington, London (2007 to present - December 2020), a position he has combined with being a special needs teacher at Kisharon since 2010 and teacher of Jewish Studies at LSGS (Lubavitch Senior Girls School). (Jewish Year Book listings; research by Steven Jaffe including Belfast Jewish Record; and data provided by Rabbi Citron.)

Rev. Moses Claff
(c.1847 - 28 October 1903)

Rev. Claff, born in Siauliai (Shavel), Lithuania (m. 1st Esther, died at Stoke on Trent in 1884; 2nd Miriam nee Neuman) was minister at Hanley Synagogue, Stoke-on-Trent, where in 1883 he conducted the service at the opening of the synagogue at Burslem described as the"minister of the United congregations". He then served as reader at the the Newcastle United Hebrew Congregation (Leazes Park Road Synagogue) (September 1884-1886). The remainder of Rev. Claff's career was spent in London: at Princes Street Synagogue (later known as Princelet Street Synagogue), Spitalfields (from 1886); elected Reader of New Dalston Synagogue in February 1893; and at New Road Synagogue, Whitechapel (c.1889-1903), serving for over 14 years until his death. (Jewish Chronicle, various reports, "Service and Scandal" by Daniel Appleby, 2013, and internet research.)

Rabbi Jarachmiel Cofnas
(1912 - 19 May 2010)

Rabbi J. Cofnas (m. Bertha nee Sternberg in 1943), born Deksnia, Poland, was one of the last living students of the famous Chofetz Chaim (Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan). His father was a rabbi and shochet and his grandfather, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Freedman, came to Manchester at the turn of the twentieth century (but returned to Poland). Rabbi Cofnas came to Birmingham to assist his brother who served as minister of Birmingham New Synagogue where he himself was to serve for approximately fifty years (1938-c.1988). He was a qualified shochet and mohel. He retired to Manchester in 1988, where he continued to lecture at strictly Orthodox yeshivot and schools, and died in Salford and over 600 people attended the funeral. He was the father of Rabbi Lionel Cofnas. (Jewish Year Book listings, Jewish Chronicle obituary and press reports. Interview - accessed 5 January 2021.)

Rabbi Lionel (Mordechai Lev) Cofnas
(9 December 1943 - April 2020)

Rabbi L. Cofnas, the son of Rabbi Jarachmiel Cofnas, served as minister of Sunderland Hebrew Congregation (1971-1975), as chief minister of Cardiff United Synagogue (c.1975-c.1980) and as minister of Childwall Synagogue, Liverpool (c.1980-2011), until his retirement. He had been described as "the backbone of Liverpool's religious infrastructure for more than 30 years" and died after contracting the (COVID-19) coronavirus. (Jewish Telegraph report and Jewish Year Book listings.)

Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Cohen

Manchester-born Rabbi Dr. Cohen, BA, M.Phil, AJC, PhD, (m. Gloria née Goldberg) studied at Gateshead Yeshivah and Jews' College, London. He served as assistant rabbi of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue, London (1963-1967) and then as Director of Jewish Studies and Hebrew Education at the King David Schools, Manchester (1967-1970). He subsequently served as minister of Newton Mearns Synagogue, Glasgow (1970-c.1980), Kenton Synagogue, London (1980-1986) and finally Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue, London (1986-2006), followed by semi-retirement in Israel. He is the author of a number of books including Torah for Teens: Growing up Spiritually with the Weekly Sidrah, Prayer and Penitence: A Commentary to the High Holy Day Machzor and a new poetic translation of the Book of Psalms (Jewish Year Book listings and "Who's Who" entries and Rabbi Dr. Cohen's website.)

Rev. Israel Cohen
(4 April 1917 - 8 June 1999)
Leeds-born Rev. Cohen (m. Freda nee Hofstadter) was educated at Manchester yeshiva. He served as reader and shochet of Darlington Hebrew Congregation (1947-1950), where he was active in Zionism, the JNF and as officiating chaplain to Jewish troops at Catterick camp. In 1950 he was elected chazan, shochet and teacher of the Portsmouth & Southsea Hebrew Congregation and served there for 18 years. Rev Cohen moved along the south coast to Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation in 1968 and after his retirement in 1985 he continued to conduct services as emeritus chazan. He was noted for his pastoral work and larger than life personality. (Jewish Chronicle profile 17 August 1979, obituary 9 July 1999 and various other reports.)

Rev. M. Cohen
Rev M. Cohen served the Margate Hebrew Congregation, Kent, from at least 1932 until 1940 when the congregation's activities were suspended because of the war emergency. Rev. Cohen and his wife then became Master and Matron of the Hostel for Refugee children in Brighton and Hove, having previously been active in a similar hostel for refugee boys in Margate. (Jewish Chronicle reports and Jewish Year Book listings.)

Rev. M. M. Cohen
(c.1856 - 12 October 1938)

Rev. M. M. Cohen (m. Juliet) was born in Kinsin, Poland, to a rabbinical family and was related to Dayan H M Lazarus (London), Rabbi B I Cohen (Sheffield), Rabbi Harris Cohen (London) and Rabbi Dr S M Lehrman (Liverpool). He served as minister with Manchester New Synagogue, Leicester Hebrew Congregation(1896-1903) and Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation. He later served the South Broughton Synagogue, Manchester, for 18 years and was described as an ardent Zionist. (Jewish Chronicle obituary, 21 October 1938.)

Rev. Edwin Hyman Simeon (Henry) Collins
(1858 - 8 June 1936)

London-born Rev. Collins (m. Ada nee Stanford, formerly of Northampton, 1892 in Brighton) was a Hollier Hebrew scholar at University College London and also studied at the Universities of Marburg and Paris. He served as minister of the Belfast Hebrew Congregation (c.1882-c.1887) and briefly as minister of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation (c.1887-c.1888). In 1891, he described himself as author, journalist, Jewish clergyman, poet, teacher of Hebrew and of French, German and English literature. His work as literary collaborator with Sun Yatsen, later first president of the Republic of China, has been the subject of academic research. Between 1911 to 1913 Rev. Collins was headmaster of Annandale House School, Bedford. He died while on a visit to Clayton, Staffordshire and is buried at the Stoke-on-Trent Jewish Cemetery. (Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History (2011), p.177; and Research by Steven Jaffe, including The Lost book of Sun Yatsen and Edwin Collins, Patrick Anderson, Routledge, 2017 and Jewish Chronicle obituary.)

Rabbi Dr. Chaim Joshua Cooper
(9 August 1917 - December 1999)

London-born Rabbi Cooper, M.A., Ph.D., served as minister to Catford Synagogue, London (1937-45) before being appointed as principal of Aria College, Southsea (1945-51) and then served as minister of Kingsbury District Synagogue, London (1951-1957). He subsequently went to Australia and served as minister of Adelaide Hebrew Congregation (1958-1959). Returning to the UK, he moved to Hull, initially as the community's Communal Rabbi (from about 1960 until at least 1977), and later as minister of the Hull Old Hebrew Congregation (from at least 1982 until 1993). (Jewish Year Book listings and "Who's Who" entries and "The History of Hull's Orthodox Synagogues" by E. Oppel, 2000.)

Rabbi Alby Copeland
Rabbi Copeland served as minister (and first ever rabbi) of Darlington Hebrew Congregation (1976-1980). He subsequently served as minister of Pollokshields Hebrew Congregation, Glasgow (1980-1984) and Queen's Park Synagogue, Glasgow (1984-1986), before being appointed as the executive director of a yeshiva in Manchester in 1986. (Jewish Year Book listings and Jewish Chronicle press reports.)

Rabbi Stanley Coten

Rabbi Coten (m. Rosalind), who has an MA in Hebrew & Jewish Studies; a First in Politics; and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, studied at Sunderland and Ohr Sameach (Jerusalem) Yeshivot, and received semicha at Jews College, London. He served as minister of Shepherd's Bush, Fulham & District Synagogue, London (c.1987-c.1988), Potters Bar and District Affiliated Synagogue, Hertfordshire (1988-1990), Kingston Surbiton & District Affiliated Synagogue, London (c.1990-2002) and Ruislip Synagogue, London (c.2004 to present - July 2020). (Profile on Ruislip Synagogue website and Jewish Year Book listings.)

Rev. Shimon Craimer
(b.1978)

London-born, Cantor Craimer studied at London’s Trinity College of Music. He served as chazan of Edgware United Synagogue, London from about 2002 to about 2003. He conducted the Hendon Adath Yisroel Congregation choir and has served as a lay cantor at several orthodox synagogues in Greater London. He has performed in cantorial concerts throughout Great Britain and in Israel. (Jewish Year Book listings.)

Rabbi Shlomo P. Cutler
(b. 21 December 1927)

Liverpool-born Rabbi Cutler (m. Judith) studied at the Liverpool Yeshiva and subsequently under the private tutorship of Dayan Morris Swift and obtained semicha at Gateshead Yeshiva. He served as assistant minister and secretary of Luton Synagogue (c.1952-1959), as minister of Mill Hill Synagogue, London (1959-1993) and as rabbi of Kol Yaacov Beth Hamedrash, Edgware, London (1997-2001). (Jewish Year Book listings and "Who's Who" entries.)