JCR-UK

the former

Brixton Synagogue

London SW2

 

 

 

  
 

 
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and congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.


© Leslie Bailey 2008 
 The preserved front of the former Brixton Synagogue, Effra Road (August 2008)
 Reproduced with the kind permission of Leslie Bailey

Congregation Data

Name:

Brixton Synagogue(ii)

Earlier Name:

Brixton Hebrew Congregation (until 1913)(iii)

Last Address:

49 Effra Road, Brixton, London SW2 1BZ(iv)

The synagogue on this site, originally known Rutland Lodge, a 19th-century villa, was opened in 1913,(v) consecration of the building taking place on 28 September 1913.(vi)

However, the building was too small for the growing membership and in 1921 a larger, purpose-built, synagogue was opened on the site, designed by architect Cecil Masey, with a notable Tuscan-columned porch.(ix) The foundation stone was laid by Sir Robert Waley Cohen on 1 May 1921, at a service conducted by Rabbi Professor Dr. H. Gollancz, Rev. A. Mishcon and Rev. M. Morris. The new building was consecrated on 25 September 1921, by Chief Rabbi J. Herman Hertz, with Rev. A. Mishcon, and Rev. M. Morris also officiated.(x) The old synagogue remained in use, as the synagogue hall, for religious classes and overflow services.(xi)

In the late 1930s, the congregation also held services in Streatham, prior to the local community establishing a congregation of its own.

The synagogue hall was later refurbished, but in 1956, it was badly damaged in an arson attack, causing £20,000 of damage, for which the arsonist was sentenced to five years in prison. (xii)

Following the closure of the synagogue, the building was sold and, at one stage in the early 1980s, was used as a school for clowns before its internal reconstruction.(xiii) It became the Eurolink Business Centre, the facade of the building remaining but it was totally rebuilt behind.(xiv)

Previous Addresses:

Initially, from 1905 to 1909, services were held in Carlton Hall, Turnstall Road, Brixton, which contained a small hall , used for services, and a large hall for social events.(xvii)

Following the expiration of the Carlton Hall lease, the congregation then moved its Sabbath services to 44 Brixton Hill, Brixton, from 1909 to 1913, although High Holy Day services were held in various halls.(xviii)

Formation:

The first services were held in September 1905.(xix)

Incorporated Congregation:

Borough Synagogue was incorporated in 1961, which led to a significant increase in membership.(xx)

Final Status:

The synagogue closed in 1982 - amalgamated with Streatham Synagogue (which had broken away from Brixton Synagogue in 1946), to form the South London Synagogue.(xxiii)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Initially unaffiliated, it was a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue from 1913(xxiv) and remained so until its closure. Until 1913, members belonged to the Western Synagogue Burial Fund.(xxv)

Ministers:
(To view a short profile of a minister or a reader whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rev. (later Rabbi) Arnold Mishcon - minister from 1906 (and secretary from about 1909) until 1935.(xxix)

Rev. Louis Rubin-Zacks, MA - temporary minister in 1935 and 1936.(xxx)

Rabbi (later Dayan) Morris Swift - minister and secretary from 1936 until 1946.(xxxi)

Rev. Dr. Alexander Tobias - minister from 1946 until 1951.(xxxii)

Rabbi Nathan Vengroff - temporary minister from June 1951 possibly into 1952.(xxxiii)

Rabbi (later Dayan) Meyer Steinberg - minister from 1952 until 1966.(xxxvi)

Rabbi Philip N. Ginsbury - minister from 1966 until 1981.(xxxvii)

Assistant Ministers:

Rev. J. Weinberg - assistant minister (at the Streatham minyan) in 1937/1938.(xl)

Mr. A. Super - assistant minister during World War II.(xli)

Rev. Julian Godfrey Jacobs - assistant minister from about 1956 until about 1961.(xlii)

Rev. Philip Somen - assistant minister from 1961 until 1964.(xliii)

Rev. Stephen Roth - temporary assistant minister from 1964 until 1966.(xliv)

Cantors / Readers:

Rev. Moses Morris - reader from 1914 until about 1940.(xlvii)

Rev. I. Bernard Rosenblatt - temporary reader from 1943 until about 1944.(xlviii)

Rev. Uri Frenkel - temporary reader from 1945 until April 1946.(xlix)

Rev. Hersh Leib Katz - reader from 1946 until 1949.(l)

Rev. Reuben Turner - reader from 1950 until 1968.(li)

Rev. Michael A. Binstock - reader from about 1968 until 1973.(lii)

Rev. David Katanka - reader from 1975 until 1978.(liii)

Lay Officers:

Unless otherwise stated, data on the congregation's lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books.(lvii)

Wardens

1910-1911 - A. Cohen & S. Valentine

1911-1914 - S. Valentine & A.H. Gellman

1914-1922 - S. Valentine & L.J. Simon

1922-1925 - S. Valentine & A. Landy

1925-1927 - L.S. Abrahamson & L. Simmons

1927-1930 - J.D. Rychtman & Buller Lyons

1930-1932 - A. Landy & Buller Lyons

1932-1940 - A. Landy & Cllr. A. Goldstein

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1947 - A. Landy & A. Goldstein

1947-1948 - S. Binderman & C. Hamper

1948-1949 - A.M. Davis & J. Jaffa

1949-1950 - S. Binderman & J. Jaffa

1950-1952 - C. Hamper & M. Ostrow

1952-1953 - S.C. Levy & S.A. Stratton

1953-1954 - S.C. Levy & S. Clyne

1954-1956 - S. Clyne & G.M. Gee

from 1956 - no data

President

1907-1908 - George Foster

 

Chairmen

1908-1910 - Jacob Woolf

1910-1913 - Victor Hermann

 

Financial Representatives

1913-1925 - Victor Hermann

1925-1940 - Edgar Israel

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1947 - T. Edgar

1947-1948 - C.L. Levy

1948-1949 - S.C. Levy

1949-1951 - S. Stratton

1951-1953 - S. Clyne

1953-1954 - G.M. Gee

1954-1956 - M. Leyens

from 1956 - no data

Secretaries (or Hon. Secretaries, when stated)

1906-1909 - I. Cohen, Hon. Sec.

1909-1935 - Rev. (later Rabbi) A. Mishcon

[1910-1912 - B. Freedman, Hon. Sec.]

1935-1936 - Vivian H. Frank

1936-1946 - Rabbi (later Dayan) M. Swift(lviii)

1945-1947 - J. Binstock

1947-1948 - J. Fine

1948-1949 - L. Pakman

1949-1953 - S. Fox

1953-1959 - D.V.L. Lever

1959-1960 - A. Ross

1960-1966 - J.D. Ullman

1966-1974 - G. Cohen

1975-1982 - M.L. Stuart

Membership Data:

United Synagogue (male seat-holders)(lxi)

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

352

356

473

508

614

526

Also see below for seatholder records on All-UK Database for 1933.

National Reports & Surveys(lxii)

1977 - 414 male (or household) members and 268 female members

Local Government Districts:

Brixton is an area within London Borough of Lambeth and was previously (until 1965) in the somewhat smaller former Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth.(lxiii)

Registration District (BMD):

Lambeth from 1 July 1837 - Link to Register Office website

Cemetery
Information:

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

Prior to joining the United Synagogue in 1913, the Congregation's members belonged to the Western Synagogue Burial Fund

 

Search the All-UK Database

The records in the database specifically associated with the Brixton Synagogue include:

  • Seatholders Lists:

    • 1933 (466 records).

Click here for a list of other London records in the Database that may also include records associated with this congregation.

 

Bibliography, Online Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on JCR-UK

  • Bibliography of the London Borough of Lambeth (and elsewhere), including:

    • Fifty Golden Years, A History of the Brixton Synagogue by L. Cohen, 1958 (published by the congregation);

    • The Lost Synagogues of London, by P. Renton, 2000 (Tymsder Publications, London) pp 134-137; and

    • Other publications, referred to in the footnotes to above Congregation Data, which make reference to this congregation.

 on Third Party Websites

 

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

  • Hebrew and Religion Classes
    Established by at least 1910.(lxx)
    Numbers of pupils:(lxxi)

    1913

    1914

    1916

    1917

    1920

    1921

    1922

    1923

    78

    67

    89

    93

    195

    80

    76

    97

Other Institutions

  • Social Union, founded by 1909.(lxxii)

  • Ladies Guild, founded by 1913.(lxxiii)

  • Benevolent Fund, formed by 1914.(lxxiv)

  • Literary and Social Society, formed by 1917.(lxxv)

  • Young Israel Society, formed by 1928.(lxxvi)

  • Zionist Society, formed by 1930.(lxxvii)

 

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

  • (i) Reserved.

  • (ii) The congregation listed under this name in Jewish Year Books from 1914. ↵

  • (iii) This was the name under which the congregation was listed in Jewish Year Books until 1913. ↵

  • (iv) This was the address of the congregation listed in the Jewish Year Books from 1913. ↵

  • (v) Peter Renton's The Lost Synagogues of London (2000) ("Renton's Lost Synagogues"), p.135. ↵

  • (vi) Encyclopaedia of British Jewish Cantors, Chazanim, Ministers, etc. by Michael Jolles, 2024 ("Jolles's Encyclopaedia"), p.335. ↵

  • (vii) and (viii) Reserved.

  • (ix) Jewish Heritage in Britain and Ireland - An Architectural Guide by Sharman Kadish (2006), ("Sharman's Heritage") p. 68. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Cecil Masey, hold your cursor over his name ↵

  • (x) Layers of London.humap website and Jolles's Encyclopaedia, p.335. ↵

  • (xi) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.135. ↵

  • (xii) Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 21 June 1956. ↵

  • (xiii) Jewish Chronicle article of 6 May 2020, entitled "Back when Brixton had Jews". ↵

  • (xiv) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.137 and Sharman's Heritage, p.68. ↵

  • (xv) and (xvi) Reserved.

  • (xvii) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.134. It was the address listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵

  • (xviii) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.134. ↵

  • (xix) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.134. ↵

  • (xx) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.67. ↵

  • (xxi) and (xxii) Reserved.

  • (xxiii) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.166. Last listed in Jewish Year Book 1982. ↵

  • (xxiv) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), p.221. ↵

  • (xxv) Renton's Lost Synagogues, p.134. ↵

  • (xxvi) to (xxviii) Reserved.

  • (xxix) Jewish Chronicle obituary of 7 June 1935. Rev (later Rabbi) Mishcon was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1907/8 and 1909 and as minister and secretary 1910 through 1935. ↵

  • (xxx) Jewish Chronicle of 15 May 1936 reported that Rev. Rubin-Zacks's appointment at Brixton had pre-dated Rabbi Mishcon's death in June 1935 and that a presentation was being made to him on departure to Adelaide. Rev Rubin-Zacks was listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1936. ↵

  • (xxxi) Jewish Chronicle of 3 April 1936 reported that Rabbi M. Swift, the newly appointed minister and reader of the Brixton Synagogue, will be inducted into office at the Synagogue on the following Sunday. On 25 April 1946 it reported that the minister Dayan M. Swift had indicated that he was about to leave for another district. Jewish Year Books 1937 through 1940 list Rabbi Swift as minister and secretary of the congregation and the 1945/6 edition lists Dayan Swift as minister and secretary (publication being suspended in 1941/5). ↵

  • (xxxii) Rev. Dr. Tobias was listed as minister in Jewish Year Books 1947 through 1951. ↵

  • (xxxiii) Jewish Chronicle of 29 June 1951, reported that Rabbi Vengroff had been appointed to "carry out ministerial duties" at Brixton Synagogue. The appointment was to cover the vacancy after Rev. Dr. Tobias departed to the USA possibly until the arrival of Rabbi Steinber in April 1952. He was not listed in Jewish Year Books with regard to this congregation. ↵

  • (xxxiv) and (xxxv) Reserved .

  • (xxxvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 30 May 1952 referred to Rabbi Steinberg as recently having been appointed minister of the Brixton synagogue and on 10 June 1966 it reported Dayan Meyer Steinberg's retirement after 14 years as minister of the Brixton Synagogue. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1953 through 1966. ↵

  • (xxxvii) The Jewish Chronicle of 24 June 1966 reported that Rabbi Ginsbury had taken up a ministerial position with the Brixton Synagogue. The Synagogue closed in 1982, amalgamated into South London synagogue, of which Rabbi Ginsbury was appointed minister. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1967 through 1982. ↵

  • (xxxviii) and (xxxix) Reserved.

  • (xl) Jolles's Encyclopaedia, p.335. ↵

  • (xli) Jolles's Encyclopaedia, p.335. ↵

  • (xlii) Rev. J. Jacobs was listed as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1957 through 1961. ↵

  • (xliii) Rev. P. Somen, MA was listed as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1962 through 1964. ↵

  • (xliv) Jewish Chronicle report of 21 August 1964. ↵

  • (xlv) and (xlvi) Reserved.

  • (xlvii) Rev. M. Morris was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1915 through 1940. Publication thereafter was suspended until 1945. ↵

  • (xlviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 28 May 1943 reported that Rev. B. Rosenblatt had been appointed chazan at Brixton. He was not listed as reader of the congregation in any Jewish Year Book. ↵

  • (xlix) The Jewish Chronicle of 24 May 1946 reported that at the annual meeting of the Brixton Synagogue, the Hon. Officers reported that the Rev. U. Frankel, whose temporary appointment expired on April 30, had left for the U.S. He was listed as reader of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (l) The Jewish Chronicle of 18 November 1949 reported on the resignation of Rev. L. H. Katz from his position as reader of the Brixton Synagogue. He was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1947 through 1950. ↵

  • (li) The Jewish Chronicle of 9 February 1951 placed Rev. Turner in Brixton and on 7 June 68 it reported that a large gathering attended the farewell reception for the Rev. and Mrs. Reuben Turner in the Brixton Synagogue...served 18 years. He was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1951 through 1968. ↵

  • (lii) Rev. M.A. Binstock was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1971 through 1975. ↵

  • (liii) Rev. D. Katanka was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1976 through 1978. ↵

  • (liv) to (lvi) Reserved.

  • (lvii) Where a person was first listed in a Jewish 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 and that he 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 1924, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1918 and continued in office until 1924. 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. Jewish Year Books were not published during WWII subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵

  • (lviii) Jewish Year Books 1937 through 1940 list Rabbi Swift as minister and secretary of the congregation and the 1945/6 edition lists Dayan Swift as minister and secretary (publication being suspended in 1941/5). It is assumed that he continued to act as secretary throughout the intervening war years. ↵

  • (lix) and (lx) Reserved.

  • (lxi) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 216/7. ↵

  • (lxii) Report on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by 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 various reports. ↵

  • (lxiii) The London Borough of Lambeth, an Inner London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the former Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth with the Clapham and Streatham areas of the former Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth (both established in 1900). These areas had been within the (then abolished) County of London (established in 1899). ↵

  • (lxiv) to (lxix) Reserved.

  • (lxx) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1911. ↵

  • (lxxi) Figures extracted from the Jewish Year Book for the year following. ↵

  • (lxxii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1910. ↵

  • (lxxiii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵

  • (lxxiv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1915. ↵

  • (lxxv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1918. ↵

  • (lxxvi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1929. ↵

  • (lxxvii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1931. ↵


List of United Synagogue Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Lambeth

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 21 February 2006
Notes first added: 28 February 2017
Data significantly expanded: 3 May 2026
Page most recently amended: 13 May 2026

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

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