JCR-UK

the former

West Ham & Upton Park Synagogue

Forest Gate, London E7

 

 

 

  
 

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


Entrance to the former Earlham Grove synagogue

Congregation Data

Name:

West Ham and Upton Park Synagogue, from 1976(ii)

Earlier Names:(iii)

West Ham Hebrew Congregation, from formation until 1906.

West Ham Associate Synagogue, from 1906 until 1927.

West Ham District Synagogue, from 1927 until 1972.

Plaque on amalgamation of West Ham and Upton Park synagogues
Plaque (now at Willesden Cemetery) commemorating the merger of West Ham and Upton Park synagogues

West Ham and Upton Park District Synagogue

This was the name adopted on 3 July 1972, following the merger on 1 July 1972 with Upton Park District Synagogue. Following some years of discussion, the proposed merger had been approved on 22 May 1972 at a meeting between the hon. officers of the congregation and the board of management of the Upton Park congregation. The new name was not formally approved by the United Synagogue until 13 November 1972. A Service of Amalgamation was held on 5 September 1972, attended by Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits.(iv)

It remained the name until about 1976, when congregation ceased being a district synagogue.(v)

Address:

93-95 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7 9AR.(viii)

Having outgrown its existing premises, on 2 December 1900 the congregation resolved to purchase the house and plot of ground at 95 Earlham Grove for the sum £1,200,(ix) with the then main Great Eastern Railway line running along the back. On 28 February 1904, the adjoining premises at no. 97 was also acquired, for the sum of £595(x) and by 1906, no. 93 had also been acquired.(xi)

The architect, Bertie Crewe, drew up plans for the construction of the synagogue.(xii) However it was not until 4 August 1910 that building works commenced and on 27 October 1910, the foundation stone was laid by Sir Herbert Cohen in a ceremony conducted by the Chief Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler.(xv) The synagogue was consecrated on 9 April 1911, also in the presence of Chief Rabbi.(xvi) 

In 1928, a Communal Hall and classrooms, designed as well by Bertie Crewe, were also erected on the site at the cost of £6,500 and these were consecrated by Chief Rabbi Dr. J. Hertz on 9 September 1928.(xvii)

In 1933, it was agreed to build an extension to the main building and the architect, Cecil Jacob Eprile, was instructed to prepare the requisite plans. These would enable seating for 112 men and 69 women and include a choir gallery. The reconstructed synagogue was reconsecrated on 16 June 1935 by Chief Rabbi Dr. J. Hertz.(xviii)

In the later stages of World War II, on 6 March 1945, a deadly German V2 rocket fell in the vicinity of Earlham Grove, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. Part of the minister's residence and the caretaker's home were destroyed and synagogue and communal hall sustained considerable damage.(xix) Temporary repairs were carried out at the time but it took several years for the synagogue, the communal hall (renamed the Abram Emanuel Abrahams Hall) and the classrooms to be fully repaired and redecorated. Following such repair, a ceremony was held on 16 July 1950 to mark the reopening and reconsecration of the premises.(xx)

Burial of destroyed sifrei torah fromf West Ham and Upton Park Synagogue
Burial Stone for the destroyed Sifrei Torah at Marlow Road Cemetery

A youth synagogue, designed by the architect, Edward Lyons, was later added to the complex. Work commenced on 1 March 1958 and the foundation stone was laid on 13 July 1958 by Aaron Goldberg, the then Life President of the synagogue, in a ceremony officiated by Dayan Morris Swift.(xxi) The building was consecrated 31 May 1959 by Dayan Swift. Named The Alfred Collett Youth Synagogue, it was reputedly the first purpose built youth synagogue in London.

On the afternoon of Saturday, 11 August 1984, a fire broke out at the synagogue, caused by an electrical fault, destroying the synagogue and its contents. Thirteen of the synagogue's sifrei torah were destroyed or severely damaged and their remains were buried in a special plot at in the front of the ohel at Marlow Road Cemetery, East Ham, on 9 September 1984, preceded by a special service conducted by the Chief Rabbi, among others, in the congregation's Youth Synagogue.(xxiii)

As a consequence of the fire the congregation moved to the Youth Synagogue, which was undamaged by the blaze, as was the Communal Hall.(xxiv)

On the closure of the East Ham, Manor Park & Ilford Synagogue in 1986, the majority of that congregation's remaining members transferred to West Ham and Upton Park Synagogue.(xxv)

Formation and Earlier Premises:

The first organised Jewish services in West Ham can be traced back to Ephraim Samson, who called a meeting on 18 August 1897 at his home at 43 Buckingham Road, Stratford, Forest Gate. This resulted in services being held, at the Earlham Hall, Forest Gate, for the 1897, 1898 and 1899 high holy days only, where some 100 worshippers attended.(xxviii)

In about 1899 the congregation was operating from 3 Windsor Road, Forest Gate,(xxix) and on 8 October 1899, it was agreed to rent a house at 129 Forest Lane, Forest Gate, for use as a synagogue, the first Sabbath services being held there on 6 January 1900.(xxx)
However, it appears, almost from the outset, that these premises were inadequate for the needs of the congregation, as in December 1900 the congregation resolved to purchase the site at Earlham Grove, although it would be over a decade before the congregation was able to complete the construction of their new synagogue at these premises.

Final Status:

The congregation celebrated its Centenary in 1997. In preparation for this event, the congregation requested the United Synagogue to return to it the impressive collection of ritual silver which it had sent to the United Synagogue for storage and safekeeping following the 1984 fire. Unfortunately, most of this could not be found, and the United Synagogue admitted that the items may have been distributed to other active communities (possibly under the assumption they were no longer required by West Ham) without recording the fact, or even sold off without permission. The local congregation only managed to recover a portion of it.(xxxiii)

The Centenary commemorative service, attended by the Chief Rabbi, was held on 14 September 1997,(xxxiv) by which time membership had dropped to only some 200 members, of whom only 63 still resided locally.(xxxv)

Numbers continued to dwindle and ultimately rendered the congregation unsustainable, prompting the United Synagogue to officially close the doors and dissolve the congregation in 2004.(xxxvi)

Following the 2004 closure, the entire site was sold, the remaining structures demolished and replaced by a four-storey block of social housing apartments, named Adler Court (in honor of Chief Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler, who had consecrated the original synagogue many years earlier). The site incorporates a memorial plaque to the former synagogue.(xxxvii) The closure marks the demise of the last synagogue in Newham.

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

The congregation was unaffiliated until joining the United Synagogue as an associate synagogue in 1907 and was raised to district synagogue status in 1927.(xxxviii) In about 1976, it became a constituent synagogue, when the district synagogue category was discontinued.

Ministers:(xlii)
To view a short profile of a minister - hold the cursor over his name.

Rev. (later Rabbi) Louis Mendelsohn - from 1903 until 1914 and thereafter, as "Dayan" Mendelsohn, he also held the post of minister until about 1931.(xliii)

Rev. Isaac Aarons - first reader and effectively minister from 1914 until 1931.(xliii)

Rabbi Solomon Z. Mestel - minister from 1931 until 1934.(xliv)

Rev. Benson Fertleman - minister from 1937 until his death in 1942.(xlv)

Rabbi Ephraim Ferdinand Einhorn - temporary war-time minister from 1942 until 1945.(xlvi)

Rev. (later Rabbi) Isaac Waller - minister from 1946 until his death in 1956.(xlix)

Rev. Gerald Schneider - minister from 1957 until 1973.(l)

Rev. (later Rabbi) Myer Levenstein - minister from 1973 until his death in 1981.(li)

Rev. Saul Beck - minister from 1981 until his death in 1983.(lii)

Rabbi Aryeh M. Sufrin - part-time minister from 1983 until 1987.(liii)

Rev. Michael A. Atkins - minister from 1989 until 1992.(lvi)

Rabbi Ronen Broder - part-time minister from 1992 until about 1998.(lvii)

Rev. Shlomo Odze - minister in about 1999/2000.(lviii)

Rabbi J. Butler - minister in about 2001.(lix)

Rabbi Ephraim Levine - minister from at least 2001 until 2003.(lx)

Readers:
To view a short profile of a Reader whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over his name.

Rev. Isaacs Aarons - see above

Rev. Gershon Rosenthal - reader (later second reader) from about 1899 until 1930.(lxiii)

Rev. Herz Rachman - reader from 1931 until 1947.(lxiv)

Rev. C.S. Rosenberg - reader from 1947 until January 1953.(lxv)

Rev. L. Ben-Aryeh (previously Rev. L. Schechter) - reader from 1954 until 1958.(lxvi)

Rev. Isaac Myer Woolf - reader from 1958 until 1959.(lxvii)

Rev. P. Krief - reader from 1961 until 1962.(lxviii)

Rev. Harry Cosson - reader from 1962 until 1972.(lxix)

Lay Officers:

Unless otherwise stated, all data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books (although in many instances officers' given names have come from other sources).(lxxiii)

Wardens

1912-1913 - Symon Weber & Leon Harris

1913-1914 - Symon Weber & J. De Haas

1914-1915 - Symon Weber & A. Michaels

1915-1919 - Symon Weber & J. De Haas

1919-1923 - Symon Weber & S. Zucker

1923-1930 - Symon Weber & Aaron Goldberg

1930-1934 - Aaron Goldberg & L. Norden

1934-1935 - Aaron Goldberg & M.M. Harris

1935-1938 - Aaron Goldberg & T. Presky

1938-1940 - Aaron Goldberg & I. Abrahams

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1948 - Paul Lowi & Leon Spiro

1947-1952 - Alfred Collett & Leon Spiro

1948-1949 - Alfred Collett & A.H. Milgrom

1949-1951 - Alfred Collett & Victor Schaverien

1951-1952 - Alfred Collett & A. Vigon

1952-1953 - S. Freedman & H. Labovitch

1953-1954 - Alfred Collett & H. Labovitch

1954-1956 - A. Vigon & S.S. Waldman

from 1956 - no data

 

Treasurers

1897-1909 - E.H. Cohen(lxxiv)

1909-1927 - Abram Emanuel Abrahams

Financial Representatives

1927-1929 - L. Norden

1929-1940 - Henry Webber

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1946 - M. Blumenthal

1946-1956 - C. Molen

1956-1960 - no data

1960-1968 - Julius Mays(lxxv)

1968-1969 - Ronnie Finger(lxxv)

1969-1981 - Julius Mays(lxxv)

from 1981 - no data

Chairman

1897-1900 - Symon Webber(lxxvi)

President

1900-1912 - Symon Webber(lxxvii)

 

Hon. President

1930-1936 - Symon Webber

 

Life Presidents(lxxx)

1949-1974 - Aaron Goldberg

1986-1991 - Alf Weinberg

1994-1996 - Arthur C. Gilbert

1997-not known - Monty Black

 

Vice Presidents

1900-1902 - L. Joseph(lxxxi)

1902-190? - Ephraim Samson(lxxxii)

1906-1911 - N.H. Van Cleef

 

Secretaries & Hon Secretaries(lxxxiii)

1897-1902 - Ephraim Samson(lxxxiv)

1902-1903 - F. Lewis Cohen(lxxxv)

1903-1918 - Louis Norden(lxxxv)(lxxxvi)

1918-1935 - M.B Fidlan(lxxxvi)

1935-1960 - Maurice S. Barnett

1960-1972 - Harold H. Posner

1972-1994 - Arthur C. Gilbert

1994-1996 - Miss Jacqueline Burns

1996-2004 - Mrs Elizabeth Benjamin

 

Beadles / Collectors(lxxxvii)

1919-1925 - Bernard Ostroff

1926-1958 - Myer Woolf

1958-1969 - Shimon Bergman

Membership Data:

Jewish Year Books (seat-holders)(xc)

1914

1915

1917

1918

1919

1920

1921

283

289

304

288

300

400

428
United Synagogue (male seat-holders)(xci)

1940

1950

1960

1970

457

561

523

296
Other Sources (Howard Bloch's Earlham Grove Shul, 1997)(xcii)

1933

1945

1946

1962

1969

1997

336 male & 160 female

495 male & 47 female

579 male & 53 female

500 male & 178 female

328 male & 142 female

138 male & 162 female
National Reports & Surveys(xciii)

1977 - 322 male (or household) members and 153 female members

1983 - 249 male (or household) members and 149 female members

1990 - 371 members (comprising 324 households, 2 individual male and 45 individual female members)

1996 - 294 members (comprising 256 households, 9 individual male and 29 individual female members)

2001 - 203 members (comprising 80 households, 29 individual male and 84 individual female members)

Also see below for 1911 seatholder records on All-UK Database.

Harold Bloch's Earlham Grove Shul, 1997, contains a lists of the synagogue's seatholders in 1911 (Appendix 2) and 1935 (Appendix 3).

Local Government Districts:

West Ham, a suburb in east London north of the river Thames, is now in the London Borough of Newham (created on 1 April 1965), within the administrative area of Greater London.(xciv)

It was previously the former County Borough of West Ham (incorporated as a borough on 1 April 1899), geographically within the County of Essex.

Cemetery
Information:

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

The Jewish cemetery at West Ham was opened in 1857, long before a congregation was established locally. It initially served two City synagogues, the New Synagogue and the Great Synagogue. (For additional information, see JewishGen's Cemetery Discovery Project - West Ham).

 West Ham Synagogue
Interior of the former synagogue in Earlham Grove (post 1984 fire)
(courtesy Jeff Rosen)

Search the All-UK Database

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

  • Seatholders Lists:

    • 1911 - 158 records (West Ham Associate Synagogue)

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

 

Online Articles, Bibliography and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on JCR-UK

 on Third Party Websites

 
Notable Former Members of this Congregation
and Other Notable Jewish Associations with West Ham
and the London Borough of Newham

  • Dr Louis Comyns (d.1962) was the Member of Parliament for the West Ham constituency of Silvertown from 1945 until 1950 (when the constituency was abolished).

  • Victor Shaverein, one of London's best known kosher caterers, was a member of West Ham synagogue.

  • Ronald Waldman (d.1978), a senior executive at the BBC, sung in the West Ham synagogue choir.

  • Alf Weinberg (d.1991) was the commanding figure in synagogue affairs from the 1960s until his death in 1991. He served as senior warden for much of that period

  • Jewish Mayors of the London Borough of Newham:

    • Abraham Wolffe, born in Glasgow, was the first Jewish mayor of the London Borough of Newham, 1968-1969;

    • Michael Davidson (d.1991) was Mayor of the London Borough of Newham in 1970-1971.

  • Notable burials at West Ham Jewish Cemetery:

    • Cadeluc Jacobson, former native of Hanover, one of the Jewish survivors of the 1815 Battle of Waterloo;

    • Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild (1839-1898) and his wife Evelina Rothschild (1839-1866), to whom he built a magnificent mausoleum, and is buried next to her.

    • Sir David Salomons (1797-1873), a founder of the London and Westminster Bank and the first Jewish sheriff of the City of London (1855) and the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London (1855-56).

  • Jewish connections with West Ham United Football Club;

    • David Gold (1936-2023), born in Stepney, London, of a Jewish father, played for the club at youth level, and was joint chairman of the club from 2010 until his death in 2023;

    • Avram Grant, from Israel, was manager of the club during the 2010-11 season;

    • Israeli football players who have played for the club include:

      • Eyal Berkovic - 1997-1999;

      • Yaniv Katan - 2005-2006;

      • Yossi Benayoun - 2005-2007, 2012 (on loan);

      • Tal Ben Haim - 2010-2011.

    • In 1923, Hakoah Vienna, a Jewish Austrian sports club, became the first foreign football club to win against an English club on English ground, when it defeated West Ham United 5-0 at the Boleyn ground (also known as Upton Park).

 

Congregation Records

Registration District (BDM):

Newham from 1 January 1968(xcv) - Link to Register Office website

Marriage Records:

Marriage Registers (first entry 1911; last entry February 1994) deposited with Newham Register Office

 

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

  • Talmud Torah & Hebrew and Religious Classes - Proposed at a meeting on 28 September 1897, the classes opened on 29 November 1897 with 25 pupils.(c) Nearly eight decades later, due to dwindling numbers, it was decided to close the classes (the last class taking place on 20 July 1975), and amalgamate with the classes in Ilford.(ci)
    Headmasters (other than the congregation's minister or reader): Maurice Barnett (1923-1947); Dr. B. Lorraine (1947-1975).(cii)
    The following are details of the number of pupils enrolled in the clases for the relevant years:(ciii)

    1899

    1901

    1902

    1906

    1909

    1912

    1913

    1914

    55

    75

    80

    100

    110

    113

    182

    110

    1916

    1920

    1921

    1923

    1930

    1932

    1972

    1975

    98

    120

    140

    148

    146

    189

    20

    12

Other Institutions

  • Ladies Guild - formed on 10 December 1899.(cvi)

  • Burial Society - established on 4 November 1900.(cvii)

  • Ladies Benevolent Society - active by 1924.(cviii)

  • The Forest Gate and District Jewish Social and Literary Society - established in October 1928.(cix)

  • The West Ham company of the Jewish Lads' Brigade was the largest in London in the 1930s.(cx)

  • Ivri Social and Literary Society - in 1932 this also incorporated the local Habonim (founded 1931) and The Earlham Club (a Jewish youth club founded during the interwar period). Following wartime suspension, it was revived in 1955.(cxiii)

  • A refugee hostel for 20 Jewish boys was opened at 51a Romford Road, Stratford, on 23 April 1939. It later moved to 16 Earlham Grove, supervised by the West Ham and District Refugee Children's Committee.(cxiv)

 

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

The following notes rely, to a large extent, on Earlham Grove Shul - One Hundred Years of West Ham Synagogue and Community by Howard Bloch (1997), which we refer to as "Bloch's History of the Shul". In parallel, a history of the congregation to 1911 (the "online 1911 History"), written for The Order of Service for the Consecration of the Earlham Grove synagogue, appears as chapter 2 (pp. 7-15) of Bloch's History of the Shul and is also available online on JCR-UK, with a link from this page.

  • (i) Reserved.

  • (ii) This was the latest name of the synagogue, as per its former website and listing in Jewish Year Books from 1977 until its closure. It was adopted in about 1976 on the congregation becoming a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue. ↵

  • (iii) All the changes of name reflect either the change of status with the United Synagogue or the merger with Upton Park Synagogue. ↵

  • (iv) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 106, 109. ↵

  • (v) It was last listed under this name in the Jewish Year Books 1976. ↵

  • (vi) and (vii) Reserved.

  • (viii) Earlham Grove was the address listed in Jewish Year Books 1902/3 until closure of the congregation. ↵

  • (ix) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.9. 95 Earlham Grove was actually listed as the congregation's address from Jewish Year Book 1902/3. ↵

  • (x) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.10. ↵

  • (xi) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.10. It states that on 7 January 1906, the United Synagogue took over the mortgage of £900 still owing on the property of "93, 95, 97 Earlham Grove." ↵

  • (xii) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 16/17. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Bertie Crewe, hold your cursor over his name. ↵

  • (xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.

  • (xv) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.15. ↵

  • (xvi) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.17. ↵

  • (xvii) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 28-30. ↵

  • (xviii) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.32. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Cecil Jacob Eprile, hold your cursor over his name. ↵

  • (xix) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 61/2. ↵

  • (xx) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 66/7. ↵

  • (xxi) Frontispiece to Bloch's History of the Shul and pp 69/70. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Edward Lyons, hold your cursor over his name. Lyons was a former pupil of the congregation's Hebrew and religious classes. ↵

  • (xxii) Reserved.

  • (xxiii) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 119-123. ↵

  • (xxiv) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.124. ↵

  • (xxv) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.131. ↵

  • (xxvi) and (xxvii) Reserved.

  • (xxviii) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.7. ↵

  • (xxix) This was the address listed for the congregation solely in the Jewish Year Book 1900/01, the first year for which the congregation was listed. It is not mentioned in Bloch's History of the Shul. ↵

  • (xxx) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.7. ↵

  • (xxxi) and (xxxii) Reserved.

  • (xxxiii) Harold Pollin's West Ham article and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.126. ↵

  • (xxxiv) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 134/5. ↵

  • (xxxv) Article on E7 Then & Now website. ↵

  • (xxxvi) Its last listing was in the Jewish Year Book 2004. ↵

  • (xxxvii) Article on E7 Then & Now website and Judaism on Faith in Newham website. ↵

  • (xxxviii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 221 and 223. ↵

  • (xxxix) to (xli) Reserved.

  • (xlii) Appendix 1 to Bloch's History of the Shul (p.137) lists all ministers of the congregation to 1997. Unless otherwise stated the listings of ministers below are consistent with the said Appendix. Additional sources are, however, provided in the footnotes. ↵

  • (xliii) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, pp.10/11 state that "In 1903 the Rev. L. Mendelsohn, MA, was appointed (by the United Synagogue) Minister of the Congregation" and on Bloch's History of the Shul, p. 20, stated "The Rev. Isaac Aarons was appointed minister in 1914." and on p.31 it stated "The Rev. Aarons resigned as minister in October 1931 after 17 years' service". Presumably, based upon these statements, Bloch's History of the Shul, Appendix 1, lists the first ministers as Rabbi (Dayan) Mendelsohn 1903-1914 and Rev. Aarons 1914-1931. However, although Mendelsohn was not listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books until 1912 (1912 and 1913 editions as "Rev." and 1914 edition as "Rabbi"), he continued to be listed as minister in the editions from 1915 through 1931 (as "Dayan"). Rev. Aarons was listed as first reader in Jewish Year Books 1916 through 1931 and as minister in the 1932 edition. There are therefore two conflicting timelines as regards the respective periods of tenure of the first two ministers. However, it appears that although Dayan Mendelson continued to hold the formal post of minister of the congregation during the period he served as a dayan on the Beth Din (also in part taking on a regional responsibility, as he was also listed as minister of East Ham and Manor Park Synagogue in Jewish Year Books 1915 through 1919), because of his increased duties, Rev. Isaacs performed the day to day duties of the minister. Dayan Mendelsohn's Jewish Chronicle obituary of 22 October 1948 states that he was presented with a testimonial by the West Ham congregation in appreciation of 30 years' services. ↵

  • (xliv) Rev. Mestel's profile in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 31/2. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1933 and 1934. ↵

  • (xlv) Rev. Fertleman's profile in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 43/4. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1938 through 1940 (publication being suspended from 1941 until 1945). ↵

  • (xlvi) Rev. Einhorn's profile in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 54/5. Publication of Jewish Year Books was suspended from 1941 to 1945 and he was listed as temporary minister in the edition for 1945/6. ↵

  • (xlvii) and (xlviii) Reserved.

  • (xlix) Rabbi Waller's profile in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 65-6 and 68-69. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1947 through 1956. ↵

  • (l) Rabbi Schneider's period of office in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 69 and 110. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1959 through 1973. ↵

  • (li) Rabbi Levenstein's period of office in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 111, 113. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1974 through 1982. ↵

  • (lii) Rev. Beck's period of office in Bloch's History of the Shul, p.113. He was not listed as minister of the congregation in any Jewish Year Book. ↵

  • (liii) Rabbi Sufrin's period of office in Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 113/4. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1986 through 1990. ↵

  • (liv) and (lv) Reserved.

  • (lvi) Rev. Atkin's appointment in Bloch's History of the Shul, p.131. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1991 through 1993. ↵

  • (lvii) Rev. Broder's appointment in Bloch's History of the Shul, p.131 and Jewish Chronicle report of 25 December 1952. He was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1994 through 1998. ↵

  • (lviii) Based solely upon Rev. S. Odze's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2000 and 2001. However, the term of office may have been somewhat earlier - Note (lix) below. ↵

  • (lix) Based solely upon Rabbi J. Butler's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Book 2002. However, the term of office may have been somewhat earlier - Note (lix) below. ↵

  • (lx) Rabbi E. Levine was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2003 and 2004. However, in a profile formerly on the website of Watford & District Synagogue, it indicated that he served the West Ham congregation from 1999 until 2003, which dates are a little inconsistent with the dates of services assumed his Jewish Year Book listings and that of his two immediate predecessors. The matter is being researched further, but in the meantime only approximate dates are given. ↵

  • (lxi) and (lxii) Reserved.

  • (lxiii) Appendix 1 (p.137) to Bloch's History of the Shul. Rev. G. Rosenthal was the reader and baal korek at the first Sabbath services, held on 6 January 1900.  He was listed as second reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1916 through 1931. ↵

  • (lxiv) Appendix 1 (p.137) and pp. 32, 65 of Bloch's History of the Shul. Rev. H. Rachman was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1932 through 19$5/6 (except the war years 1941/5, when publication was suspended. ↵

  • (lxv) Appendix 1 (p.137) and p.68 of Bloch's History of the Shul, which stated that he left to go abroad. Rev. C.S. Rosenberg was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1950 through 1953. ↵

  • (lxvi) Appendix 1 (p.137) and p.68 of Bloch's History of the Shul. Listed in Jewish Year Books as minister of the congregation under the name Rev. L. Shechter (1957 edition) and Rev. L. Ben-Aryeh (1958 edition). ↵

  • (lxvii) Appendix 1 (p.137) and p.69 of Bloch's History of the Shul, where he is referred to as Myer Woolf. Rev. Woolf is not listed in the Jewish Year Book. ↵

  • (lxvii) Appendix 1 (p.137) and p.78 of Bloch's History of the Shul. Rev. Krief, from Marocco, is not listed in the Jewish Year Book. ↵

  • (lxix) Appendix 1 (p.137) and p.74 of Bloch's History of the Shul. Rev. H. Cosson was listed as reader of the congregation in the Jewish Year Books 1963 through 1965. ↵

  • (lxx) to (lxxii) Reserved.

  • (lxxiii) The Jewish Year Book was first published in 1896/7. Where a person is first listed in a 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 (which was generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book) and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was vacant (e.g. if he is listed in Jewish Year Books 1935 through 1938, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1934 and continued in office until 1938). 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. Publication of Jewish Year Books was suspended from 1941 to 1945, due to World War II. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵

  • (lxxiv) E.H. Cohen was appointed treasurer at the inaugural meeting of 18 August 1897; was elected treasurer at the elections for the first board of management on 28 January 1900; and died on 31 March 1909 (the online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 7,9,11). He was also listed as treasurer in Jewish Year Books 1900/1 through 1910. ↵

  • (lxxv) Reports of election of these financial representatives in Bloch's History of the Shul, p.72 ↵

  • (lxxvi) Symon Webber was appointed chairman at the inaugural meeting of 18 August 1897 (the online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.7). ↵

  • (lxxvii) Symon Webber was elected president at the elections for the first board of management on 28 January 1900 (the online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.9). He was also listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1900/1 through 1912. ↵

  • (lxxviii) and (lxxix) Reserved.

  • (lxxx) The Life Presidents are listed in Appendix 1 to Bloch's History of the Shul (p.137). ↵

  • (lxxxi) L. Joseph was elected vice president at the elections for the first board of management on 28 January 1900 (the online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.9). He was also listed as vice president in Jewish Year Books 1900/1 and 1901/2. ↵

  • (lxxxii) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.9 refers to E. Sampson's appointment as vice president on his retirement from the position of hon. secretary on 3 February 1902, although it is uncertain as to when he served. A successor was listed in the Jewish Year Book 1906/7 and he died on 6 February 1907. ↵

  • (lxxxiii) This reproduces details of the congregation's secretaries as listed in Appendix 1 to Bloch's History of the Shul (p.137). The list comprises all secretaries, hon. secretaries and administrators (the latter from 1993) listed in Jewish Year Books, and although the calculation of the years of service may very between the two sources, such variation is rarely more than a year or so. ↵

  • (lxxxiv) E. Sampson was appointed hon. secretary at the inaugural meeting of 18 August 1897; was elected hon. secretary at the elections for the first board of management on 28 January 1900, and retired from the position on 3 February 1902 (the online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 7, 9). He was also listed as hon. secretary in the Jewish Year Books 1900/1. ↵

  • (lxxxv) F. Lewis Cohen was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1901/2 through 1905/6 and L. Norden was not listed as such until the 1906/7 edition (as pro tem). ↵

  • (lxxxvi) L. Norden was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books only until the 1915 edition and M.B. Fidlan was listed as such from the 1916 edition. It therefore seems unlikely that the latter did not take office until 1918, as listed in the Appendix 1. ↵

  • (lxxxvii) The Beadles / Collectors are listed in Appendix 1 to Bloch's History of the Shul (p.137). ↵

  • (lxxxviii) and (lxxxix) Reserved.

  • (xc) Figures extracted from the Jewish Year Book for the subsequent year.. ↵

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

  • (xcii) Figures extracted repectively from pages 32, 66, 66, 73, 73, and 134 of Bloch's History of the Shul. ↵

  • (xciii) 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. ↵

  • (xciv) The London Borough of Newham, an Outer London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the former County Boroughs of East Ham and West Ham (both unitary authorities geographically in the county of Essex) with some small adjoining areas. ↵

  • (xcv) The former Registration District was West Ham - from 1 July 1837 until 1 January 1968. All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵

  • (xcvi) to (xcix) Reserved.

  • (c) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.8. ↵

  • (ci) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 82/83. ↵

  • (cii) The headmasters are listed in Appendix 1 to Bloch's History of the Shul (p.137). ↵

  • (ciii) Figures until 1923 extracted from the Jewish Year Book for the subsequent year. Subsequent figures from Bloch's History of the Shul p.38 (1930 and 1932) and p.82 (1972 and 1975). ↵

  • (civ) and (cv) Reserved.

  • (cvi) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.8. ↵

  • (cvii) The online 1911 History and Bloch's History of the Shul, p.9. ↵

  • (cviii) First listed in Jewish Year Book 1925. ↵

  • (cix) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.38. ↵

  • (cx) Bloch's History of the Shul, p.86. ↵

  • (cxi) and (cxii) Reserved.

  • (cxiii) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 39, 40, 84. ↵

  • (cxiv) Bloch's History of the Shul, pp. 45/6. ↵


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Page created: 23 July 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 9 June 2026
Page most recently amended: 26 June 2026

Research by David Shulman and Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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