Western Marble Arch Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Western Marble Arch Synagogue was founded 1761. Currently the Western Marble Arch Synagogue is a leading modern orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 synagogue based in central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, England. The result of a merger between the Western and the Marble Arch Synagogues respectively, the synagogue offers a range of religious and social activities to its members and the wider community.

Western Synagogue

The Western synagogue was founded in 1761 in Great Pulteney Street
Great Pulteney Street
Great Pulteney Street is a grand thoroughfare that connects Bathwick on the east of the River Avon with the City of Bath, England via the Robert Adam designed Pulteney Bridge...

, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...

. The congregation, formally named, in the transliteration of the era, Hebra Kaddisha Shel Gemillith Hassadim, Westminster (Holy Congregation of the Assembly of Israel, Westminster) first met in the home of Wold Liepman, a prosperous immigrant merchant from St. Petersburg. A series of leased spaces followed until 1826 when the congregation built an elaborate synagogue in St. Alban's Place, Haymarket (London) and renamed itself The Western Synagogue..

Spiritual leadership

  • Sir Jonathan Sacks
    Jonathan Sacks
    Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks, Kt is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. His Hebrew name is Yaakov Zvi...

    , Chief Rabbi of the British Empire
    British Empire
    The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

     and Commonwealth
    Commonwealth of Nations
    The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

  • Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld

Current Executive Board of Directors

  • His Honour Barrington Black, President
  • Mr. Steven Truman, Vice President
  • Mr. Stanley Simmonds
  • High Commissioner
    High Commissioner
    High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...

     Mr. Bernard Silver, Warden

Seat of the Chief Rabbi

In November 2003 the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Prof Sir Jonathan Sacks
Jonathan Sacks
Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks, Kt is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. His Hebrew name is Yaakov Zvi...

 accepted the position of the spiritual leader of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue, which also became his official seat on 1 May 2004.

Notable members

  • Sir Samuel Montagu, MP, (Lord Swaythling)
  • Sir Stuart Samuel
  • Viscount David de Stern
    David de Stern
    David de Stern, also known as Viscount Stern was a British banker and senior partner of the firm of Stern Brothers....

  • Constance, Lady Battersea, wife of Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea
    Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea
    Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea was a British Liberal politician and patron of art.-Background and education:...

  • Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
    Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery
    Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana, née Cohen...


See also

  • Synagogues
  • Synagogue architecture
    Synagogue architecture
    Synagogue architecture often follows styles in vogue at the place and time of construction. There is no set blueprint for synagogues and the architectural shapes and interior designs of synagogues vary greatly. According to tradition, the Divine Presence can be found wherever there is a minyan,...

  • Judaism
    Judaism
    Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

  • Modern Orthodox Judaism
    Modern Orthodox Judaism
    Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....

  • Ashkenazi Jews
    Ashkenazi Jews
    Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...


External links

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