THE JEWISH LEADER, NOVEMBER 18, 2016 9 looks ahead the synagogue. First, many Jews who had become the leading Sephardic leaders in the neighborhood to - lookIn intoearly the 1698 possibility a committee of building was set a up, new consisting synagogue of ond, the city itself and its immediate surrounding more affluent moved to other parts of . Sec- of London. In February 1699, a contract was signed tofor cope the with building the influx of a of new, Jews larger moving synagogue into this part that financialstill managed district to hold were regular redeveloped but less from well being attended pri would accommodate the Jews in the area. In Septem- marilyservices. housing to large office blocks. Bevis Marks ber 1701, the Bevis Marks Synagogue was dedicated. The once proud center of the Spanish and Por- The interior decor, layout and furnishing were based tuguese Jews looked like it might become an his- on the design of the main Sephardic synagogue in toric landmark, rather than a vital house of prayer. Amsterdam, which had been completed in 1675. The After all the community itself had now designated central candelabrum, one of seven that hang in Bevis the Lauderdale Road Synagogue in north-west Marks, was a gift from the community of Amsterdam London as the community’s administration head- at the time of its original construction. quarters. In addition, the number of British Jews The ark of the Bevis Marks Synagogue. The ark is The prominent Renaissance-style ark was painted made of oak, but painted to look like Italian marble, to look as though it is made of colored Italian marble; as are the supports to the ladies’ gallery on the left of in fact, it is surprisingly made entirely of oak. The claimingBritish affiliation were with on any the Jewish verge communityof closing- the picture. Photograph: Edgar Asher. twelve pillars, representing the twelve tribes of Is- haddown fallen or amalgamating rapidly over thewith past other fifty synagogues years. Many in rael, which support the ladies’ gallery are also made the same district. By Edgar Asher In 2001 Britain’s oldest synagogue, Bevis Marks, of oak and painted to look like Italian marble. In 1955 there were an estimated 410,000 Jews celebrated its three-hundredth year anniversary. in the United Kingdom; by the time of the nation- - - tion on the census form asking - what denomina- hasSituated been inin thecontinuous heart of use the since City ofits Londonfoundation. – Lon al census in 2001 this figure was down to only tion do you consider yourself to belong to? don’sIn square 1655 mile business Menasseh district ben Israel– the synagogue arrived in 270,000. This figure was a response to the ques London from Holland with a petition to Oliver Bevis Marks still attracts many visitors from all Cromwell asking that the Jews be allowed to once over the world, both Jewish and non-Jewish. With a again settle and live in England and begin to trade. few exceptions, the interior of the synagogue is ex- In 1656 Cromwell, despite opposition from Lon- actly how it looked just over three hundred years don merchants, agreed to allow the Jews to return to England to live and trade after having been banned bright red cord. But when all said and done the from the country some three hundred and sixty-six ago. The seat of honor is still roped off with a thick years earlier. Jews had been living in England since this Bevis Marks has done almost without a break Roman and Anglo-Saxon times. In 1066 William the functionfor the past of threethe building hundred is years. to offer In recent up prayer times, and it The ‘seat of honor’ reserved for distinguished visitors has been harder to get a quorum of ten men to hold Conqueror encouraged Jewish craftsmen and mer- by a thick red cord. Photograph: Edgar Asher chants to move to England from northern France. a prayer service, particularly with the movement However, in 1290 the Jews, facing increasing perse- Bevis Marks has always been intimately associ- away from the city area to other parts of London. cution, were banished altogether from England. ated with the , so much so that on the However, the rebuilding of the City of London Bevis Marks Synagogue was, from its very be- eight occasions when a Jewish Lord Mayor has been square mile and its immediate neighborhood has ginning, an Orthodox congregation set up to serve elected, Bevis Marks has been the destination of the brought new young blood to Bevis Marks as the the Sephardic Jews in the area. The need to build developments have included up-market expensive the present synagogue came about because of the homes, particularly in the nearby dockland areas. increase in the Jewish population of the neighbor- newAshkenazi lord mayor’s rite. Many first notable official Jews duty. have It has had made associa no- Young Jewish business men are once again making hood and the lack of synagogues in the area. In time difference if the mayor followed the Sephardic or use of the synagogue and Bevis Marks is secure in Bevis Marks became the center of all the English who was also a big benefactor of the synagogue, Brit- its future both as a unique architectural Grade 1 Spanish and Portuguese Jewish community and tionish Prime with Bevis Minister Marks, Benjamin including Disraeli’s Moses father Montefiori, Isaac listed building and an active synagogue that un- was also the home of the community’s Chief and the boxer , who was an English doubtedly sees a future for itself as a beautiful and (Haham). unique house of prayer. century. boxingSeveral prize seats fighting in the champion synagogue, in the even late eighteenth today, are

people who have been associated with Bevis Marks. ropedOne seat off in withparticular a red cord was tothe be reserved reserved seat for ofnotable Mo- - served for a distinguished visitor, such as a Jewish sesLord Montefiore. Mayor. In Today 2001, this Prince seat Charles is a seat occupied of honor there seat during the synagogue’s three hundredth year commemoration ceremony. In 2006 Prime Minister was guest of honor at Bevis Marks during the ceremony marking the 350th anniversary of the resettlement of Jews in England. The City of London, from a Jewish standpoint, has undergone many changes. Over the years Be- The view towards the back of the synagogue and part of the ladies gallery. The two plaques to the center of the Sephardic community in Britain had a large A general view of the interior of Bevis Marks Syna- right of the ladies’ gallery have the names of bene- viscatchment Marks, apartarea around from being the City the offlagship London’s synagogue square gogue looking towards the ark and with the bima on factors and past wardens. In the center is the bima the left foreground. Photograph: Edgar Asher. (reader’s desk). Photograph: Edgar Asher. mile. Two things happened to affect the attendance at