בס״ד The US at 150 THE JEWISH UNITED SYNAGOGUES ACT 1870 The Jewish United Synagogues Act of 1870 was the culmination of developments that began two centuries earlier. Soon after the Resettlement of 1656, Ashkenazi Jews came into Britain from Holland and Germany. In 1690 they founded the Great Synagogue in Duke’s Place. The Hambro’ followed at Fenchurch Street in 1702. In 1762 the New Synagogue was opened at Leadenhall Street. To meet the westward movement of the community, the Central Synagogue was founded at Great Portland Street in 1855 and the Bayswater Synagogue at Chichester Place in 1863. There was already a great deal of cooperation between the five synagogues. During Succot 1866, Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler suggested a merger to strengthen London Jewry and provide for its future. Negotiations between the communities and with the Charity Commissioners took some years but finally the scheme was approved. The Act received Royal Assent on 14th July 1870. Elkan Levy President of the United Synagogue from 1996 to 1999 Ahavat Yisrael • Alei Tzion • Barnet • Belmont • Birmingham Central Synagogue • Borehamwood & Elstree • Brondesbury Park • Bushey & District • Catford & Bromley • Central • Chelsea • Chigwell & Hainault • Cockfosters & N Southgate Celebrating • Cranbrook • Ealing • Edgware • Enfield & Winchmore Hill • Finchley • Finsbury Park • Golders Green • Hackney & East London • Hadley Wood • Hampstead • Hampstead Garden Suburb • Hemel Hempstead • Hendon • Highams Park & Chingford • Highgate • Kenton • Kingsbury • Kingston, Surbiton & District • Luton • Magen Avot • Mill Hill • Mill Hill East • Muswell Hill • New West End • Northwood • Palmers Green US 150 & Southgate • Peterborough • Pinner • Potters Bar • Radlett • The importance of the number 150 out with the aspiration to build a Richmond • Romford & District • Ruislip • Sheffield • Shenley in Jewish tradition is rooted in the family of communities which would fact that there are 150 chapters in “delight in the Torah of God” and • South Hampstead • South London • South Tottenham • St. the Book of Psalms. serve as a beacon of light and Albans • St John's Wood • Staines • Stanmore & Canons Park Our Psalms, which, for thousands inspiration throughout the British of years, have provided us with Empire. • Sutton & District • Watford • Welwyn Garden City • Wembley support and inspiration for the What subsequently unfolded has vicissitudes of life, are bookended been extraordinary. Countless lives • Western Marble Arch • Woodford Forest • Woodside Park by two significant verses. Psalm have been uplifted and enhanced. by Chief Rabbi 1 commences with the words The United Synagogue continues Ephraim Mirvis “Happy is the person...” and goes to stand proudly as a bastion of on to provide the keys for joy and Jewish tradition and observance, … we are celebrating all the know it will accomplish in the meaning in life, “when you delight which serves as a model of future. in the Torah of God and meditate in communal excellence throughout more because of what the United I am privileged to see so many words of Torah day and night”. the Jewish world. The collective of our communities transforming Psalm 150 concludes with words efforts of so many outstanding Synagogue accomplishes today themselves from houses of prayer we are familiar with from our daily spiritual and lay leaders over the into powerhouses of Jewish prayers: “Let every soul praise course the last 150 years, have not religious, social, educational and God. Praise be God!’ What begins only delivered upon the aspiration and because of what we know it cultural excellence. And, against as an aspiration to delight in the to “delight in the Torah of God” the odds, we have reached even study and practice of Torah, ends in but have also delivered on our will accomplish in the future. greater heights during the dramatic enthusiastic praise of the Almighty. collective mission: “Let every soul upheavals of the Coronavirus period. 150 years ago, my illustrious praise God. Praise be God!” Today, 150 years young, the United predecessor, Chief Rabbi Nathan the United Synagogue produces a The Talmud teaches that you our celebration of 150 years of Synagogue continues to be a major Marcus Adler, presided over the truly outstanding ‘Kiddush Hashem’ can only know where you are going the United Synagogue. We have a and vital force in British Jewish formation of the United Synagogue, – a sanctification of the name of to if you understand where you remarkable history to proudly look communal and religious life. mandated by an Act of Parliament. the Almighty - within the United have come from. Our celebration back upon, but we are celebrating As we engage in our thanksgiving This ambitious project started Kingdom and well beyond. of the past facilitates our success all the more because of what the to God for the last 150 years, we in the present and the future. This United Synagogue accomplishes know that, please God, the best is brings us to the very essence of today and because of what we yet to come. In loving memory of Chaya Rachel bat Moshe Ben-tzion 1870 • 1871 • 1872 • 1873 • 1874 • 1875 • 1876 • 1877 • 1878 • 1879 • 1880 • 1881 There is much to celebrate • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • as we approach our 150th 1887 • 1888 • 1889 • 1890 • 1891 • 1892 birthday, even as we evolve • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • again, with God’s help, to 1898 • 1899 • 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 by Michael Goldstein, face current and future United Synagogue challenges… • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • President regional communities. We are communities. We hope we will 1909 • 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 also focusing on new areas of come out of this period stronger Jewish growth, always conscious than ever as a community. • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 • 1920 that working together is better for The input of our lay leaders us all. and other volunteers has been • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • Our 150th celebrations have phenomenal and has helped to been curtailed due to difficulties maintain our communities as 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 • 1930 • 1931 and tragedies of the Covid-19 vibrant places, even with their pandemic. Instead, we have doors closed. • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • focused on helping our community Along with all the US Trustees, I as best as we can. I am proud express our enormous thanks to all 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 of the way in which the United of our staff and volunteers. Synagogue has worked during this This activity and its religious • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • crisis to support people across our value, has its roots in the Mishnaic community and beyond, working teaching by Shimon Hatzadik in 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 together as a Kehilla, a community Pirkei Avot (1:2, page 524 in the which takes responsibility for both green siddur) that the world stands • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • itself and beyond its borders. on three things – Torah, Avodah Back in 1870, five Ashkenazi shuls Carrying out so many funerals (prayer) and Gemilut Chasadim 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 in London decided that they were has been extremely challenging (altruistic kindness). These three US 150 stronger together. The Great, The but the incredible United things stand at the heart of the • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 Hambro, The New, Central and Synagogue Burial Society together United Synagogue and its purpose, Bayswater all joined forces to with our Rabbis and Rebbetzens as outlined by Rabbi Nathan become the United Synagogue. have shown extraordinary Marcus Adler, our founding Chief • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 Instead of duplicating resources, care and compassion to all the Rabbi. they worked together for the good mourners. There is much to celebrate as we • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 of the community. This was a Meanwhile our innovations approach our 150th birthday, even revolutionary idea. We continue in online learning, livestreamed as we evolve again, with God’s • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • to benefit from it and the work of Kabbalat Shabbat services, ‘at help, to face current and future all of those in our communities home’ social events and more challenges for the betterment of 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 since then. have multiplied week by week the Jewish people. Thank you for Over the years, the United delivering educational, fun being part of the United Synagogue • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 Synagogue has evolved further. and inspiring content to our and our modern-day kehilla ideals. More communities have joined, members in addition to the superb May God bless and protect us and • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 including a growing number of programmes put on locally by our the whole world. • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • In memory of Yisrael Shmuel ben Yirmaya Yehoshuah 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 The United Synagogue A BRIEF TIMELINE Dayan Yechezkel The five Ashkenazi Abramsky Hambro' New Synagogue Central Synagogues join Rabbi Hermann becomes Rosh of Synagogue moves to Great St. Synagogue to form the United Marcus Adler Rabbi Joseph US comprises 21 the London Beth Nineteen more established Helens established Synagogue succeeds his Herman Hertz communities Din communities join father as Chief becomes Chief 1707 1837 1855 Rabbi Rabbi 1914 1931 1931-38 1690 1870 1761 1845 1863 1891 1913 Foundation of the New Rabbi Nathan Bayswater