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L'chaim: to Life!

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L'chaim: to Life! EXETER HERITAGE L’ch a i m : As Exeter Synagogue celebrates 250 years, Anna Turns looks at To Life ! what it means to be part of the city’s Jewish community Photo by Johnathan Fry 106 DEVON LIFE June 2013 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Dreidl Dribblers: the toddler and baby group meet once a month Above: Synagogue entrance Below: Predating the building by some 30 years, the Bull Meadow Cemetery is the community’s original burial ground, situated on Magdalen Street just outside the city walls Bill Boam Photos by Johnathan Fry o many Jews, Judaism effort to get here, even though I What is a Jew? may be more of a may only be one of twelve people at culture than a religion, a service. It is so important to keep There is an age-old argument about Jewish Tso attendance at that continuum.” identity and communities are often exercised by Shabbat services on a Exeter synagogue is a special the question ‘what is a Jew?’ Some people who weekly basis is not always a given. place: tucked behind Mecca Bingo, identify as culturally Jewish would not always be That said, Exeter’s historical it is a Grade II* listed building home considered strictly Jewish – their mother’s were synagogue provides an essential to the country’s third oldest not Jewish, or they haven’t officially converted, focal point for Devon’s small, synagogue, established in 1763. for example. Of course, synagogues don’t want geographically fragmented Jewish London’s Bevis Marks synagogue is to exclude anyone, but where do you draw the community to meet and connect. the oldest, and Plymouth is just one line? This will forever be an issue amongst Jewish “I love the synagogue on a Friday year older than Exeter. The city’s communities, and is particularly important in a night – it’s so beautiful,” says Renee Jewish community has a rich community with such a diverse mix of members, Smithens, vice president of Exeter history stretching back to the early from orthodox to progressive and everywhere in Hebrew Congregation, “and I 1700s. Historian Helen Fry, author between. always feel glad to have made the of The Jews of Exeter explains that devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk DEVON LIFE June 2013 107 EXETER HERITAGE FASCINATING FIGURES “Not only is the synagogue itself a rare gem and an exquisite Georgian place of worship but the history of its people are equally fascinating,” says Helen Fry. “Notable figures throughout its 250-year history include Alexander Alexander (Royal Optician to William IV and the young Princess Victoria), Isaac Gompertz (best known for his poem Devon which was published in Teignmouth in 1825), Ezekiel Ezekiel (silversmith, expert engraver and miniaturist), Charles Samuels (eminent restorer of works of art circa 1900) and famous chemist Heschel Smith who in the 20th century invented and patented the contraceptive pill that revolutionized the lives of women forever.” Photo by Judith Horung Above: Charles Samuels A GENUINE EXETER JEW: BILL BOAM “Not only is the synagogue itself a rare gem and an exquisite Georgian place of worship but the history of its people are equally fascinating” Photo by Johnathan Fry there was an important Jewish weekly Shabbat services ranging presence in Exeter in medieval from liberal to traditional forms of “I’m proud to be Jewish, but not terribly times until the expulsion of Jews worship, led by members of the religious,” says Bill Boam, Exeter’s longest- from England in 1290. “By the mid community and visiting rabbis. standing synagogue member. “I come to 18th century, Exeter possessed a Groups include religion school for services at synagogue once a week or so, viable Jewish community again children, Dreidl Dribblers for mainly to stay in touch with other Jewish that, over the next 250 years, went toddlers and babies, and a Yiddish people.” To Bill,now 88, the synagogue is an through a period revival, decline study group, plus regular events important hub, as one of only two synagogues and renaissance,” says Helen. linked to festivals throughout the in the South West region and he has seen it Membership of Exeter Hebrew Jewish social calendar. through many ups and downs. Congregation has grown from 17 in “We are unique – as people, our In the 1970’s, when the synagogue fell into 1978 to 49 in 1996 and to more attitudes to Judaism are unusual disrepair, Bill and his brother, a timber than120 current members living and diverse. We all come to be here merchant, took charge of the restoration: “We across the South West region. “We from so many different rolled up our sleeves and replaced all the are a growing and vibrant perspectives. But in Exeter and in wooden floorboards ourselves.” The community despite being Devon, we are often the first and congregation now draws people from all over geographically disparate and it’s only contact many people have the region, but this wasn’t always so, explains about much more than coming to with a Jewish person,” explains Bill: “When I was a kid, the synagogue was shul [synagogue] for prayer,” says Renee. “All the work that we do only open once a year for Rosh Hashona (New Renee who explains that Exeter providing school visits [more than Year) and Yom Kippur (The Day of synagogue caters for a very mixed 2500 school children visited the Atonement), so the community has really community. The congregation synagogue in 2012], in participating grown over the years.” remains unaffiliated to any in local interfaith activities and in particular branch of Judaism with Exeter City Council’s celebration of 108 DEVON LIFE June 2013 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk Above:Torah scroll Holocaust Memorial Day are so needed restoration over the years. important, especially in a part of Since March, the synagogue has the world that isn’t so culturally been undergoing major restoration, diverse.” Renee continues, “it’s not costing £118,000, to deal with damp like being in North London where that has permeated through to the you can take it all for granted. You interior walls and repair the roof. So have to work at being a community, everything within the synagogue maintaining the synagogue and has to be protected: a frame has maintaining your links with other been built around the ark which Right: Jewish people.” contains the special torah scrolls, Rimmonim, bells Renee explains that she is and wooden columns amongst the for the torah surprised that the synagogue has seating have all been wrapped in scroll (1813) lasted so well as a structure for the bubble wrap. The newly restored last 250 years: “We are a cathedral synagogue will be unveiled in all its city, so perhaps even non-Jews felt glory this summer, with doors READER OFFER: it was important to keep a religious open to future generations of Jews building like this intact. I would say in Devon. N THE JEWS OF EXETER: we are custodians of the synagogue. an illustrated history by Helen Fry is When the numbers in the To learn more about the synagogue published by Halsgrove in July congregation dropped to almost and its activities, or to donate at £24.99. nothing, the building at least to the building fund visit Readers of Devon Life can receive stood.” The synagogue is lovingly exetersynagogue.org.uk and a £5 discount and free postage: maintained by a small community, follow the link to JustGiving or call 01823 653777 and mention but due to its age and construction, you can send a cheque to Exeter DEVON LIFE READER OFFER or buy online at halsgrove.com and damage suffered during the Synagogue, Synagogue Place, Mary using the code DEVONLIFE in the promotional code box bombing of Exeter during the Aches Street, Exeter EX4 3BA. during checkout. Second World War, the building has 01392 251529 devon.greatbritishlife.co.uk DEVON LIFE June 2013 109.
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