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Wembley Synagogue

Serving the community for over 79 years

This article was first printed in the Souvenir Brochure published;

“To Commemorate the Consecration of the Wembley Synagogue”

and subsequently republished in the Wembley Synagogue News

Pesach 1998 – April 1998 / Nissan 5758 No. 81

 “The History of the Wembley Synagogue”

by Rabbi MYER BERMAN, M.B.E., B A., Hon. S.C.F.

It is quite impossible in the course of such short article as this to give a complete outline of the history of the Wembley Synagogue. Nor is it possible to do justice to the many personalities whose cumulative efforts and collective energies, together with their individual personalities, all contributed over a period of three decades towards the wonderful ceremony, which we were privileged to witness this afternoon. Happily a few of those who participated in the original formation of the local congregation are still with us; alas many are not and silent tribute must be paid to their memory today. It is a matter of speculation whether any of the original founders of the Synagogue ever dreamed that such a growth and a rapid development could take place in such a comparatively short time.

Until tile World Exhibition, Wembley was a small, undeveloped suburban locality. From 1939 to 1956 the general population of the area multiplied six or sevenfold through the building of most of the residential property. By 1938 there were already a few isolated Jewish families living in Wembley who felt they wanted to get together for the purpose of worship and ill order to facilitate Hebrew and Religious Education At that time the nearest organised Communities were at Cricklewood. Harrow and Ealing. There were no organised Communities yet at Dollis Hill, Gladstone Park Neasden, Greenford, Kenton and Kingsbury. But the movement of Jewish populations from the East, North and Central London had already begun and one of the directions it took was towards the Northwestern suburbs of London which had been made accessible by the rapid transport facilities afforded by the Metropolitan and other railways lines.

It is interesting to record that tile first meeting at which it was decided to form the Wembley Hebrew Congregation took place at 98 Wembley Park Drive on 5th September 1928 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hooberman. Mr. Hooberman, who was appointed Chairman of the Congregation, was most active in promoting the growth of the Congregation. At that first meeting there was also present Mr. Albert Sadie who later took a dominant part in congregational organisation, becoming Financial Representative for several years. Mrs. P. Greene was also there, and it was at her home that the first classes were held in January. 1929. Mrs. Greene has consistently worked for tile Congregation and was instrumental in the formation of the Ladies' Guild in February 1930 of which she was later to become President. The other person present was then Miss Lily Hooberman now Mrs. Henry Rubin who helped enormously by acting as the Honorary Secretary for several years. From that date the Wembley Community steadily expanded and has ever faltered in its progress. There were 12 children at the original classes, now almost 30 years later there are over 450 children on the nominal roll with 19 separate classes and a Barmitzvah class. Then there were a mere handful of members, now our membership is over 900 and it is hoped the 1,000 mark may soon be reached.

At first Services were held only at Festival times and without any congregational premises various halls had to be used. At times the Union Hall in Ealing Road, Mitchell's Restaurant in Wembley High Road and later the Capital Ballroom in Empire Way. At the end of 1931 membership had risen to 64 and already the feeling for finding a permanent home had prompted the Committee to purchase part of the site of the present Synagogue Buildings. It is interesting to record that a frontage of 63 feet was bought at first at the then price of £6 1s. per foot!

By then the late Mr. Lazarus Rolnick had joined the Committee and he was largely responsible for the preparations of the plans for the Temporary Synagogue, which was contemplated. In more ways than one Mr. Lazarus Rolnick was one of the main architects of the Wembley Synagogue. For many years he held office as Senior Warden exercising much influence on the congregation by his wise tactful counsel and genial personality.

In August 1939 the Ladies Guild purchased the first Sepher Torah for the Synagogue. In November of that year the house next door to the open site 12 Forty Avenue, was purchased. A Building Fund had been formed with the late Sir Isidore Salmon Member of Parliament, for the Harrow Division (of which Wembley then formed a part) as President.

The year 1934 witnessed the firm establishment of the Wembley Community. On 22nd April Sir Isidore Salmon laid the Foundation Stone of the first temporary Synagogue. In June the decision was taken to appoint a Minister and a call was extended to the then Rev. Myer Berman B.A. On 2nd September. 1934, the Induction of the Minister and the Consecration of the Synagogue was performed by the late Chief Rabbi, Dr. J. H. Hertz.

Membership rapidly increased between then and the outbreak of World War II and further building operations of a temporary character had to be undertaken. The war years retarded the development of the congregation. Although Wembley was not an evacuation area many families did evacuate, others joined the Forces. The Rev. M. Berman was soon engaged in A.R.P. work becoming an Air Raid Warden on Post 55 and doing chaplaincy work being appointed in the first place as the Jewish Officiating Chaplain at the R.A.F. Station at Uxbridge and Halton and in December, 1940 being commissioned as a Chaplain in the Army until his return to Wembley on demobilisation in March, 1946. The Rev. S. Venitt B.A. now Minister of the Hammersmith Synagogue was appointed as temporary Minister, in which capacity he greatly contributed to the consolidation of the Community. Many members still recall with affection and respect the Rev. and Mrs. Venitt's service to the Wembley Synagogue.

During the war years particular mention should be made of Mrs. S. Klein Mr. H. I. Harris the late Mr. L. Balcon and the late Mr. A. Brown, all of who greatly assisted the maintenance of the congregation.

In 1949 it was realised that the site of the Synagogue would be too small to accommodate the new Synagogue whenever it would be built and when the opportunity arose, No. 10 Forty Avenue was purchased so that a total frontage of some 200 ft. was made available for future development. A new Building Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. M. Kutner was formed and given the task of planning the new buildings and raising the necessary funds. This Committee, whose vicechairmen were the late Mr. N. Godfrey and Mr. S. Nelson has worked enthusiastically ever since and is mainly responsible for the erection of the Synagogue premises. It was felt that one comprehensive scheme should be prepared and building operation commenced on that section which would house the Classes Wing. Accommodation for the children’s education was thought to be priority number one.

Planning the Synagogue was not easy. Nor was all plain sailing in regard to the various permits and building licenses, particularly in the earlier stages of the rebuilding operations. With a developing mutual confidence and a wider understanding between the Synagogue authorities and the Town Hall authorities all difficulties were overcome. It is only fitting that the helpfulness of successive Mayors of the Wembley Borough and the correct guidance and advice of the Town Clerk and the Borough Engineer should be recorded for all time and remembered with gratitude.

On 23rd March 1953 the Foundation Stone of the Classroom Wing was laid by Mr. I. W. Goldberg the then Chairman of the Building Committee of the United Synagogue and on 25th October of the same year the Classroom Wing was consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie and opened by Mr. Morris Kutner.

After numerous appeals and prodigious fund raising efforts building operations on the new Synagogue were commenced in 1956 the foundation stone was laid by Mr. Rosser Chinn on 17th November 1956 and today the new Wembley Synagogue was opened by Mr. J. Clapman and consecrated by the Chief Rabbi.

With the continuing increase in Membership of the Synagogue more personnel had to be appointed. In 1949 the Rev. L. Klein was appointed as the Reader of the Synagogue a position he held until 1956 when he resigned to take up an appointment in New York. Erev Shavuoth 1958 his successor the Rev. A. M. Lev was inducted into office.

At first, a part time Secretary was engaged but the amount of clerical work increased so much that the services of a full time Secretary was necessary. At first Mr. S. Goldstein then Mr. Lionel Simmonds was appointed. Since 1949 Mr. H. A. Monat has held the position of Secretary to the Synagogue.

Since the end of 1931 when the Congregation became affiliated to the United Synagogue there has been a consistent close harmony between the local Honorary Officers and the U.S. Honorary Officers and the Head Office Staff. In 1934 the status of the Synagogue was raised to that of a District Synagogues and in 1956 Wembley became the most recent of Constituent Synagogues and soon it will be classified among the foremost Constituents of the United Synagogue a treasured position of which Wembley may be justifiably proud.

The Consecration of the Synagogue marks the end of the first phase of the development of the Wembley Synagogue. Nothing could have been achieved without the united efforts of all those concerned with the manifold activities of a thriving Community. Future generations will be forever indebted to them for their farsightedness and sense of religious duty. With the words of the Psalmist this short account may be concluded. “And let the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish thou it”