Hampstead Synagogue, Hampstead, London, Middlesex, United Kingdom

Street 1 Dennington Park Road
City Hampstead
Church Parish London
State/ Province Middlesex
Postal Code NW6 1AX
Country United Kingdom

Gallery

Narrative

In 1879, the Jewish population of Hampstead began to increase, following the movement of Jews first westward to the West End and Bayswater, and then northwards to St. John's Wood and Hampstead.
A movement was founded to create a new Synagogue in the West Hampstead area.
It was their intention to create a Synagogue which would not follow the traditional service currently held in other United Synagogues.
This however contradicted the views of the leading activist, Herbert Bentwich. Bentwich was a traditionalist who objected to changes being made to the services at St. John's Wood, which he refered to as "increasing Anglican Propriety".
On May 30th 1889, Bentwich called a meeting in West Hampstead Town Hall.
Those attending consisted of members from three congregational bodies: The United Synagogue, The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogues and the Berkeley Street Reform Synagogue.
Their intention was to create a Synagogue which would be somewhere between Orthodoxy and Reform.
On the March 13th 1892, the foundation stone was laid.
In September 1892, the Synagogue held a consecration ceremony, which was conducted by its new minister and chazan.

References

  1. Birnbaum, Sonia Sophya Perle bat Abraham
  2. Tomchinsky, Harry Alexei Alyosha