Overview – Part 2
5 – 11 September

The momentum of the first day of events continued throughout the rest of Heritage Week.

One of Israel’s leading educators, Rabbi Ofek Meir, Deputy Director of the Leo Baeck Education Centre in Haifa, the keynote speaker at the Leo Baeck College seminar on ‘The Future of the Cheder’, brought forward some innovative ideas on the future of Jewish education, stimulating useful discussion in the break-out groups.

The significant Jewish contribution to the British Armed Services through the centuries was once again on display at the Jewish Military Museum, whilst over at the Jewish Museum, a fascinating exhibition, ‘I didn’t know he was Jewish!’ – Behind the Scenes of British Cinema’,
revealed the amazing story of the involvement of Jews in the film industry. At the Ben Uri Art Gallery, a lecture on the exhibition of the artist Josef Herman was packed to capacity.

The ever-popular Jewish Music Institute’s ‘Klezmer in the Park’ in Regent’s Park, attracted literally hundreds of people to a wonderful afternoon alive with music, singing and dancing – and, of course, delicious picnics!

At Princelet Street Synagogue in London’s East End, Michael Horovitz OBE, enthralled a large crowd of people, many of whom had come from all parts of the world, with his poetry and prose. A few streets away, the Fieldgate Street Synagogue welcomed many people on both Sundays, including a mixed group of Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Jewish East End Celebration Society held a well attended AGM at the East London Central Synagogue, followed by singing and refreshments. For the energetic, there was a choice of Jewish heritage walks through the City of London.

Further to the west of London, visitors to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Lauderdale Road included a non-Jewish gentleman who wished to research his Jewish roots, a non-Jewish neighbour who was just curious, a devout Christian who wanted to know more about Judaism and a non-Jewish Portuguese lady; and a group from the Shlomo Argov Lodge were delighted with their private guided tour of the beautiful Grade I listed New West End Synagogue.

Our second Sunday coincides with the annual Cheetham Festival which celebrates the multi-faith community in Manchester and is organised by a partnership between B’nai B’rith, Engish Heritage and Faith Network Manchester. The Manchester Jewish Museum and the Higher Crumpsall and Higher Broughton Synagogues are enthusiastic participants and the Education Officer of the Museum spoke about the Open Days in an early morning broadcast on Radio Manchester, resulting in a constant flow of visitors, possibly also attracted by the Kosher food on offer! An ecumenical service commemorating 9/11 was held in the synagogue at the end of the day.

In the regions our association with the national English Heritage Open Days helps to publicise the EDJCH to a wider public. Singers Hill Synagogue in Birmingham had a most successful morning, the highlight of which was a concert of Jewish music by the Kol Kinor choir, which had been well publicised in the local press. Another ‘High Victorian’ synagogue, Middle Street in Brighton, also welcomed many visitors, as did Princes Road Synagogue in Liverpool, where Dr. Sharman Kadish promoted her new extensively researched book on ‘The Synagogues of Great Britain and Ireland’. There were three separate tours of the synagogue but as numbers were limited, they reluctantly had to turn people away.

Guided tours of the Montefiore Synagogue and Mausoleum in Ramsgate, Kent, introduced visitors to the life and work of the philanthropist, Sir Moses Montefiore. They were then encouraged to see the nearby Grade I Pugin Grange and St. Augustine’s Church as both buildings were built as personal expressions of faith and the founders of each are buried on the site of their own faith. In Canterbury, The Old Synagogue, now part of the King’s School, drew a large number of visitors. Most of the visitors to the Chatham Memorial Synagogue were non-Jewish and at the Exeter Synagogue they welcomed a Christian group from Devon.

The Cheltenham Synagogue, a true gem, was delighted with its record attendance. Its visitors were impressed with the peaceful atmosphere and a couple of people even found their Jewish roots. The synagogue has just published a book titled ‘The Hebrew Congregation of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and Stroud’. Visitors to the Norwich Synagogue found it buzzing with ‘”masses of things going on”. However, Plymouth Synagogue, the oldest Ashkenazi Synagogue in the English-speaking world, had unfortunately to compete with the Americas Day Cup (an important day in the boating world) and a public memorial service for 9/11 on the Mayflower steps.

Advance publicity was given on various websites, some local radio stations and in the local press and after the Open Days, reports appeared in ‘The Jewish Chronicle’ and regional newspapers.

Valerie Bello