West London Synagogue

West London Synagogue on Upper Berkeley Street
Basic information
Location Upper Berkeley Street, London, England, United Kingdom
Affiliation Movement for Reform Judaism
Municipality London
Year consecrated 1870
Status Active
Heritage designation Grade II listed
Leadership Senior Rabbi: Julia Neuberger
Presidents: Mark Fox and Alexander Landau
Website www.wls.org.uk
Architectural description
Architect(s) Davis & Emmanuel (original synagogue); Mewes & Davis (additional administrative building in Seymour Place); Julian Sofaer (Seymour Place extension)
Architectural style Neo-Byzantine
Completed 1870 (synagogue); 1933-34 (Seymour Place building; extended in 1964 and 1973)
Designations
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name West London Synagogue
Designated 7 September 1989
Reference no. 1247701
Audio description of the synagogue by Baroness Julia Neuberger
The synagogue, shown from the junction of Hampden Gurney Street and Upper Berkeley Street

The West London Synagogue of British Jews, abbreviated WLS (Hebrew: ק"ק שער ציון‎, Kahal Kadosh Sha'ar Tziyon, "Holy Congregation Gate of Zion"),[1] is a Reform synagogue and congregation near Marble Arch in London. It was established on 15 April 1840. The current synagogue building in Upper Berkeley Street, dedicated in 1870, is Grade II listed.[2] It is the oldest house of prayer affiliated with the Movement for Reform Judaism and is one of the oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom.

History

On 15 April 1840, 24 members of the Mocatta, Goldsmid and other families announced their secession from their respective congregations, the Sephardi Bevis Marks Synagogue and the Ashkenazi Great Synagogue of London, and their intention to form a prayer group for neither "German nor Portuguese" but for "British Jews", which would allow them to worship together. The Mocattas and Goldsmids were quarrelling with the wardens and complaining over lack of decorum for years. The new prayer group, convening in Burton Street, hired Reverend David Woolf Marks in March 1841. Marks and the congregation adopted a unique, bibliocentric approach often termed "neo-Karaism" by their critics, largely rejecting the authority of the Oral Torah. They abolished the second day of festivals and excised various prayers grounded in rabbinic tradition. It was only after almost a century that the congregation adopted mainstream Reform Judaism.

On 27 January 1842, the West London Synagogue of British Jews was consecrated in its first permanent building, at Burton Street Chapel. By 1848, it had become too crowded for the congregation. A new location was found, in Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, at a cost of £5,000. It was dedicated on 25 January 1849. In 1867, a new location was required again. Eventually, the current synagogue building in Upper Berkeley Street was opened on 22 September 1870. It cost £20,000 and had capacity for 1,000 congregants at the time.[3]

With Marks' retirement in 1895, he was replaced by Rabbi Morris Joseph, who abandoned his predecessor's philosophy, which was never very popular with constituents. He brought West London closer to mainland Reform, excising petitions for the restoration of sacrifices in Jerusalem though virtually nothing else. During the 1920s, mixed seating was introduced. In 1929, the synagogue appointed Hebrew Union College graduate Rabbi Harold F. Reinhart, who brought it into the World Union for Progressive Judaism. In 1942, West London was a founding member of the Associated British Synagogues (from 2005, Movement for Reform Judaism).

Rabbi Werner van der Zyl served as Senior Rabbi from 1958 to 1968, after Reinhart resigned and seceded with 80 supporters to form the independent Westminster Synagogue.[4] Rabbi Hugo Gryn succeeded van der Zyl in 1968, until his death in 1996.[5] Mark Winer then served as Senior Rabbi for 12 years, retiring in September 2010. Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger became Senior Rabbi in 2011. The current rabbinic team also includes Rabbi Helen Freeman, Rabbi David Mitchell and Rabbi Sybil Sheridan.[6] The synagogue's archives, from 1841 to 1942, are held in the University of Southampton Libraries Special Collections.[7]

Ritual and edifice

Services at West London synagogue follow the prayer books of the Movement for Reform Judaism, which incorporate material from both Sephardi and Ashkenazi traditions. A choir and organ, located behind a screen to the rear of the dais, accompany the congregation in all musical parts of the service except for the aleinu and the kaddish.

Men and women sit together during services, and also play equal parts in leading them. Male worshippers are required to wear a kippah; females can wear one if they wish to do so.

The current building, dating from 1870, is located near Marble Arch in London. The main sanctuary was built in the Neo-Byzantine architectural style by Davis & Emmanuel.[3] Its premises, which extend into Seymour Place, also contain offices, a library and various community facilities.

The bimah and ark were built in 1869–70 by Davis & Emmanuel.[8]

The synagogue's organ, which was renovated in 2007, has 55 stops on four manuals and pedal.[nb 1]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ See specification of the Synagogue Organ

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrating 174 Years of Reform Judaism in Central London". West London Synagogue. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "West London Synagogue (1247701)". National Heritage List for England.
  3. 1 2 Moore, James R (ed). (1988). Religion in Victorian Britain, vol III: Sources. Manchester University Press in association with the Open University. p. 490. ISBN 0 7190 2944 9. p.
  4. ↑ "West London Synagogue of British Jews: Ministers of the Congregation". JCR-UK. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Messik, Louise (4 October 2013). "Ministers of the Congregation". West London Synagogue of British Jews. JCR-UK. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Our community". About Us. West London Synagogue. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Archives of the West London Synagogue of British Jews". Archives Hub. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "West London Synagogue, Upper Berkeley Street, Westminster, London". ViewFinder. Historic England. February 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 51°30′55″N 0°09′44″W / 51.5153°N 0.1621°W / 51.5153; -0.1621

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