Thursday, January 13, 1977—THE BULLETIN—11
LONDON—Anglo-Jewry's oldest Ashkenazi congregation, the Great Synagogue - or what is left of it in Adler House, Whitechapel - will cease to exist by the end of next March.
Its 286-year-old history was wound up by a recent unanimous decision of the council of the United Synagogue to close down both the "Great" and the Mile End and Bow Synagogue. Their dwindling memberships were offered a transfer to the East London Synagogue or to any other United Synagogue congregation of their choice, with the retention of burial rights and other entitlements.
Both synagogues are to be closed under the rationalization scheme for the East London area and all their books, records, documents, pictures, sacred books,, silver, and "other moveable property" will be handed over to the United Synagogue to be used in accordance with the directions of its officers.
But, whereas Mile End and Bow is ,only half-a-century old, the "Great" was the first Ashkenazi congregation since the Resettlement. Formed in 1690 (only 34 years after the foundation of tiie
ears.
EDMUND DE ROTHSCHILD
Danish and Portuguese Congregation),. its first edifice was erected in Duke's Place, Aldgate, in 1722 and remodelled and enlarged in 1790.
The building was destroyed by German incendiary bombs in May, 1941. A temporary structure was put up on the same historical site two-and-a-half years later, but
Holland buys former shiil
AMSTERDAM —The municipal council of Gronongen in the northeast of Holland has unanimously decided to buy the former Gron-ingen synagogue as an historical monument.
The synagogue, which was inaugurated some 75 years ago when the Jewish community still flourished, proved much too large after World War H when the majority of Groningen's Jews were deported to death camps. .
The Jewiish survivors now meet in the former youth synagogue.
The main synagogue was sold some time ago and in recent years served as a laundry.
NEW YORK — Bronx Borough President Robert Abrams recently proclaimed the formation of an "eruv" in the Riverdale section of New York.
An "eruv" is a common com munity area within which Orthodox Jews are exempted from the religious law which prohibits the carrying of any items on public streets on the Sabbath and on Jewish holy days.
The formation of the "Eruv" was made possible after months of meetings between religious leaders in the Riverdale community and representatives of Con Edison and the N.Y. Telephone Company.
The boundaries of the "eruv" are deflned by existing fences and by utility poles with special slats attached to form a symbolic fence surrounding the community.
the site itself .was sold to the City of London Corporation in 1958. Then, the "Great" and its members were transferred to Adler House, whose premises were shared with the Jewish Institute, the Jewish Free Reading Room and Library, the Old People's Club (Zekenim) and other institutions-all of which will also be transferred to the East London Synagogue;
It was from the "Great" that the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbinate, Beth Din and several other institutions of Anglo-Jewry have grown. Indeed, the first Chief Rabbis were no more than senior ministers at Duke's Place. (Incidentally, the present Chief Rabbi, Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, was for a time -1947 to 1949-minister at the "Great".)
The synagogue also played a leading part in the establishment of the Board of Deputies in 1760 and of the United Synagogue 110 years later.
However, by the time the
THE SCENE at a service in the "Great'Vmore than 80 years ago. From the "lUastrated London News" of January, 1890 JCNS
. "Great" was transferred to Adler House, the congregation was already in a state of accelerating decline. Male membership, which had stood in January, 1939 at 610, had fallen by then to 369. By 1970 it was down to 294 and, by last July, to only 201. And the synagogue has recorded a deficit every year for the past 30 years.
Nor, as the report of the executive committee pointed out, was the "Great" "spiritually viable." On many a Sabbath (and even on the second days of festivals) it had difficulties in mustering a minyan, despite the employment of paid minyari men.
There was a similar decline-because younger people v^ere moving away fron the East End and older people were dying off —at Mile End and Bow, where membership fell from 400 in 1939 to 208 by 1970 and 136 last July. Similar difficulties were encountered in obtaining a minyan. JCNS.
The restoration of historical buildings, the construction of a fire hall, the replacement of an outdated water systen-i. If you stop and think about it there a're probably many good projects that could create jobs and be of great benefit to your community.
. This year, a new job creation program called Canada Works will help fight unemployment by providing funds to groups and organizations including private businesses, for worthwhile community projects.
If you have a project that can provide a minimum of five jobs for unemployed people in your area, submit your application to Canada Works.
But do it now.The deadline for applications is February 4th.
Right now, your Canada Manpower Centre has . application forms and a Canada Works "Guide to Applicants" that describes the program and how to 'apply.
Visit your Canada Manpower Centre today.. Canada Works: Make it work in your comniuriity.
This summer Young Canada VVbrks will help reduce student unemployment by creating jobs in your community.The students will work on projects of community benefit that will enable th^m to test their career aspirations.
Any established organization can submit an application to Young Canada Works.
Your proposal should provide a minimum of three student jobs for six consecutive weekl Projects can operate for up to 14 weeks between May and September. Your local CMC has a Young Canada Works "Guide" and application form.
Submit your application now.The deadline forYoung Canada Works is February 4th.
Young Canada Works for students in your community.
Manpower and Immigration
Minister
Main-d'<BUvre et Immlgratfon
BudCufien Ministry