the former

Burnley Hebrew Congregation

& Jewish Community

Burnley, Lancashire

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congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.

Town of Burnley

The town of Burnley, in North West England, which became one of Lancashire's most prominent mill towns during the Industrial Revolution, has a population of about 75,000. It forms the greater part of the district and borough of Burnley. The present boundaries date from 1974, when the county borough of Burnley merged with adjoining areas to form a district of the county of Lancashire.

The Jewish Community

The community dates back to the end of the nineteenth century but had become defunct by the 1930s. See "The Jews of Burnley" by Harold Pollins (which we refer to here as "Pollins' History") for a history of the town's Jewish community.

Congregation Data
Name:	Burnley Hebrew Congregation or Burnley Synagogue⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Formation:	Services, for the High Holy Days, were first held in the town in September 1894, in a room, specially fitted up as a synagogue, provided by Mr. N.S. Bernstein (Nathan Selig Burstein), a local dentist. It was stated that "it is hoped shortly to establish there a regular congregation".^(iv) The Jewish Year Book 1896/7 states that the congregation was founded in 1895.^(v) However, the congregation was thereafter unlisted until the Jewish Year Book 1906, which then gave the year of founding of the congregation as 1906. It therefore appears that the original congregation was disbanded, possibly as a result of a dispute that had developed in the community shortly after its founding,^(vi) and a new congregation was established in 1906.^(vii) It is uncertain what the relationship was between the "1895 Congregation" and "1906 Congregation".
Addresses:	In 1895, the congregation's synagogue was at 20 Sandy Gate, Burnley,^(x) being consecrated on 25 August 1895.^(xi) It was stated to be the private property of the then president of the congregation, Mr. S. Schabatt of Nelson, and was supported by voluntary contributions.^(xii) This appears to have been used only for about a year. When the new congregation was established in 1906, it initially held services in Rectory Road, Burnley,^(xiii) but there is some confusion as to where it subsequently met (see discussion in Pollins History). In January 1912, it was reported that "the newly-formed Hebrew congregation held its consecration service",^(xiv) which presumably referred to new (unnamed) premises (as the congregation had been established some six years previously), although it could be referring to a restructured congregation. In 1921 there were plans to build a new synagogue^(xvii) and in April 1923 it was announced that a house at no. 14 Nelson Square had been purchased and would be converted into a synagogue.^(xviii) However, by November 1928, these premises were up for sale.^(xix)
Final Status:	From 1928 until 1931 the congregation entered into a scheme of cooperation with the Bolton Hebrew Congregation, some 19 miles away, in particular with regard to Jewish education and the employment of a joint shochet-teacher,^(xx) which came to an end due to the diminishing numbers in Burnley.^(xxi) Although the congregation continued to be listed in Jewish Year Books until 1939, according to a Jewish Chronicle press report of 28 June 1935, the "Synagogue was closed eight or nine years ago". The congregation had effectively ceased activities by 1931. For additional details see Pollins' History
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation was an unaffiliated congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.
Ministers and Readers: (To view a short profile of a minister whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over the name.)	Rev J. (or I.) Levin - minister and teacher from 1906 until about 1909.^(xxv) Rev. Abraham Kraut - minister/shochet and teacher in and about 1912.^(xxvi) Rev. M. Levy - minister/shochet in about 1913.^(xxvii) Rev. S. Levy - minister/shochet from about 1913 until no later than 1917^(xxviii) Rev. Menachem Mendel Ordman - minister/shochet from at least 1921 until 1923.^(xxviii)
Lay Officers of the Congregation:^(xxxii)	Presidents 1895 - Eli Denby^(xxxiii) 1896 - Sergius Schabbatt^(xxxiv) 1906-1911 - Simon Black^(xxxv) 1912 - A. Cowen^(xxxvi) 1912-1913 - Solomon Blackston^(xxxvii) 1913-no later than 1920 - H. Black^(xxxviii) From at least 1920 - Solomon Blackston^(xxxix) Vice Presidents 1895 - Sergius Schabbatt^(xlii) 1912 - Solomon Blackston^(xliii) 1912 - Mr. Fine^(xliv)	Treasurers 1895 - Sergius Schabbatt^(xlvii) 1912-1913 - A. Lever^(xlviii) From 1913 - S. Waldman^(xlix) Hon. Secretaries 1895 - Moritz Zacharias^(lii) 1906-1912 - J. Simmons^(liii) 1912 - Joseph D. Fink^(liv) 1912 - I. Franks^(lv) 1921 - B. Fagleman^(lvi) 1929-1939 - A.H. Fishman^(lvii)
Registration District:	Lancashire, since 1 June 2005^(lx) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	There is no Jewish cemetery in Burnley.

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Burnley Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

The Jews of Burnley, Lancashire, a History of the Burnley Jewish Community by Harold Pollins.
Press Reports relating to the Burnley Jewish Community 1884-1981.

Some Notable Jewish Connections with Burnley

Jack Morris Rosenthal CBE (1931-2004), English playwright, was evacuated during World War II with his family to Colne, six miles north of Burnley. His play The Evacuees (1975) was based on his experiences as an evacuee in Blackpool and Colne.

Other Burnley Jewish Institutions & Organisations

Educational

Hebrew and Religious Classes (initially referred to as Voluntary Sunday School) - from 1896^(lxi)
Manchester Joint Jewish Education Board, Burnley branch - from at least 1925^(lxii)

Burnley Jewish Population Data
Year	Number	(Source)
1896	30	(The Jewish Year Book 1896/7)
1935	4 families	(The Jewish Chronicle 28 June 1935)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) and (ii) Reserved.
(iii) Listed as Burnley Synagogue in the Jewish Year Book 1896/7. All other listings refer to Burnley Hebrew Congregation. ↵
(iv) The Jewish Chronicle of 12 October 1894. ↵
(v) This is consistent with The Jewish Chronicle report of 5 September 1895 on the consecration of the synagogue. ↵
(vi) The Jewish Chronicle of 20 September 1895 printed a letter from N.S. Burstein, a layman, whose offer to address the congregation on Rosh Hashana was accepted by the president but later rejected by other members of the committee. ↵
(vii) The Burnley Express of 24 January 1896. ↵
(viii) and (ix) Reserved.
(x) Jewish Year Book 1896/7. ↵
(xi) The Jewish Chronicle of 6 September 1895. ↵
(xii) Jewish Year Book 1896/7. ↵
(xiii) The Jewish Chronicle of 27 January 1906. ↵
(xiv) The Jewish Chronicle of 12 January 1912. ↵
(xv) and (xvi) Reserved.
(xvii) The Jewish Chronicle of 28 January 1921. ↵
(xviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 7 April 1923. ↵
(xix) The Burnley Express of 3 November 1928. ↵
(xx) The Jewish Chronicle of 14 September 1928. ↵
(xxi) The Jewish Chronicle of 25 December 1931. ↵
(xxii) to (xxiv) Reserved.
(xxv) Appointment of Rev. J. Levin of Blackburn as minister was reported in The Burnley Express of 24 January 1906 and The Burnley Gazette of 27 January 1906. Although listed, as Rev. I. Levin, as minister in Jewish Year Books 1906/7 through 1913, the office was vacant by 1909, when an advert for a shochet and teacher appeared in The Jewish Chronicle of 2 April 1909. ↵
(xxvi) The post of shochet/teacher was still being advertised in October 1911 (The Jewish Chronicle of 13 October 1911). Rev. Kraut is first referred to as shochet of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 January 1912. The Jewish Chronicle of 26 July 1912 reported his appointment as minister in Blackburn. He is not listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xxvii) The only reference to Rev. M. Levy at Burnley was in The Jewish Chronicle of 30 April 1915 reporting his induction as minister in Wallasey. As Rev. S. Levy was in Burnley from at least 1913, it is assumed that he served earlier. He is not listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xxviii) Rev. S. Levy was first listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1914 (indicating a starting date of at least 1913). He continued to be so listed until 1929, but this appears to be a failure to keep the publishers updated. He appears to have left Burnley by 1917, as The Jewish Chronicle of 18 May 1917 included an advert for the post in Burnley ↵
(xxix) Rev. Ordman was first referred to as minister of the congregation in a Burnley Express report of 19 February 1921. The Jewish Chronicle of 9 February 1923 reported his move to Coventry. ↵
(xxx) and (xxxi) Reserved.
(xxxiii) In most instances, the source for the given name of an officer is Pollins' History. ↵
(xxxiii) E. Denby was named as the first president of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 September 1895. ↵
(xxxiii) S. Schabatt was listed as president of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1896/7 ↵
(xxxv) S. Black was listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1906/7 through 1912. He was also named as the first president of the new (1906) congregation in a Burnley Express report of 24 January 1906. ↵
(xxxvi) A Cowen was named as president of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 January 1912. He does not appear in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xxxvii) S. Blackston was elected president of the congregation at the 1912 AGM (The Jewish Chronicle report of 26 July 1912) and was listed as president in the Jewish Year Book 1913. He had served as an officer of the congregation since at least 1909 (The Jewish Chronicle report of 2 April 1909). ↵
(xxxviii) Although H. Black was listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1914 through 1929, there are Jewish Chronicle reports of 16 December 1921 and 6 May 1927 making reference to S. Blackston as president. ↵
(xxxix) Although S. Blackston was only listed as president of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1930, The Jewish Chronicle of 16 December 1921 reported his re-election as president and the issue of 6 May 1927 refers to him as president. He continued to be listed as president in Jewish Year Book through 1937 ↵
(xl) and (xli) Reserved.
(xlii) S. Schabbatt was named as the first vice president of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 September 1895. ↵
(xliii) S. Blackston was named as vice president of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 January 1912. ↵
(xliv) The Jewish Chronicle of 26 July 1912 reported Mr. Fine's election as vice president of the congregation at the 1912 AGM. ↵
(xlv) and (xlvi) Reserved.
(xlvii) S. Schabbatt was named as the first treasurer of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 September 1895. ↵
(xlviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 26 July 1912 reported A. Lever's election as treasurer of the congregation at the 1912 AGM and he was listed as treasurer in the Jewish Year Book 1913. ↵
(xlix) S. Waldman was listed as treasurer of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1914 through 1937. ↵
(li) and (lii) Reserved.
(lii) M. Zacharias was named as the acting secretary of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 September 1895. He was listed as hon. secretary in the Jewish Year Book 1896/7. ↵
(liii) J. Simmons was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1906/7 through 1912. ↵
(liv) J.D. Fink was named as secretary of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 January 1912. He is not listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(lv) The Jewish Chronicle of 26 July 1912 reported the election of I. Franks as hon. secretary of the congregation at the 1912 AGM. He is listed as hon. secretary in the Jewish Year Book 1913. ↵
(lvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 16 December 1921 reported the election of B. Fagleman (incorrectly spelled Fayleman) as hon. secretary of the congregation. He was not listed in Jewish Year Books. (There were no Jewish Year Book listings of secretaries for the congregation from 1914 through 1928.) ↵
(lvii) A.H. Fishman was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1930 through 1939. ↵
(lviii) and (lix) Reserved.
(lx) Previous Registration Districts: Burnley - from 1 July 1837 to 1 April 1974; and Burnley & Pendle - from 1 April 1974 to 1 June 2005. All registers would now be held by the current office. ↵
(lxi) Listed in Jewish Year Book 1896/7. ↵
(lxii) The Jewish Chronicle of 3 July 1925. ↵

Jewish Congregations in Lancashire

Jewish Communities of England homepage

Page created: 22 August 2005
Data significantly expanded: 10 November 2015
Data further significantly expanded and notes added: 9 June 2024
Page most recently amended: 16 June 2024

Research by David Shulman and Harold Pollins
Formatting by David Shulman

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