Chester Hebrew Congregation

& Jewish Community

Chester, Cheshire

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White Friars, Bolland's Court, 2022
Probable location of former Chester Synagogue
Courtesy Steven Jaffe

City of Chester

The historic cathedral city of Chester, with a population of some 90,000, is situated on the river Dee, in north western England, close to the Welsh border, and was the traditional county town of Cheshire.

The city was a county borough until 1974, when it merged with adjoining authorities to form the district of Chester in the administrative county of Cheshire. In 2009, it became part of the new unitary authority and borough of Cheshire West and Chester.

The Jewish Community

Although an important port during the Middle Ages, there is no record of a medieval Jewish community having existed in Chester. In the 1750s there may have been a Jewish lodging house for itinerant hawkers.⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ However, an organised Jewish congregation was not established until the end of the nineteenth century. The community always remained relatively small.

Congregation Data

Name:

Chester Hebrew Congregation

Formation:

Formed in 1894,⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ although members of the community previously held services in members' homes^(iv).

Addresses:

The congregation does not presently appear to have a synagogue building.^(v)

Chester Synagogue address

From 1894 until 1900, the congregation held services in a room in Union Hall, Chester.^(vi)

In 1900, the congregation moved to Bolland's Court, White Friars, Chester, and remained there for many years until the synagogue closed in 1963.^(vii)

It was reported, solely in 1964, that the congregation's address was 39a Lower Bridge Street, Chester.^(viii) It was also reported that following the closure of the synagogue the congregation joined with that of Hoylake Hebrew Congregation, some 24 miles away, being recongregated in 1973.^(ix) However, during the interim period it appears that both congregations continued to maintain a separate existence.

Present Status:

Active, although services are held very rarely but meetings are held from time to time and there is a visiting rabbi from Manchester.^(xi)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Traditional / Orthodox

Affiliation:

The congregation is an unaffiliated congregation.

From at least 1908 there were efforts to unite the congregation with the Wrexham Hebrew Congregation (which are 13 miles). In 1912, there was a press report that the Wrexham congregation was then affiliated with that of Chester.^(xii)

Although no formal amalgamation took place and both congregations continued to exist as separate independent congregations, joint activities and the shared use of a minister was intermittent from early in the twentieth century until as late as the 1930s. For additional information, see "The Jews of Wrexham" by Harold Pollins.

Ministers and Readers: (To view a short profile of a minister whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over the name.)

Rev. Colman Sumberg - reader in 1894 on formation of the congregation^(xv)

Rev. W. Levien - reader from 1894 until 1895 or 1896^(xvi)

Rev. Moses Eker - minister from 1896 until about 1898^(xvii)

Rev. Israel Litovitch - reader from 1898 until about 1899^(xviii)

Rev. Solomon Trotsky - reader from 1900 until about 1906^(xix)

Rev. Isidore Lubetzki - reader from about 1907 until about 1908^(xxii)

Rev. Selig Bressloff - minister from 1908 until about 1912^(xxiii)

Rev. S. Calemanovitz - minister from about 1912 until about 1916^(xxiv)

Rev. Samuel Kibel - minister from about 1917 until about 1918^(xxv)

Rev. Joseph Herman - minister in about 1919/20^(xxvi)

Rev. Max Franks - minister in about 1920^(xxix)

Rev. S. Silver - minister from 1922 until about 1924^(xxx)

Rev. B. Cohen - minister from about 1925 until about the 1960s^(xxxi)

Lay Officers of the Congregation:

Unless otherwise stated, the following data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Book, first published in 1896/7 (the congregation being first listed in 1900/1).^(xxxv)

Presidents

1894-1895 - S. Polinker^(xxxvi)

1895-1896 - M. Price^(xxxvii)

1896-1897 - H. Haft^(xxxviii)

1897-1902 - Woolfe Jackson^(xxxix)

1902-1905 - S. Bloom^(xl)

1905-1906 - Jacob Goldman^(xli)

1907-1908 - S. Wolfman

1908-1913 - S. Bloom

1913-1914 - S. Polinker

1915-1917 - W. Sharp

1917-1919 - S. Polinker

1919-1921 - Max Cohen

1921-1924 - W. Sharp

1924-1926 - Morris Sharp

1926-1927 - I. Eimerl

1927-1929 - Dr. I.S. Fox

1929-1931 - Dr. C. Morgan

1931-1934 - no data

1934-1937 - Morris Sharp

1937-1946 - no data

1946-1956 - M. Cohen

Vice President

1921-1929 - A. Finestone

Treasurers

1894-1895 - J. Carasov^(xlv)

1895-1896 - S. Polinker^(xlvi)

1896-1898 - Woolf Adler^(xlvii)

1899-1907 - S. Polinker^(xlviii)

1907-1908 - J.M. Glisk

1908-1909 - S. Polinker

1909-1912 - M. Blank

1912-1913 - S. Polinker

1913-1914 - I. Eimerl

1914-1915 - M. Cohen

1915-1917 - W. Sharp

1917-1921 - S. Bloom

1921-1922 - Morris Sharp^(xlix)

1922 - I Goldenberg^(xlix)

1922-1924 - no data

1924-1926 - Morris Sharp

1926-1927 - I. Eimerl

1927-1929 - Dr. C. Morgan

1929-1934 - no data

1934-1937 - Dr. C. Morgan

1937-1953 - no data

1953-1956 - J. Viner

Secretaries and Hon. Secretaries

1894-1895 - M. Price^(lii)

1895-1896 - S. Woolfman^(liii)

1896-1897 - no data

1897-1898 - M. Blank^(liv)

1898-1899 - S. Polinker^(lv)

1899-1902 - M. Blank^(lvi)

1902-1907 - J. Marks^(lvii)

1907-1909 - M. Blank

1909-1912 - C. Morgan

1912-1915 - H. Newmark

1915-1919 - Morris Cohen

1919-1920 - Morris Sharp

1920-1924 - H. Newmark

1924-1926 - H. Bloom

1926-1927 - I. Eimerl

1927-1929 - Dr. C. Morgan

1929-1931 - no data

1931-1934 - H. Bloom

1934-1937 - M. Klertz

1937-1946 - no data

1946-1949 - S. Cohen

1949-1951 - Rev. B. Cohen

1951-1961 - B. Moore

1961-1969 - Mrs. A.J. Mayorcas

1969-1976 - Mrs. A.J. Mayorcas & J. Viner

1976-1985 - Mrs. A.J. Mayorcas

Secretary for Marriages

1954-1956 - W. Kletz

Membership Data:

Reports & Survey^(lxi)

1977 - 18 male (or household) members and 20 female members

1983 - 25 male (or household) members and 20 female members

1990 - 34 household members (comprising 28 households, 3 individual male and 3 individual female members)

1996 - 30 male (or household) members

2010 & 2016 - listed as having under 50 members (by household)

Registration District:

Cheshire West and Chester, since 1 April 2009^(lxii) - Register Office website

Cemetery Information:

There is no Jewish cemetery in Chester.

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Chester Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

Press Reports relating to the Chester Jewish community 1860 - 1906.
"The Jews of Wrexham" by Harold Pollins, which contains many references to Chester in particular with regard to the affiliation of the two communities.

Some Notable Jewish Connections with Chester
(prepared with the assistance of Steven Jaffe)

Martin Lewis CBE, born in Manchester, TV presenter, financial journalist and entrepreneur, grew up in the Cheshire village of Norley and attended King's school Chester.
Abraham Mendes (d. about 1730) a merchant with interests in Amsterdam and Barbados, was the first known Jew to reside in Chester.
Alfred Mond, first Baron Melchett (1868-1930), industrialist, financier and politician, and later Minister of Health, was Liberal MP for Chester from 1906 until 1910. He was an enthusiastic Zionist, served as President of the British Zionist Federation and founded the moshav of Tel Mond (now a town) in central Israel, which was named after him.

Other Chester Jewish Institutions & Organisations

Educational & Theological

Hebrew and Religious Classes - from the establishment of the congregation^(lxx)

Other Institutions

Jewish Literary Society - founded by 1929^(lxxi)
Jewish Ladies Guild - founded by 1945^(lxxii)
Council of Christians and Jews - founded by 1953^(lxxiii)

Chester Jewish Population Data
Year	Number	(Source)
1945	60	(The Jewish Year Book 1945/6)
1946	30	(The Jewish Year Book 1947)
1959	70	(The Jewish Year Book 1960)
1984	110	(The Jewish Year Book 1985)
1985	30 families	(The Jewish Year Book 1986)
1990	90	(The Jewish Year Book 1991)
1991	70	(The Jewish Year Book 1992)
1996	35	(The Jewish Year Book 1997)
2003	132	(The Jewish Year Book 2004)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) B. Williams - Making of Manchester Jewry, 1740–1875, pp. 5, 32. ↵
(iii) The Jewish Chronicle of 14 September 1894 reported on the establishment of the congregation. ↵
(iv) The Jewish Chronicle of 14 September 1894 also reported "the present minyan which was held in a private house shall be discontinued." ↵
(v) The congregation was last listed with an address in the Jewish Year Book 1964. ↵
(vi) The Jewish Chronicle of 14 September 1894 reported on the renting of the premises at Union Hall and The Jewish Chronicle of 24 August 1900 reported on the move from Union Hall. ↵
(vii) The Jewish Chronicle of 24 August 1900 reported on the move to Whiefriars, which was listed as the address of the congregation's synagogue until Jewish Year Book 1963. ↵
(viii) Solely in the Jewish Year Book 1964. ↵
(ix) British History Online website - A History of the County of Chester - Churches and religious bodies: Non-Christian religions However, throughout this period, the congregation was listed separately in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(x) Reserved.
(xi) Jewish Small Communities Network, 2019". ↵
(xii) The Jewish Chronicle of 13 December 1912 relating to Wrexham. ↵
(xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.
(xv) The Jewish Chronicle of 14 September 1894. He was the brother of Rev. Samuel Sumberg of Hanley. ↵
(xvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 23 November 1894 reported on Rev. Levien's election. By 24 July 1896 the congregation was advertising for a reader. ↵
(xvii) On 24 July 1896 the congregation was advertising for a reader and in The Jewish Chronicle 25 September 1896 it was reported that Rev. Eker conducted the services. In the Jewish Chronicle of 22 October 1897 he was still officiating in Chester although the office was vacant by July 1898. ↵
(xviii) The Jewish Chronicle of 2 September 1898 reported the election of Rev. "Lithovitch" as chazan and shochet. By June 1899, the congregation was advertising for a new chazan and shochet. ↵
(xix) The Jewish Chronicle of 2 October 1900 reported Rev. Trotsky conducting the services. He was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books until the 1906/7 edition. ↵
(xx) and (xxi) Reserved.
(xxii) Listed, as Rev. I. Lubetsky, minister of the congregation, solely in the Jewish Year Book 1907/8. ↵
(xxiii) Although listed, as Rev. S. Breslow, as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1914, he took up his next post in 1912. ↵
(xxiv) Although Rev. Calemanovitz was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1915 through 1917, the Jewish Chronicle of 13 December 1912 already reported him (as Rev. Kalmanovitch) in Chester. ↵
(xxv) Rev. Kibel was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1918 and 1919. However, in 1919, he was reported as already serving two other communities. ↵
(xxvi) Rev. Herman was listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1920. ↵
(xxvii) and (xxviii) Reserved.
(xxix) Rev. Franks was listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1921. ↵
(xxx) Rev. Silver was elected as minister for the Chester and Wrexham congregations in January 1922 (Jewish Chronicle 20 January 1922) and was listed as minister of the congregation only in the Jewish Year Book 1925. ↵
(xxxi) Rev. Cohen was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1926 through 1970, although he may well have ceased serving in such capacity some years earlier. There are no subsequent listings of any minister for the congregation. ↵
(xxxii) to (xxxiv) Reserved.
(xxxv) Where a person is first listed in a year book as holding a particular office, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was vacant. Initially year books corresponded to the Hebrew year, and thus ran roughly from autumn of one year - the year of publication - until autumn of the next year. From 1909, year books were published according to the Gregorian year, being published generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book. For example, if an officer is listed in Jewish Year Books 1919 through 1924, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1918 and continued in office until 1924. However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and, accordingly, his actual years of office may differ somewhat from those shown here. Jewish Year Books were not published during World War II subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵
(xxxvi) Elected as president at first meeting of the congregation, reported in Jewish Chronicle of 23 November 1894. ↵
(xxxvii) M. Price's election as president at the 1895 annual meeting was reported in the The Jewish Chronicle of 4 October 1895. ↵
(xxxviii) H. Hart was referred to as president of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 9 October 1896. ↵
(xxxix) W. Jackson's first election as president of the congregation was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 18 June 1897, serving until his resignation reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 18 July 1902. ↵
(xl) S. Bloom was elected as president of the congregation at the 1902 annual meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 25 July 1902. In Jewish Year Books he was listed as president in the editions from 1902/3 through 1906/7. ↵
(xli) J. Goldman was elected as president of the congregation at a meeting reported in the Jewish Chronicle of 22 September 1905. He is not mentioned in the Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xlii) to (xliv) Reserved.
(xlv) Elected as treasurer at first meeting of the congregation, reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 23 November 1894. ↵
(xlvi) S. Polinker's election as treasurer of the congregation for the first time (at the 1895 annual meeting) reported in the The Jewish Chronicle of 4 October 1895. ↵
(xlvii) W. Adler was first referred to as treasurer of the congregation in The Jewish Chronicle report of 9 October 1896. His removal from office was reported in The Jewish Chronicle report of 2 December 1898. ↵
(xlviii) S. Polinker's election again as treasurer of the congregation (at the 1899 annual meeting) was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 29 December 1899. He was listed as treasurer in the Jewish Year Books to 1906/7. ↵
(xlix) The Jewish Chronicle reported on 20 January 1922 that, at a recent meeting, M. Sharp had resigned as treasurer of the congregation, replaced by I. Goldenberg (the latter not being listed in the Jewish Year Book). ↵
(l) and (li) Reserved.
(lii) Elected as hon secretary at first meeting of the congregation, reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 23 November 1894. ↵
(liii) S. Woolfman's election as hon. secretary of the congregation at the 1895 annual meeting was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 4 October 1895. ↵
(liv) M. Blank was first referred to as hon. secretary of the congregation in a report in The Jewish Chronicle of 23 July 1897. ↵
(lv) S. Polinker's election as hon. secretary of the congregation at the 1898 annual meeting was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 21 October 1898. ↵
(lvi) M. Blank's election again as hon. secretary of the congregation (at the 1899 annual meeting) was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 29 December 1899. until his resignation reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 18 July 1902. He was listed as hon. secretary in the Jewish Year Books to 1901/2. ↵
(lvii) The election of J. Marks as hon. secretary of the congregation at the 1902 annual meeting was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 25 July 1902. He was listed as hon. secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1902/3 through 1906/7. ↵
(lviii) to (lx) Reserved.
(lxi) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and which can be viewed on the website of the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Click HERE for links to the various reports. ↵
(lxii) Previous Registration Districts: Great Boughton - from 1 July 1837 to 1 January 1880; Chester - from 1 January 1880 to 1 April 1974; Chester & Ellesmere Port - from 1 April 1974 to 1 April 1998; Cheshire West - from 1 April 1998 to 1 July 2007; and Cheshire - from 1 July 2007 to 1 April 2009. All registers would now be held by the current office. ↵
(lxiii) to (lxix) Reserved.
(lxx) The Jewish Chronicle of 15 February 1895. refers to the congregation already employing a teacher. ↵
(lxxi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1930. ↵
(lxxii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵
(lxxiii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1954. ↵

Jewish Congregations in Cheshire

Jewish Communities of England homepage

Page created: 2 November 2005
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 6 May 2024
Page most recently amended: 17 May 2024

Research by David Shulman, assisted by Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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