Gateshead Hebrew Congregation

Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

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Congregation Data
Name:	Gateshead Hebrew Congregation⁽ⁱⁱ⁾
Previous Names:	Gateshead Beth Hamedrash ⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ Redheugh Bridge Road Synagogue ^(iv)
Current Address:	180 Bewick Road (corner with Rectory Road), Gateshead NE8 1UF.^(v) The foundation stone of the synagogue was laid on 24 July 1938^(vi) and it officially opened on 15 January 1939.^(vii) The architect was R.G. Pearson of White & Pearson, Newcastle.^(viii) Subsequently, in order to accommodate the community's need, there have been numerous extensions and renovations to the premises. In 1956, a fire at the synagogue destroyed eight Sifrei Torah, the remains of which were buried in the Gateshead section of Hazelrigg Jewish Cemetery.^(ix)
Predecessor Congregations and Formation of Present Congregation:	The exact situation regarding the early congregations in Gateshead, in fact into the beginning of the second decade of the twentieth century, is by no means clear, and some of the inconsistencies are discussed in the various footnotes below. The first Jewish congregation, known as Chevra Torah or Chevrei Shomrei Shabbos,^(x) was established in Gateshead in 1883, with its synagogue consisting of a single room at 1 Milling Street^(xi) (which elsewhere is described as being at Clayton Street^(xii)). The congregants, all of whom were very poor, could not afford to buy a sefer torah and, after an unsuccessful appeal to the Chief Rabbi, were fortunate enough to be given one by a wealthy lace manufacturer, Mr. Levy, in Nottingham.^(xv) The person considered to be the founder of the congregation was Zachariah Bernstone, although Eliezer Adler, who joined him a few years later, was to become the most prominent figure in the infant community and to dominate it for several decades, until after World War II. Within a short period after 1883 there were at least two small congregations (or chevrot) operating within this small but very Orthodox community. In 1887, two chevrot merged and established a new rather larger place of worship, and we have taken 1887 as the date of formation of the congregation.^(xvi).
Previous Addresses:	The congregation's synagogue following the 1887 merger was at 14 Redheugh Bridge Road, comprising of 2/3 rooms. These premises remained the congregation's synagogue until they burnt down in 1911.^(xvii) Fortunately the congregants was able to save the sifrei torah and most of prayer books from the blaze. After a spell in temporary accommodation, at a private home in Redheugh Bridge Road and a flat in Cowper Street,^(xviii) the congregation moved in 1912 to a new small corrugated synagogue, constructed on a plot of waste land in Corbett Street, at the corner with Derwentwater Road.^(xix) It was also known as the ‘Blechener Schul’ (tin synagogue).^(xxii) Here the congregation remained until the construction of the new purpose built synagogue in 80 Bewick Road in 1939.
Rival Congregations:	Following the 1887 amalgamation, the community still continued to be rife with quarrels and splits. In 1900, the Chief Rabbi in a pastoral tour that included Gateshead, noting that several families had recently seceded from the (principal) congregation and had acquired a room of their own for divine worship, drew up an agreement intended to form the basis of a reconciliation between the two bodies.^(xxiii) However, the Chief Rabbi's efforts did not appear to have been successful, and by 1903, in addition to the principal Redheugh Bridge Road congregation, there were still two rival Jewish congregations functioning in the town.^(xxiv) The two principal rival congregations, at least from about 1904, were: Prest Street Synagogue (Gateshead United Hebrew Congregation)^(xxvii) This congregation is dealt with on a separate webpage. Milling Street Synagogue ^(xxviii) Although Milling Street was the address of the first congregation in Gateshead (see above), it was also the address of one of the rival congregations that function until at least 1906.^(xxix) Possibly the Prest Street congregation adopted the word "United" as part of its name on the incorporation of this congregation. The officers of this congregation, elected in October 1906 were: President - M. Erenstone; Treasurer - S. Summerfield; and Hon. Secretary - J. Summerspitz.^(xxx)
Current Status:	Active.
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Strictly Orthodox
Affiliation and Relationship with the Chief Rabbi:	The congregation was extremely independent and, at least from about 1904, refused to accept the jurisdiction of the Chief Rabbi. Accordingly, the Chief Rabbinate at times tended to view the rival congregation in Prest Street as Gateshead's principal congregation.^(xxxii) Largely due to the congregation's unwillingness to accept the jurisdiction of the Chief Rabbi, it had been refused the right to appoint its own marriage secretary until 1935.^(xxxiii) By 1951, the congregation was a constituent of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.^(xxxiv)
Rabbis & Ministers: (To view a short profile of one whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over the name.)	Rabbi A. Zugmanski - from about 1906 until 1907.^(xxxviii) Rev. Samuel P. Heilpern (first term) - from about 1908 until about 1914.^(xxxix) Rabbi Namyot - from about 1915 until 1917.^(xl) Rabbi Monusson - dates uncertain.^(xli) Rabbi Mallach - dates uncertain.^(xli) Rev. Samuel P. Heilpern (second term) - from 1927 until 1937.^(xxxix) Rabbi Naftali Shakowitzky - from 1937 until 1963.^(xliv) Rabbi Bezalel Rakow - from 1964 until 2003.^(xlv) Rabbi Y. Kaufman - from about 2003 until about 2008.^(xlvi) Rabbi Shraga Feival Zimmerman - rab from 2008 until 2020.^(xlvii)
Readers (Chazanim) & Shochets:	Rev. Goldwater - from at least 1899, had moved to the Milling Street Synagogue by 1906.^(li) Rev. L. Mathews - in 1904.^(lii) Rev. Elkan Gamzu - from about 1917 until 1927.^(liii) Rev. David Dryan - from 1927 until 1940s or 1950s.^(liv) Rev. J.M. Saloman - from about 1955 until about 1957.^(lv)
Lay Officers of the Congregation:	Unless otherwise stated, the following data has been extracted from Jewish Year Books, first published 1896/7.^(lviii) However, as discussed is some of the footnotes, in certain instances the exact position is far from clear.
	Presidents 1887 - Marcus Rosenthal^(lix) 1893 - K. Tenenbaum^(lx) 1896-1897 - I. Zucker 1897-1900 - Marcus Rosenthal 1900-1903 - K. Tennenbaum 1903-1904 - Emanuel Silver 1904-1905 - H.S. Myers^(lxi) 1905-1913 - I. Rosenthal (or partly Zachariah Bernstone)^(lxii) 1913-1914 - Eliezer Adler 1914-1918 - David Baddiel 1918-1923 - S. Brazil 1923-1926 - S. Cowel 1926-1927 - David Baddiel 1927-1928 - A.M. Bell 1928-1929 - David Baddiel 1929-1930 - Jacob Shine 1930-1933 - David Baddiel 1933-1935 - A.M. Bell 1935-1938 - David Baddiel 1938-1939 - Dr. M. Chalk 1939-1940 - David Baddiel 1940-1949 - no data 1949-1951 - H. Rottenberg 1951-1952 - David Baddiel 1952-1955 - S.F. Nussbaum 1955-1956 - A.M. Silver from 1956 - no data Wardens 1945-1949 - David Baddiel & I. Caplan 1990-1999 - M. Guttentag^(lxiii)	Treasurers 1887 - Eliezer Adler^(lxv) 1893 - Harris Bell^(lxvi) 1897-1901 - Eliezer Adler 1904-1905 - A. Shwan^(lxvii) 1905-1907 - K. Tenenbaum^(lxviii) 1907-1909 - no data 1909-1910 - S. Brazil^(lxix) 1910-1913 - no data 1913-1914 - K. Tenenbaum 1914-1915 - H. Heilpern 1915-1916 - B. Goldwater 1916-1917 - A.M. Bell 1917-1918 - S. Summerfield 1918-1923 - D. Steinberg 1923-1926 - H. Lipman 1926-1927 - I. Cannon 1927-1928 - David Baddiel 1928-1929 - W. Lodier 1929-1930 - A.M. Silver 1930-1933 - W. Lodier 1933-1935 - H.E. Bloch 1935-1940 - J. Steinberg 1940-1945 - no data 1945-1949 - J. Steinberg 1948-1952 - J. Guttentag 1952-1953 - J. Salomon 1953-1956 - T. Gottleib from 1956 - no data
	Secretaries and Hon. Secretaries
	1887 - Harris Bell^(lxxii) 1893 - Marcus Rosenthal^(lxxiii) 1897-1899 - Jacob Rosenthal 1899-1901 - Harris Bell 1901-1903 - Marcus Rosenthal 1903-1904 - H.S. Myers 1904-1905 - A.M. Bell 1905-1907 - M. Morein 1907-1910 - B. Goldwater^(lxxiv) 1910-1913 - A. Balkind 1913-1915 - A.M. Silver 1915-1917 - G.H. Freedman 1918-1920 - David Baddiel 1920-1923 - Ben Guttenberg 1923-1926 - J. Freedman 1926-1927 - Ben Guttenberg	1927-1928 - J. Summerfield 1928-1933 - Isee Freed 1933-1935 - M. Kreighy 1935-1938 - A.M. Silver 1938-1939 - J. Guttenberg 1939-1940 - A.M. Silver 1940-1945 - no data 1945-1948 - A.M. Silver 1948-1949 - J. Kaufman 1949-1951 - M. Spitzer 1958-1966 - M. Guttenberg 1966-1968 - J.D. Speculand 1968-1971 - H. Jacobson 1971-1982 - J.D. Speculand 1982-1990 - J. Corrick from 1990 - no data
Membership Data:	Number of Seatholders 1892 - 16 seatholders^(lxxviii) 1889 - 24 seatholders^(lxxix) 1900 - 30 seatholders^(lxxviii) Reports & Survey^(lxxx) 1977 - 158 male (or household) members and 14 female members 1983 - 168 male (or household) members and 13 female members 1990 - 237 members (comprising 221 households, 1 individual male and 15 individual female members) 1996 - 273 members (comprising 251 households, 6 individual male and 6 individual female members)
Worship Registration:	The synagogue in Bewick Road is registered as a Place of Worship - Worship Register Number 65127 - under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.^(lxxxi)

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on JCR-UK

"Gateshead" from Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain, including a paper by Lewis Olsover. Papers for a conference at University College, London, convened by the Jewish Historical Society of England, prepared by Aubrey Newman - 6 July 1975.
Press reference to the Gateshead Jewish Community 1856-1911

on Third Party Websites

Unlocking North East Jewish Heritage (UNEJH) website. Pages realting to the congregation include:

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) This is the name by which the congregation is now generally known, and had been the official name of the congregation since at least 1906, when it was described as such in an award made in legal proceedings with the Prest Street Synagogue - see Prest Road Synagogue on the UNEJH website. ↵
(iii) This alternative name was generally in use for the congregation from about 1904 until about 1912, being the name listed in Jewish Year Books 1907/8 through 1914. It was also the name used to describe the congregation in the extracted press reports 1906 through 1910. ↵
(iv) This name was initially used to describe the congregation from 1887 and which continued in use as an alternative name until 1911. ↵
(v) First listed in Jewish Year Book 1940. It remained the listed address until the last edition (2015), except that in the 1947 and 1948 editions, Corbitt Street was given as the address. Online research (July 2024) still gives this as the congregation's address. ↵
(vi) Rectory Road Synagogue on Unlocking North East Jewish Heritage (UNEJH) website. ↵
(vii) They Docked at Newcastle - & wound up in Gateshead by Millie Donbrow, 1972 ("Donbrow"), p.170. ↵
(viii) Jewish Heritage in Britain and Ireland by Sharman Kadish, p.229. To view a description of other known Jewish architectural works (if any) by R.G. Pearson, hold your cursor over his name. ↵
(ix) Rectory Road Synagogue on the UNEJH website. ↵
(x) The first name - The Jewish Communities of North-East England by Lewis Olsover, 1980, Book Two, Chapters One and Two ("Olsover"), p.224. It was also the name under which the Beth Hamedrash was listed in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. The second name - The Sunderland Beth Hamedresh 1889-1999 by Derek Taylor & Harold David, Chapter 6, A pause for Gateshead ("Taylor & Davis"), p.126. This name did not appear again as the name of a congregation. ↵
(xi) This is the address given by Olsover, p.223, which he describes as being near the Gateshead end of the Redheugh Bridge, the rent being paid by "joint contributions of 3d. per week." The Milling Street address also appears in a number of Jewish Chronicle press reports ↵
(xii) Donbro, p.29 and "Gateshead" (from 1975 conference on Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain), who give the rental as being one shilling (5p) per week. Neither Milling Street nor Clayton Street appear on the current map of Gateshead and it is possible the building was situated on the corner of the two streets. ↵
(xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.
(xv) Donbrow, pp.29/30 and Olsover, p.223. ↵
(xvi) Olsover, p.223 and "Gateshead" (from 1975 conference on Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain). The 1887 date appears in Jewish Year Books from 1896/7 as the year the congregation was founded. However, some sources give the date of formation as 1904. See the footnote below regarding the Press Street Synagogue for a discussion on this point. ↵
(xvii) Donbrow, p.40 and Olsover, p.226. ↵
(xviii) Olsover, p.226. ↵
(xix) Donbrow, p.40 and Olsover, p.226 and Jewish Year Book listings (where it appears as Corbet Street). ↵
(xx) and (xxi) Reserved.
(xxii) Corbitt Street Synagogue on the UNEJH website. ↵
(xxiii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 1 June 1900. ↵
(xxiv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 March 1903. The Jewish Year Book of 1903/4 contained the following note: "There are two additional minor synagogues. An effort is being made to amalgamate them with the principal Synagogue." ↵
(xxv) and (xxvi) Reserved.
(xxvii) According to a number of sources the Prest Street congregation dates from 1904 (although Olsover says 1902). 1904 is also given by a number of sources as the year the present congregation was founded (including Rectory Road Synagogue on the UNEJH website). Although it is claimed that the Prest Street congregation was formed by a splinter group from the Redheugh Bridge Road congregation, it is possible that in 1904 Redheugh Bridge Road congregation simply split into two congregations, one remaining in Redheugh Bridge Road and the other moving to Prest Street, both claiming to be community's legitimate congregation, and this could account for the 1904 founding date. ↵
(xxviii) Not listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xxix) Mentioned in The Jewish Chronicle press reports of 12 October 1906 (twice), 19 October 1906 (twice) and 30 November 1906. ↵
(xxx) The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 October 1906. ↵
(xxxi) Reserved.
(xxxii) See letters to The Jewish Chronicle, 4 March 1910 and 18 March 1910. Also Jewish Year Books tended to gives preference to the Prest Street congregation until the mid 1920s. ↵
(xxxiii) Orthodoxy in Anglo-Jewry 1880-1940 by Bernard Homa (1969), pp.33, 35. In fact, Chief Rabbi Dr. Hertz only relented when he was compelled reluctantly to grant the Liberal Synagogue the right to appoint a Marriage Secretary. ↵
(xxxiv) First described as such in Jewish Year Book 1952. ↵
(xxxv) to (xxxvii) Reserved.
(xxxviii) First mentioned in The Jewish Chronicle report of 26 June 1908. In the The Jewish Chronicle of 17 July 1908 it was reported that Rabbi Zugmanski was leaving for Poland. He is listed as Rab of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1907/8 ↵
(xxxix) His appointment was reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 21 August 1908. He was listed (as M. Heilpern) as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1915. According to Olsover, Rabbi "Halperin" left during World War I (p.229), returned in 1927 (p.229) and left again in 1937 (p.242). ↵
(xl) Olsover, p.229. Rabbi Namyot was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1916 through 1921. ↵
(xli) Olsover, p.229, states that Rabbi Monusson and Rabbi Mallach took over from the late Rabbi Namyot in 1917, until the return of Rabbi Halperin (Heilpern) in 1927. However Rabbi Monnusson(sic) was listed as a minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1927 through 1936 and Rabbi Mallach is not listed at all. ↵
(xlii) and (xliii) Reserved.
(xliv) Olsover, p.242 and Taylor & Davis p.138. Rabbi Shakowitzky was listed as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939 through 1963 - not published in later war years (although in 1939 and 1940, his name was given as Rabbi N. Sachs). ↵
(xlv) Taylor & Davis p.138. Rabbi Racow(sic) was listed as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1968 through 2004. ↵
(xlvi) Rabbi Y. Kaufman was listed as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2005 through 2008. ↵
(xlvii) Online research (including matzav.co report of 30 June 2019). Rabbi Zimmerman was listed as rav of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2009 until the final edition (2015). ↵
(xlviii) to (l) Reserved.
(li) First known mention in The Jewish Chronicle report of 11 November 1899. Subsequent reference to him, with respect to Redheugh Bridge Road congregation, in report of 4 July 1902 and, with respect to the Milling Street Congregation, report of 30 November 1906. Latest reference to him in The Jewish Chronicle report of 26 June 1908. ↵
(lii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 20 May 1904. He is listed as Reader of the Redheugh Bridge Road congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1904/5 ↵
(liii) Olsover, p.229. Rev. E. Gamzer(sic) was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1918 through 1926. ↵
(liv) Olsover, p.229 and Taylor & Davis p.141. Rev. Dryan was listed as a minister or shochet of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1927 through 1940, after which publication ceased until 1945. ↵
(lv) Rev. Saloman was listed as a reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1956 and 1957. ↵
(lvi) and (lvii) Reserved.
(lviii) Unless otherwise stated, the officers listed here were those appearing in Jewish Year Books: until 1904/05 - under the Redheugh Bridge Road synagogue; 1905/6 and 1906/7 - under Chevrah Torah; 1907/8 through 1913 - under Beth Hamedrash; and from 1914 - under Corbitt street and later Bewick Road synagogue.
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 1922, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1918 and continued in office until 1922. 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. ↵
(lix) Olsover, p.223 states that he was the first president of the newly merged congregation at Redheugh Bridge Road, but does not give a source. ↵
(lx) 1893 elections reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 28 April 1893. ↵
(lxi) H.S. Myers is most closely connected to the Press Street congregation, being listed as its president when it first appeared in the 1905/6 Jewish Year Book. However in the Jewish Year Book of 1904/5 he is listed as president of the Redheugh Bridge Road congregation, his office of president also confirmed in The Jewish Chronicle of 20 May 1904, although it does not specify which congregation. ↵
(lxii) I. Rosenthal is listed as president of Chevrah Torah and Beth Hamedrash congregations throughout this period. However in the Jewish Year Book 1910, inexplicably both the Beth Hamedrash and the Redheugh Bridge Road congregations are listed, the latter showing Z. Bernstone as president and The Jewish Chronicle reports of 23 April 1909 and 21 May 1909 both refer to him as president of the Redheugh Bridge Road congregation. ↵
(lxiii) Described as senior warden. ↵
(lxiv) and (lxv) Reserved.
(lxv) Olsover, p.223 states that he was the first treasurer of the newly merged congregation at Redheugh Bridge Road, but does not give a source. ↵
(lxvi) 1893 elections reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 28 April 1893. ↵
(lxvii) A. Shwan is most closely connected to the Press Street congregation, being listed as its treasurer when it first appeared in the 1905/6 Jewish Year Book. However in the Jewish Year Book of 1904/5 he is listed as treasurer of the Redheugh Bridge Road congregation. ↵
(lxviii) Listed as R. Tenenbaum(sic) in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵
(lxix) There are no listings of treasurer for this congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1905/6 through 1913. However The Jewish Chronicle of 23 April 1909 reports on S. Brazil's election as treasurer of the Redheugh Bridge Street Synagogue at the 1909 annual meeting. ↵
(lxx) and (lxxi) Reserved.
(lxxii) Olsover, p.223 states that H. Bell was the first secretary of the newly merged congregation at Redheugh Bridge Road, but does not give a source. ↵
(lxxiii) 1893 elections reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 28 April 1893. ↵
(lxxiv) B. Goldwater is listed as hon secretary of Beth Hamedrash 1907/8 through 1910. However in the Jewish Year Book 1910, inexplicably both the Beth Hamedrash and the Redheugh Bridge Road congregations are listed, the latter showing A.M. Bell as hon. secretary and The Jewish Chronicle of 23 April 1909 refers to A.M. Bell's election as secretary. ↵
(lxxv) to (lxxvii) Reserved.
(lxxviii) Board of Director Returns. ↵
(lxxix) "Gateshead" (from 1975 conference on Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain). ↵
(lxxx) These figures include members of the Kolel Synagogue. 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. ↵
(lxxxi) Page 554 of the 2010 List of Places of Worship. ↵

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Page created: 22 August 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 16 July 2024
Page most recently amended: 29 July 2024

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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