Montague Road Beth Hamedrash

Selected Press Reports relating to
the former Montague Road Beth Hamedrash^1.

Jewish Chronicle, 9 September 1949 (extract)

Rededication of building after repairs
[The building had been badly damaged by enemy action during World War II.]

....Rabbi Weinstein recalled that not for a day during the war had the synagogue been closed either for prayer or for the study of the Torah. He spoke of the need for a day school, and hoped that the Federation of Synagogues would help them to achieve this object.

The dome is painted sky-blue and can be floodlit. Another unusual feature is that the omud has a map of Israel engraved on it.

Jewish Chronicle, 28 August 1981

An East London landmark is shortly to disappear. The Montague Road Beth Hamedrash in Dalston, which was founded in 1910, will cease to function before Rosh Hashana and its membership will merge with West Hackney Federation Synagogue. Montague Road was one of the Federation of Synagogues' proudest possessions. At one time, its membership was 400-strong. Now it numbers some 280 people, many of whom still live in East London. The pulpit at Montague Road has been graced by such eminent names as Rabbi Jacob Rabinowitz, father of Dr Louis Rabinowitz, a past Chief Rabbi of South Africa and Rabbi Eliahu Dessler, who founded the kollel at Gateshead Yeshiva. The last rabbi was Dayan P. Braciener, now a member of the Federation Beth Din and rabbi of Finchley Central Federation Synagogue. For some time now, it has been difficult to find a minyan for services at Montague Road, as many of the members still living in the area are elderly. In addition, the synagogue building itself has been badly vandalised, and for some time the services have been held in the Abram Gottlieb Hall. Sale proceeds from the synagogue will go to British and Israeli charities.