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created:
17 January 2012
Latest revision or update: 21 October 2013
Some
Thoughts on the Rhondda Valley Communities
Published in BIMAH, No. 65, June 2011, pages
32-33.
Updated: 16 January 2012
by
Harold Pollins
Apart from the history of the 1930s
factories established in such places as Treforest, the Jewish communities
of the Rhondda have generally been neglected in writings on South Wales
Jewry. Yet Pontypridd, as well as being one of the earlier communities,
was to become a fairly large one; and in addition in the Rhondda, there
was the nearby Tonypandy congregation.
Two Polish-born brothers,
David and Charles Goodman, were the earliest Jewish settlers in
Pontypridd. David, it seems, was the first as his initial child, Theresa,
was born there in 1847. They were both there at the 1851 Census. They were
responsible for establishing a congregation which was in existence in at
least 1867 as a notice in the Jewish Chronicle, 31 May 1867, was headed
‘Hebrew Congregation Pontypridd’, and was signed by Charles Goodman,
‘Honorary Secretary‘. Further, it made a point about a proposed synagogue:
We have much pleasure in
informing our friends that we have at last (after many years) succeeded
in obtaining a building to convert into a Synagogue, in this Town, which
we shall find a great benefit, not having any Place of Worship nearer
than Cardiff or Merthyr.
In The Jews of South Wales. Historical Studies (1993), edited by Ursula R. Q. Henriques, there is a reference to this 1867
affair (p.57) but says that ‘nothing happened’ until the great influx of
immigrants 20 or more years later, when the 1895 synagogue was built. Yet
the Jewish Chronicle (26 July 1867) quoted extracts from a report in a
local newspaper that a new synagogue had been opened in Pontypridd before
a full congregation of Jews and Christians. The service was conducted by
Rev N. Jacobs of Cardiff and Rev H. D. Marks. ‘The result is a cozy [sic]
little synagogue, tastefully fitted up, and arranged to the best advantage
of which the limited space would admit’. This clearly demonstrates that a
synagogue came into existence in 1867, as was confirmed by a report in the
Jewish Chronicle 10 October 1873,
Six years ago a small synagogue was built at
Pont y Pridd [sic] by Messrs. Goodman and other gentlemen. The
congregation is greatly increasing and it is believed that an enlarged
place of worship will be required if this increase continues. On New
Year and Day of Atonement Mr. Lorie read the services gratuitously
assisted by Mr Vienburg of Roumania.
In 1873 a Secretary for marriages was authorised
for Pontypridd and the Pontypridd Hebrew Congregation held its annual
meeting (Jewish Chronicle 7 November 1873) when officers were elected. The
report also stated that because of the growth of population it was
intended to enlarge the present synagogue.
Now, it is true, as
Henriques wrote, that within a few years, instead of an increase of
population, the number of Jews had declined. In 1879 it was down to three
families in Pontypridd itself but more went to other parts of the
district. In the High Holyday services that year people attended from the
neighbourhood, so that on New Year 11 were present and on the Day of
Atonement there were 13. (Jewish Chronicle 3 October 1879.)
In the
1880s and 1890s the numbers grew and the congregation continued its
existence, services were held, and some marriages took place in the
synagogue. For example, the Jewish Chronicle reported on 6 December 1878
the marriage at ‘the synagogue, Pontypridd’, by Mr N. Jacobs, Newport, and
Rev Meyers, Cardiff, of Sarah Goodman, youngest daughter of Charles and
Amelia Goodman, of Pontypridd, and Herman Samuel, of
Cardiff.
Apparently, there was, for a time, even a minister. At the
first meeting in 1889 of the congregation, after its (unspecified)
reconstitution, the elected Honorary Secretary was Rev. Elias Plaskonsky
[sic]. (Jewish Chronicle 27 September 1889) but in the following year the
Cardiff New Hebrew Congregation elected Rev. Elias Plastowsky [sic] of
Pontypridd to be its minister. In the 1891 Census he appears, in Cardiff,
as (possibly) Plaskowsky, his occupation being Jewish
Minister.
Thus this is enough evidence to correct the statement in
the Henriques book that ‘nothing happened’ about establishing a synagogue
after 1867 until 1895 when certainly a new synagogue was built. This
lasted until 1978 and the building still survives.
However there
are still a couple of mysteries. First, as to the 1867 synagogue. Which
building was converted and where was it located? Second, while the
existence of the Tonypandy congregation is well known, there were
apparently other, temporary, congregations in the district. The Jewish
Chronicle reported (17 October 1890)
At a meeting of the members of the Porth
Congregation, the following officers were elected: Mr. J. Isaacs
(Porth), President, Mr. Pollick, Treasurer, Mr. J. Freedgoot Honorary
Secretary. The synagogue has only been established recently and is
progressing very satisfactorily.
Oddly, the first reference to Tonypandy in the
Jewish Chronicle was four years later, on 5 October 1894. This refers to
Mr N. Tanchan as President, who had arranged New Year ‘Holidays’ services.
Three years later apparently Treorchy was separately organised.
This appeared in the Jewish Chronicle 15 October 1897:
TREORCHY. Through the exertions of Mr.
Charles Tanchan, the President, and Mr. B. Love, the Secretary, the hall
of the Public Library was secured and services held during the New Year
and Yom Kippur.
Most curious of all was the existence of a
Penygraig congregation, as reported in the Jewish Chronicle 7 December
1900, which referred to a speech by ‘Rev. S. Zacutta, of the Penygraig
congregation‘.
There are no further references to the Porth,
Treorchy, or Penygraig congregations and one wonders what happened to
them.
Pontypridd
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