the former

Durham Jewish Community

& Synagogue

City of Durham, County Durham

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

City of Durham

The historic city of Durham is the county town of County Durham, in the North East of England, located on a bend in the river Wear. Some seven miles to the south of Durham lies the town of Spennymoor (population about 20,000).

Until 1974, the city of Durham was a municipal borough in County Durham. In 1974, it was merged with adjoining areas to form the local government district (with borough status) of the City of Durham, with a population of about 85,000. In April 2009, the City of Durham District was merged with six other districts of County Durham to form the unitary authority of County Durham.

Durham Jewish Community

Although there is reason to believe that there may have been a minyan of Jews earlier in nearby Spennymoor,⁽ⁱⁱ⁾ it appears that Jews first settled in Durham in about 1888 (although the 1881 census seems to record a Jewish lodger staying in a public house⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾) and by the early 1890s regular services were being held in private homes. For details of the early Jewish settlement in the city, see Durham, a paper prepared by Lewis Olsover.^(iv) The community continued to exist until the mid-twentieth century, the last two Jewish families (Dr. Harry and Sonia Waters and Dr. Harry and Cynthia Shenkin) leaving in the 1970s.

The principal works covering the community is Chapter Six (pp 294-298) of Book Two of The Jewish Community of North-East England by Lewis Olsover (1980) (which we refer to as "Olsover's Book").

© Jill Whitehead 2006 Durham Synagogue
© Peter Gatoff 2016

Photograph of the former Durham Synagogue in Laburnham Street, now a Presbyterian chapel.

Congregation Data
Name:	Durham Synagogue
Last Address:	The synagogue was at 107 Laburnum Avenue (off Hawthorn Street), Durham.^(vii) The foundation stone was laid in January 1909^(viii) and the building, with a capacity for 125 worshippers, was opened on 19 August 1909 by Cllr. J. Moser of Bradford^(ix) and consecrated in a service led by Rev. S. Franklin of Newcastle, with addresses being delivered by Rabbi Dr. Salis Daiches of Sunderland and Rabbi Y.M. Sandelson of Newcastle.^(x)
Earlier Addresses:	The congregation's previous synagogue, which was not particularly suitable and too small for the growing community, was at 11 John Street, Durham, from at least 1901.^(xi) Prior to then, services were held in members' homes, in particular 8 The Avenue, Durham, the home of Mr Jacob Morris.^(xii)
Formation:	The congregation was formed in about 1901, and as most of the congregants were members of Sunderland Hebrew Congregation, it was initially intended that the congregation become a branch or affiliate of the Sunderland congregation,^(xv) but this was ultimately rejected by Sunderland in April 1904.^(xvi)
Closure:	The last synagogue service was held in 1944. The synagogue closed in 1955 and was sold for £800.^(xvii) The former synagogue was converted into a Presbyterian chapel.
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation was an unaffiliated provincial congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.
Spiritual Leaders:	The only possible known instance of the congregation employing a resident minister, was the apparent appointment of Rev. Maurice David Hershman as reader, teacher and mohel in 1912,^(xix) although such appointment would have been of very short duration. However the minister from the Sunderland Hebrew Congregation or Newcastle acted as the visiting minister from time to time. The following, primarily lay individuals, also served the community: S. Keidan - lay reader and hon. shochet from at least 1917 until about 1924.^(xx) J. Newman - hon. reader from about 1924 until about 1929.^(xxi) Rev. Kraut - shochet and teacher from about 1924 until about 1929.^(xxii)
Lay Officers:^(xxv)	Presidents 1901-1905 - Edward Morris^(xxvi) 1905-1907 - S. Keidan^(xxviii)^(xxix) 1907-1909 - Nachman A. Birk 1909-1910 - C. Garstein 1910-1913 - B. Morris^(xxx) 1913-1915 - C. Garstein 1915-1924 - S. Keidan^(xxviii) 1924-1929 - P.B. Phillips 1930-post WWII - I. Cohen	Treasurers 1901-1905 - S. Herman^(xxxiii) 1905-1907 - B. Morris^(xxxiv) 1907-1908 - S. Kidaw 1908-1909 - B. Morris 1909-1910 - S. Abrahams 1910-1913 - A.N. Birk^(xxxv) 1913-1914 - B. Morris 1914-1924 - S. Keidan^(xxviii) 1924-1929 - P.B. Phillips
	Hon. Secretaries
	1901-1904 - B. Morris^(xxxviii) 1904-1907 - Boruch Birk^(xxxix) 1907-1908 - B. Morris 1908-1909 - Boruch Birk	1909-1910 - L. Cohen 1910-1913 - N. Keidan^(xl) 1913-1924 - M. Robinson 1924-post WWII - Miss L. Robinson
Final Trustees:^(xli)	1952-1960 - I. Cohen and A.N. Birk 1960-1964 - I. Cohen 1964-dissolution - Dr. Harry R. Shenkin, Dr. Harry Waters and Mrs. R. Witkin (from Newcastle)
Registration District:	County of Durham, since 1 May 2006^(xlii) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Details:	There was no Jewish cemetery in Durham, the Jewish community would have used the cemeteries in Sunderland or Newcastle.

Two stones commemorating two of the Trustees of the former Durham Synagogue, still visible behind the hedge.
© Peter Gatoff 2016

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Durham Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

"Durham" from Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain, 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 - 6th July 1975.
Brief Historical Notes. By Harold Pollins.
Press reports about Durham Jewish Congregation and Community.
Durham Bibliography

Some Notable Jewish Connections with Durham

Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell of the City of Durham, (1837-1899), was MP for the City of Durham (1874-1885). He was Lord High Chancellor in 1886, and again from 1892 to 1895. Herschell was the son of Rev. Ridley Haim Herschell, a native of Strzelno in Prussian Poland, who converted from Judaism to Christianity, and was a founder of the British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Among the Jews.
General Sir Timothy Radford, KCB, DSO, OBE (born 1963), a graduate of Durham University, who served as deputy supreme allied commander in Europe, is the son of Holocaust survivor, Inge Radford.
Gerald (Gerry) Steinberg (1945-2015), who was born in Durham and received his primary and secondary education there, was Labour MP for the City of Durham from 1987 until his retirement at the 2005 general election. He was co-Leader of Durham City Council from 1983 to 1987. He was admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the city of Durham in 2005.
Samuel Tolansky (born Turlausky) (1906-1973), a British physicist and Nobel prize nominee, was a graduate of Durham University in 1928 and was a research student there until 1931.
Peter Ustinov (1921-2004), actor, film maker and writer, whose paternal ancestry was partly Jewish, was Chancellor of Durham University from 1992 until his death in 2004.

Other Durham Jewish Institutions & Organisations/font>

Educational & Theological

Hebrew and Religious Classes - - from the establishment of the congregation
Known Headmasters^(xlvii) - S. Rosenblum (1906-1912); Jack Franks (1912-?); A. Hershman (?-1917); Rev. S. Kraut (1924-1929);^(xlviii) A.A. Ross, B.A. (1931-early 1940s)^(xlix)
Number of pupils; 15 (1906)
Chevra Shass - established in 1905. Met three times a week for the study of Talmud.^(l)

Other Institutions

Durham Zionist Association - founded by 1902^(liii)
Durham Literary Society - founded by 1902^(liv)
JNF Commission - founded by 1939^(lv)
University Jewish Society - founded by 1947^(lvi)

Durham Jewish Population Data
Year	Number	(Source)
1903	77	(The Jewish Year Book 1903/4)
1904	68	(The Jewish Year Book 1904/5)
1905	72	(The Jewish Year Book 1905/6)
1910	107	(The Jewish Year Book 1911)
1917	86	(The Jewish Year Book 1918)
1949	6	(The Jewish Year Book 1950)
1952	15	(The Jewish Year Book 1953)

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) Olsover's Book p. 294. ↵
(iii) See Brief Historical Notes by Harold Pollins. ↵
(iv) A paper presented at a conference at University College, London, convened by the Jewish Historical Society of England, prepared by Aubrey Newman - 6th July 1975. ↵
(v) and (vi) Reserved.
(vii) Olsover's Book, p. 296. First listed in Jewish Year Book 1910. ↵
(viii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 15 January 1909 and Olsover's Book, p. 296. ↵
(ix) The Jewish Chronicle reports of 20 August 1909 and 4 August 1922. ↵
(x) The Jewish Chronicle report of 27 August 1909. ↵
(xi) This address was mentioned in The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 November 1901, whereas The Jewish Chronicle of 12 October 1900 reported services being held in a private home. ↵
(xii) The Jewish Chronicle of 22 September 1899 and 12 October 1900 reported services as being held at 8 The Avenue. ↵
(xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.
(xv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 May 1891 and Olsover's Book p. 295. ↵
(xvi) Olsover's Book p. 295. ↵
(xvii) Olsover's Book p. 297. ↵
(xviii) Reserved.
(xix) Based upon a Jewish Chronicle report of 13 December 1912, which refers to Rev. Hershman taking the congregation's services in December 1912, which follows upon an earlier Jewish Chronicle report of 10 May 1912 in which the congregation advertised for a reader, teacher and mohel. However, it is by no means certain that Rev. Hershman was appointed pursuant to the advertisement or whether he was merely a visiting minister in December 1912. ↵
(xx) Based upon S. Keidan's listing in Jewish Year Books 1918 through 1924. He is also referred to elsewhere as Keiden and Kaidon and from time to time served as a lay officer of the congregation. ↵
(xxi) Based upon J. Newman's listing as hon. reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1925 through 1929. ↵
(xxii) Based upon the listing of Rev. S. Kraut as shochet and teacher of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1925 through 1929. However, this is believed to be the same Rev. Abraham Kraut who served the nearby Newcastle community. ↵
(xxiii) and (xxiv) Reserved.
(xxv) Unless otherwise stated, this data has been extracted from Jewish Year Books. 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 1909 through 1914, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1908 and continued in office until 1914. 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. ↵
(xxvi) Elected (or possibly re-elected) as president at the 1901 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 22 November 1901. Olsover's Book p. 295 refers to his election shortly following the formation of the congregation, without specifying a date. Also listed in Jewish Year Books as president from the first year book in which the congregation was listed (1902/3) through 1904/5. ↵
(xxvii) Reserved.
(xxviii) Also spelled Keiden in Olsover's Book and Kaidan in some Jewish Chronicle reports. ↵
(xxix) Elected (or re-elected) as president at the 1905 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 10 November 1905 and listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵
(xxx) Mr. Morris was elected (or re-elected) as president at the 1910 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 1 November 1910 and listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1911 through 1913. ↵
(xxxi) and (xxxii) Reserved.
(xxxiii) S. Herman was elected (or possibly re-elected) as treasurer at the 1901 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 22 November 1901. Olsover's Book p. 295 refers to his election shortly following the formation of the congregation, without specifying a date. Also listed in Jewish Year Books as treasurer from the first year book in which the congregation was listed (1902/3) through 1904/5. ↵
(xxxiv) B. Morris was elected (or re-elected) as treasurer at the 1905 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 10 November 1905 and listed as treasurer in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵
(xxxv) Mr. A.N. Birk was elected (or re-elected) as treasurer at the 1910 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 1 November 1910 and listed as treasurer in Jewish Year Books 1911 through 1913. ↵
(xxxvi) and (xxxvii) Reserved.
(xxxviii) B. Morris was elected (or possibly re-elected) as hon. secretary at the 1901 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 22 November 1901. Olsover's Book p. 295 refers to his election shortly following the formation of the congregation, without specifying a date. Also listed in Jewish Year Book as hon. secretary from the first year book in which the congregation was listed (1902/3) and 1903/4. ↵
(xxxix) B. Birk was elected (or re-elected) as hon. secretary at the 1905 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 10 November 1905 and listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1904/5 through 1906/7. ↵
(xl) N. Keidan was elected (or re-elected) as hon. secretary at the 1910 annual general meeting as reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 1 November 1910 and listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1911 through 1913. ↵
(xli) As listed in Jewish Year Books 1953 through 1966. ↵
(xlii) Previous Registration Districts: Durham (originally Durham & Lanchester) - from 1 July 1837 to 1 July 1938; Durham Central - from 1 July 1938 to 1 October 1971; Durham Central & South - from 1 October 1971 to 1 April 1974; Durham Central - from 1 April 1974 to 1 April 2003; and Central Durham - from 1 April 2003 to 1 May 2006. All registers would now be held by the current office. ↵
(xliii) to (xlvi) Reserved.
(xlvii) Olsover's Book p. 296, unless otherwise stated. ↵
(xlviii) Listed in Jewish Year Books 1925 through 1929. ↵
(xlix) Listed in Jewish Year Books 1932 through 1940. ↵
(l) Olsover's Book p. 295 and Jewish Year Book 1905/6. ↵
(li) and (lii) Reserved.
(xliii) An annual meeting of the association is reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 10 October 1902. ↵
(xliv) An annual meeting of the society is reported in The Jewish Chronicle of 24 October 1902. ↵
(lv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1940. ↵
(lvi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1948. ↵

Jewish Congregations in County Durham

Jewish Communities of England homepage

Page created: 1 June 2005
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 7 January 2024
Page most recently amended: 25 February 2024

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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