the former

Leazes Park Road Synagogue

(Newcasle upon Tyne Old Hebrew Congregation)

Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear

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Front of Newcastle Reform Synagogue
(taken by Lindsay Molyneux)

Congregation Data

Name:

Leazes Park Road Synagogue

also known as Newcastle upon Tyne Old Hebrew Congregation⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

and previously known as *Newcastle upon Tyne United Hebrew Congregation, until about 1924.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

(*Note: this was the first instance of the formation of a "United Hebrew Congregation" in Newcastle, there was to be a second, the 1924 merger (Ravensworth Terrace Synagogue) and a third, the 1973 merger.)

Address:

12 Leazes Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4PF.

Prior to the purchase of the plot in Leazes Park Road (then known as Albion Street), there had been two abortive attemps at finding a suitable plot for the synagogue. The first was a block of buildings acquired in Charlotte Square, which though centrally located would be aukward on which to build. The second was in Rye Hill, which was also centrally located, but the scheme was abandoned as the proposeed building would adversely affect the light of an adjoining chapel.^(iv)

The Leazes Park Road plot was 600 square yards and the foundation stone was laid on 14 August 1879 by Mr. A. de Hart and the consecration ceremony, which was performed by Delegate Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hermann Adler, took place on 25 August 1880.^(iv)

The building was dedicated as a Grade II Listed Building on 30 March 1987 (number 1087064). View description on Historic England website.

Formation:

Although the congregation traces its roots back to 1838 (the founding of Temple Street Synagogue, which was also at one time known as the Newcastle Old Hebrew Congregation^(v)), the congregation was formed on the re-uniting of that synagogue with the Charlotte Square Synagogue in 1880.

Final Status:

In 1973, the congregation became one of the three constituent synagogues of the newly established Newcastle United Hebrew Congregation. The Leazes Park Road Synagogue continued to serve as one of the congregation's synagogues until its final closure service on 3 May 1978, attended by Emeritus Chief Rabbi Sir Israel Brodie.^(vi) Following sale the building was converted for use as a shopping arcade, known as Leazes Arcade, but later became a hair and beauty salon and spa.

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

Until 1973, when the synagogue became a UHC constituent synagogue, it was an unaffiliated congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.

Affiliatied Congregation:

The Newcastle Beth Hamedrash was established by, and was an affiliated body of the congregation, never being an independent organisation.

Ministers^(ix):

(To view a short profile of a rabbi or minister whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rev. Solomon Jacobs - from 1880 until 1886^(x)

Rev. Samuel Friedeberg - from 1886 until 1891^(xi)

Rev. Louis Mendelsohn, BA - from 1891 until 1894^(xii)

Rev. Morris Rosenbaum - from 1894 until 1905^(xiii)

Rev. Benjamin Nathan Michelson, BA - from 1905 until about 1909^(xiv)

Rabbi Moses Hirsch Segal, MA - from about 1909 until about 1918^(xvi)

Rabbi Julius Kyanski - from 1921 until about 1938 (with possible break)^(xvii)

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Rabinowitz, BA - from March 1938 until end 1945^(xviii)

Rev. Lewis Wykansky - acting minister from about 1946 until about 1948^(xix)

Rabbi Leslie S. Turetsky - from 1948 until his death in October 1949^(xx)

Rabbi Shlomo Pesach Toperoff, BA - from 1952 until 1973^(xxi)

Assistant Minister:

Rev. Mordechai Moshe Baddiel - from about 1954 until about 1957^(xxii)

Readers (Cantors):

First Readers

Rev. Elias Pearlson - 1880-1882^(xxvi)

Rev. Moses Claff - 1884-1886^(xxvii)

Rev. David Applebaum - 1886-1894^(xxviii)

Rev. Israel Yellin - 1894-1901^(xxix)

Rev. Israel Gadallia Blachman - 1901-1905^(xxx)

Rev. S. Franklin - 1906-1923^(xxxi)

Rev. Berl Gottlieb - 1923-1931^(xxxii)

Rev. Isaac Roeg - 1938-1946^(xxxiii)

Rev. Pinchas Chaim E. Faigenblum - 1946-1948^(xxxiv)

Rev. Jacob Kahan - 1951-1954^(xxxv)
(previously second reader)

Rev. Chaim L. Haber - 1957-1963^(xxxvi)

Second Readers

Rev. David Goldsmidt - 1899-c.1904^(xxxviii)

Rev. Harris Ehrenberg - in about 1903^(xxxix)

Rev. A. Miller - 1912-1916^(xl)

Rev. Morris Warshawsky - 1923-1926^(xli)

Rev. Isaac Gottlieb - 1924-1928^(xlii)

Rev. B. Kertzman - 1929-1936^(xliii)

Rev. Lewis Wykansky - 1936-1949^(xliv)

Rev. Jacob Kahan - 1949-1951^(xxxv)
(subsequently first reader)

Rev. M. Moshe Baddiel - 1953-1954^(xxii)

Rev. M. Shoob - 1965-at least 1971^(xlv)

Honorary Officers:

Presidents^(xlviii)

1880 - John H. Bernstone^(xlix)

1886 - H. Goldberg

1894 - S. Solomons

1896 - H.F. Levinson^(l)

1897 - S. Solomons^(li)

1898 - I. Summerfield

1900 - M. Lotinga

1906 - M.D. Mendelson

1912 - S. Solomons^(lii)

1914 - S. Moskow

1922 - S. Cowen^(liii)

1924 - I. Woolf^{^(liv)}

1925 - S. Cowen^(liii)

1926 - J. Wendorff

1927 - S. Cowen^(liii)

1930 - Mark Rosenthal

1933 - A.D. Solomons

1938 - Mark Rosenthal

1940 - M. Bergman

1942 - A. Fishkin

1945 - Arthur A. Caller

1948 - J. Bromberger

1951 - A. Fishkin

1954 - J. Bromberger

1960 - L. Bergman

1963 - Nathan Science

1966 - H. Fishkin

1970 - Nathan Science

1972 - H. Fishkin

Treasurers (to early 1950s)^(lvii)

elected 1880 - M. Goldberg^(lviii)

1896-1898 - Joseph Rosenberg

1898-1901 - M. Lotinga

1901-1906 - S. Kossick

1906-1910 - N. Meltzer

1910-1911 - S. Solomons

1911-1920 - T.D. Rottersman

1920-1921 - S. Cowen^(liii)

1921-1923 - J. Wendorff

1923-1924 - M. Wiseman

1924-2925 - J. Wendorff

1925-1929 - Mark Rosenthal

1929-1931 - Max Levy

1931-1933 - A. Shwam

1933-1936 - A. Fishkin

1936-1939 - Nathan Bergman

1939-1940 - A. Fishkin

1940-1945 - War Years (no publication)

1945-1947 - W.E. Franks

1947-1951 - Nathan Science

1951-1953 - J. Bromberger

1953-1956 - Nathan Science

Wardens^(lix)

1945-1946 - M.S. Myers

1945-1947 - N. Kopel

1947-1956 - A. Fishkin

1947-1956 - M. Wilkie

Honorary Secretaries:^(lxiii)

August 1880 - A. Lewis^(lxiii)

from Sept. 1880 - M. Lotinga^(lxiv)

1896-1897 - Henry Bernstone

1897-1898 - S. Moskow

1898-1901 - S. Kossick

1901-1906 - M. Cohen

1906-1908 - E. Branskey

1908-1910 - Mark Rosenthal

1910-1913 - A. Solomon

1913-1916 - L. Freeman

1916-1923 - Max Levy

1923-1924 - M. Rosencrantz

1924-1929 - Max Levy

1929-1931 - W.I. Hilton

1931-1932 - S. Branskey

1932-1937 - Max Levy

1937-1939 - Philip Josephs

1940-1945 - War Years (no publication)

1945-1947 - M.A. Hilton

1947-1949 - Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Rabinowitz

1949-1952 - L. Gatoff

1952-1953 - Dr. J.H. Phillips

1953-1956 - B. Wendorff

1956-1958 - L.A. Joseph

1958-1959 - Cllr. B. Abrahams

1959-1961 - B. Wendorff

1961-1965 - G. Lurie

1965-1967 - H. Shorrick

1967-1968 - H. Shorrick and M. Da Costa

1968-1970 - M. Da Costa

1970-1973 - B. Wendorff

Lay Officers (Constituent Synagogue): ^(lxv)

Chairmen

1973-1976 - Nathan Science

1976-1977 - L. Bergman

1977-1978 - H. Fishkin

Financial Representatives

1973-1976 - L. Bergman

1976-1977 - Dr. A.S. Veeder

Wardens

1973-1976 - H. Fishkin

1976-1977 - Nathan Science

Membership Data:

Number of Seatholder as reported by Jewish Year Books

1896

1901

1906

1911

1913

1918

1919

1923

180

220

242

265

270

265

275

325

Committees:^(lxviii)

The congregation had its own Ladies Guild, founded 1949^(lxix)

Cemetery
Information:

The Orthodox Community in Newcastle has several Jewish cemeteries, for details see Newcastle Cemetery Information on Newcastle home page.

On-line Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

On JCR-UK

Congregational Records
General:	Numerous records of the Jewish Communities in Northeast England (only a sample of which are listed below) are deposited with the Tyne and Wear Archives Service (http://www.legacyarchives.org.uk) CLICK HERE to view a list of these records (correct to December 2005).
Synagogue Records:	Minutes 1937-1972 - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above) Register of Members 1921-c.1940's - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above) Seat Rent Accounts 1902-1941 - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above) Annual Reports 1951-1972 - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above) Orders of Service 1924-1978 - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above) Plans 1898-1923 - Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above)
Registration District (BMD):	Newcastle upon Tyne (since 1 July 1837) Link to Register Office website

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) The congregation was listed under this name in Jewish Year Books from 1925 until 1973 and from 1974 it was listed under the name Leazes Park Road Synagogue, the name by which it was generally known. However, it is unclear whether there was an actual formal change of name of the congregation. ↵
(iii) The congregation was listed under this name in Jewish Year Books until 1924, the name Newcastle Old Hebrew Congregation first appearing in the edition for the following year. ↵
(iv) The Jewish Communities of North-East England by Lewis Olsover (1980), p.26. ↵
(v) The Jewish Directory of 1874, edited by Asher I. Myers, p.77. ↵
(vi) The Jewish Communities of North-East England by Lewis Olsover (1980), Chapter Eight, pp.70-74. ↵
(vii) and (viii) Reserved.
(ix) Appendix 1 to The Jewish Communities of North-East England by Lewis Olsover (1980) ("Olsover's Book") provides lists of various office holders of the congregations in Newcastle. These lists include the ministers, readers and presidents of this congregation (p.204), together with the year of commencement (but not year of termination) of the term of service of the respective office holders. For the purposes of the data provided here, we have used these lists to indicate the year of commencement of service unless such year is inconsistent (which is the case in a number of instances) with information provided from other, possibly more reliable, sources. ↵
(x) For commencement - Olsover's Book. For termination - Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013), p.53, which also provided first name of Rev. Jacobs, who left the congregation to take up a post in Jamaica. ↵
(xi) Based upon Rabbi Friedeberg's Who's Who entries in Jewish Year Books 1896/7 and 1900/1 (Olsover's Book give 1887 as the commencement year). In Olsover''s Book, his name is spelled Freedenberg and in Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013), p.53, it is spelled Friedberg. In 1916, he changed his surname to Frampton. ↵
(xii) Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013), pp.58 and 61 (Olsover's Book refers to him as I. Mendeleson and gives 1892 as his commencement year). ↵
(xiii) For commencement - Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History, pp.813/4. (Olsover's Book give 1896 as the commencement year.) For termination - Rev. Rosenbaum's last listing as minister of the congregation was in the Jewish Year Book 1904/5. ↵
(xiv) Based upon Rev. Michelson's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 through 1909 (not inconsistent with Olsover's Book, but who spelled the name Michaelson). ↵
(xv) Reserved.
(xvi) Based upon Rabbi Segal's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1910 through 1918 (Olsover's Book give 1911 as the commencement year). The office of minister of the congregation was shown as vacant in the Jewish Year Book 1919. ↵
(xvii) Based upon Rabbi Kyanski's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1921 through 1938 (not inconsistent with Olsover's Book), except that, for an unknown reason, the position is left blank in the 1933 and 1934 editions. ↵
(xviii) Based upon Rabbi Rabinowitz's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939 through 1946 (not inconsistent with Olsover's Book) and information provided by a family member. ↵
(xix) Based upon Rev. Wykanski's listing as acting minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1947 and 1948. (He is not listed as a minister in Olsover's Book.) In the 1949 edition, he is described as assistant minister. Rev. Wykanski also served as Second Reader of the congregation from about 1936 through about 1948 (see below). ↵
(xx) Rabbi Turetsky's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1949 and 1950 (not inconsistent with Olsover's Book) and Geni report. ↵
(xxi) Based upon Rabbi Toperoff's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1952 through 1974 (not inconsistent with Olsover's Book). In addition, until about 1955 (based upon Jewish Year Books 1952 through 1955), Rabbi Toporoff, also served as Regional Minister encompassing both the congregation and the Gosforth and Kenton Hebrew Congregation. ↵
(xxii) Based upon Rev. (later Rabbi) Baddiel's listing as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1955 through 1957. Rev. Baddiel had previously served as Second Reader of the congregation from about 1953 (Olsover's Book). ↵
(xxiii) to (xxv) Reserved.
(xxvi) Olsover's Book, which spells name Perlsohn, gives 1880 as the commencement year with his successor (Applebaum) commencing in 1889. Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013), pp.62/63 refers to Rev. Pearlson as having served the congregation as "reader for seven years until 1822 (which, as the congregation was not established until 1880, presumably included a period of service at one of the congregation's predecessor congregation). ↵
(xxvii) Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013), p.53. Rev. Claff is not listed in Olsover's Book. ↵
(xxviii) Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013). Rev. Applebaum is listed in Olsover's Book from 1889 with his successor from 1896. ↵
(xxix) Rev. Yellin's commencement - Service and Scandal by Daniel Appleby (2013) p.142 (Olsover's Book gives that date as 1896). Termination - the date of commencement of his successor (per Olsover's Book. ↵
(xxx) Based upon Rev. Blachman's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1901/2 through 1904/5 and Jewish Chronicle reports. (Olsover's Book gives his name as Blackman and his successor as commencing in 1906). ↵
(xxxi) Based upon Rev. Franklin's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 through 1923 (consistent with Olsover's Book). ↵
(xxxii) Based upon Rev. B. Gottlieb's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1924 through 1931 (commencement consistent with Olsover's Book, but which has his successor commencing in 1938). He was the father of Rev. Isaac Gottlieb, who assisted him as second reader. ↵
(xxxiii) Based upon Rev. Roeg's listing as first reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939 through 1945/6 (although there were no publications 1941-45). (Consistent with Olsover's Book.) ↵
(xxxiv) Based upon Rev. Faigenblum's Jewish Chronicle obituary and his listing as first reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1947 and 1948 (consistent with Olsover's Book). ↵
(xxxv) Based upon Rev. Kahan's listing as second reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1950 and 1951 and as the (sole) reader in the editions 1952 through 1954. There were no readers listed in 1955 through 1957.(Olsover's Book refers to him as Kahn and as first reader from 1948). ↵
(xxxvi) Based upon Rev. Haber's listing as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1958 through 1963. Olsover's Book, which gives his initial as C (his first name was probably Haim, which can also be spelled Chaim) names him as first reader from 1957, with no subsequent first readers listed. ↵
(xxxvii) Reserved.
(xxxix) Jewish Chronicle report. ↵
(xxxviii) Based upon Rev. Goldsmidt's listing in Olsover's Book and Jewish Chronicle reports. He is not listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(xl) Based upon Rev. Miller's listing as the second named reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1912 through 1916 and his listing in Olsover's Book as second minister from 1912. ↵
(xli) Based upon Rev. Warshawsky's listing as the second named reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1924 through 1926 and his listing (as Rev. M. Warshavski) in Olsover's Book as second reader from 1923 (although Gottleib is already named from the following year). ↵
(xlii) Based upon Rev. I. Gottlieb's listing as the second named reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1927 through 1929, although he is listed (as Y. Gottlieb) in Olsover's Book as second reader from 1924. He is the son of Rev. Berl Gottlieb, the first reader, whom he assisted. ↵
(xliii) Rev. Kertzman is listed as second reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1934 through 1937 However Olsover's Book lists him as second reader from 1926. ↵
(xliv) Jewish Chronicle report of 24 April 1936 on the election of "Rev. L. Wykansky of Wolverhampton" as second reader, teacher and shochet of the congregation. He is listed as second reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1938 through 1948 and is listed in Olsover's Book as second minister from 1936. He also served as acting minister in the mid-1940s (see above). ↵
(xlv) Rev. Shoob is listed as second reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1967 through 1971 and is listed in Olsover's Book as second minister from 1965. There are no further listings of readers of the congregation. ↵
(xlvi) to (xlvii) Reserved.
(xlviii) Unless otherwise stated, each of the names and year of commencement of service of the presidents of the congregations, as provided here, are as listed in Olsover's Book. If such person is also listed as president in a Jewish Year Book (which is not always the case, and vice versa), the year of commencement in each instance corresponds to within one year of the date of publication of the year book which first listed such president. Where a person's full name is given, this has been extracted from sources other than Olsover's Book. ↵
(xlix) Mr. Bernstone was inaccurately listed as F.H. Bernstone. He was the president of Temple Street Synagogue at the time of the 1880 merger. ↵
(l) Mr. Levinson was listed as president in the first Jewish Year Book to be published (1896/97). He is not listed in Olsover's Book. ↵
(li) As Mr. Levinson was not listed in Olsover's Book, such book shows Mr. Solomons's term of office as commencing from 1894 (which predates the Jewish Year Book) stretching into the second term of office shown here. ↵
(lii) This term of office by Mr. Solomons is listed in Jewish Year Books) 1912 and 1913, but is not listed in Olsover's Book. ↵
(liii) See ceremonial key presented to Mr. Cowen on opening of new synagogue in 1924. Olsover's Book indicates that Mr. Cowen's first term of office as president was continuous from 1922 to 1925, as Mr. Woolf (see next note) is not listed by Olsover. ↵
(liv) Mr. Woolf is listed as president in Jewish Year Book) 1924, but is not listed in Olsover's Book. ↵
(lv) and (lvi) Reserved.
(lvii) Unless otherwise stated, the data on the treasurers of the congregation, as listed below, has been extracted from Jewish Year Books. Where a person was first listed in a year book as treasurer, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book, which was generally towards the end of the year prior to year appearing the the title of the year book and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor (e.g. if he was listed in Jewish Year Books from 1925 through 1930, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1924 and continued in office until 1930). However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and accordingly his actual years of office may differ slightly from those shown here. ↵
(lviii) Olsover's Book, p.27, gives the name of the initial treasurer of the congregation in 1880 as Mr. M. Goldberg. ↵
(lix) The Jewish Year Books from 1945/6 through 1956 (except for 1950) and from 1974 through 1977 included the names of the wardens of the congregation. Listed below are such wardens (to 1956). See the explanation in note (lviii) above (relating to the congregation's treasurers) as to how the years of service have been calculated. ↵
(lx) and (lxi) Reserved.
(lxii) Unless otherwise stated, the data on the honorary secretaries of the congregation, as listed here, has been extracted from Jewish Year Books, which for each year from 1896 through 1973 (except during WWII) named the honorary secretary. See the explanation in note (lviii) above (relating to the congregation's treasurers) as to how the years of service have been calculated. ↵
(lxiii) The corporation's secretary at the time of the consecration of the synagogue on 25 August 1880 was Mr. A. Lewis (Olsover's Book, p.34). ↵
(lxiv) The hon. secretary elected/appointed at a meeting held on 26 September 1880 was Mr. M. Lotinga (Olsover's Book, pp.26/7). ↵
(lxv) Based upon listings in Jewish Year Books 1974 through 1978. See the explanation in note (lviii) above (relating to the congregation's treasurers) as to how the years of service have been calculated. ↵
(lxvi) and (lxvii) Reserved.
(lxviii) See also list of community organisations and institution on the Newcastle upon Tyne Jewish Community home page. ↵
(lxix) Listed, with date in Olsover's Book, page 210. ↵

Newcastle upon Tyne Jewish Community home page

Jewish Congregations in Tyne and Wear

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Page created: 3 September 2005
Data significantly expanded and notes first added: 1 April 2020
Page most recently amended: 18 April 2024

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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