Newcastle Reform Synagogue

Congregation Data

Newcastle Reform Synagogue

Ner Tamid ("Perpetual Light")

The Croft, off Kenton Road, Gosforth NE3 4RE (from 1982)⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Former Addresses:

Temporary addresses (from about 1974 to 1982), in particular Sutherland Hall, Clayton Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, but also members' homes, school halls and church halls.^(iii)(iv)

Derby Street (off Barrack Road), Newcastle upon Tyne 4 (from 1963 until about 1974), a former Methodist Hall. These premises were acquired by the local council under a compulsory purchase order, resulting in the congregation having to abandon the building and move into temporary premises.^(iv)

Current Status:

Active

Founded in 1962, largely by former German Jewish refugees and with assistance from Sinai Synagogue, Leeds.^(v)

Reform

A constituent of the Movement for Reform Judaism (formerly known as Reform Synagogues of Great Britain).

https://www.newcastlereformsynagogue.co.uk/

The Darlington Hebrew Congregation Reform Synagogue is closely associated.

Rabbi David Zucker - from about 1971 until about 1972^(viii)

Rabi M. Marcus - from about 1975 until about 1979^(ix)

Rabbi William Wolff - from 1986 until 1990^(x)

Rabbi M. Yehudai - from about 1991 until about 1994^(xi)

Rabbi Francis R. Berry - from about 1994 until about 1999^(xii)

Rabbi R. Ash - from about 2002 until about 2008^(xiii)

Rabbi Dr. Barbara Marcy Borts - from 2008 until 2012^(xiv)

Rabbi Sybil Sheridan - from 2014 until present (January 2020)^(xv)

National Reports and Surveys^(xxi)

1977 - 48 male (or household) members and 10 female members

1983 - 52 male (or household) members and 23 female members

1990 and 1996 - 140 household members

2010 - listed as having 100 to 199 members (by household)

2016 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

Newcastle Reform Synagogue is a registered charity (registered charity no. 246816), registered on 3 March 1966 (standard registration).^(xxii)

The synagogue in The Croft, off Kenton Road, Newcastle, is registered as a Place of Worship - Worship Register Number 77727 - under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.^(xxiii)

Cemetery
Information:

The Congregation has its own cemetery situated (with a prayer house) in a dedicated section of the Preston Road Cemetery, Preston Road North, North Shields. The congregation is also a member synagogue of the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS), through which the congregation's members participate in a burial scheme.

(See Newcastle Cemetery Information on Newcastle home page.)

Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above)

• (i) Reserved.

• (ii) The congregation's website it states that "the construction of the present purpose built Synagogue was completed in 1982". ↵

• (iii) The address given here was listed in Jewish Year Books 1978 through 1985 as the temporary address of the congregation. The latter date would appear to be an error as, according to the congregation's website, the congregation moved into its newly constructed synagogue in 1982. ↵

• (iv) There appears to be a discrepancy in the dates given on the congregation's website. It states that Derby Street premises were purchased in 1963 and the congregation's current premises were completed in 1982, namely 19 years later. However it also states that the congregation was 11 years in Derby Street followed by 10 years in temporary premises, namely a total of 21 years. Accordingly, the dates given here are only approximate. for 11 years. ↵

• (v) Congregation's website, accessed 10 September 2019. ↵

• (vi) and (vii) Reserved.

• (viii) Based upon Rabbi Zucker's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1972 and 1973. There were no ministers listed in the editions for 1974 and 1975. ↵

• (ix) Based upon Rabbi Marcus's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1976 through 1979. There were no ministers listed in the editions for 1980 through 1986. ↵

• (x) Based upon Rabbi Wolff's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1987 through 1990. There was no minister listed in the edition for 1991. ↵

• (xi) Based upon Rabbi Yehudai's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1992 through 1994. ↵

• (xii) Based upon Rabbi Berry's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1995 through 1998. There were no ministers listed in the editions 1999 through 2002. ↵

• (xiii) Based upon Rabbi Ash's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2003 through 2008. ↵

• (xiv) Based upon Rabbi Borts's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 2009 through 2012. ↵

• (xv) Rabbi Sheridan's profile on Reform Judaism website and congregation's website, last accessed 3 Januaryr 2020. She previously served the congregation as a student rabbi from 1980 to about 1981. ↵

• (xvi) to (xx) Reserved.

• (xxi) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by or on behalf of 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. ↵

• (xxii) Charities Commission website, accessed 2020. Clicking the charity number will take you to the charity's registration on the website. ↵

• (xxiii) Page 977 of the 2010 List of Places of Worship. ↵

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:

• Orders of Service 1985-1990 -  Tyne and Wear Archives Service (see above)

Registration District (BMD):

• Newcastle upon Tyne (since 1 July 1837)

• Link to Register Office website

Group for Marriage Certification:

• West London Synagogue.

• Worship Number: 70427