the former

Reigate and Redhill Jewish Community

Reigate and Banstead, Surrey

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Towns of Reigate and Redhill

Reigate and Redhill, with populations of approximately 22,000 and 18,000, respectively, are adjoining towns in southeast England, some twenty miles south of central London, lying half-way between Croydon to the north and Crawley to the south. Since 1974, the towns have been two of the four towns in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, a local government district in the county of Surrey. Both towns previously formed part of the Municipal Borough of Reigate.

An organised Jewish community was established at the end of the 1960s, but is now defunct.

Organisation Data
Name:	Reigate and Redhill Jewish Community⁽ⁱⁱ⁾
Address:	No fixed address. Meetings generally held in members' homes.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Formation:	Formed in 1968.^(iv)
Activities:	Based on Jewish Chronicle reports, activities appear to have consisted primarily of talks in members' homes, given by guest speakers. However, from time to time, there are references to services being held, the first of which took place in September 1971.^(v)
Closure:	The latest press report of activities was in 1983, and it would appear that it became defunct not long thereafter, although it continued to be listed (presumably by default) in Jewish Year Books until 2009.
Affiliation and Ritual:	The congregation was unaffiliated, although based upon the nature of its guest speakers, services held would have been traditional Orthodox
Ministers:	Believed none appointed
Lay Officers:	Chairmen Dr. Franz Neumann - c.1968-1972^(viii) Julian Kemper - 1972-1980s^(ix) Vice Chairman F. Simon - c. 1971^(x)	Hon. Secretary Miss B.A. Langford - from at least 1970-c.1982^(xi) Treasurer H. Bernstein - c. 1971^(xii)
Membership:	Members - as reported by Jewish Year Books^(xv) 1979 - 60 members; 1985 - 45 members National Reports and Surveys^(xvi) 1977 - 15 male (or household) members and 5 female members 1983 - 15 male (or household) members and 8 female members
Registration District (BMDs):	Surrey, since 4 August 2008^(xvii) - Link to Register Office Website

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to Reigate and Redhill Jewish Community

On JCR-UK

Press reports on the Community 1969 to 1983

Notable Jewish Connections with Reigate and Redhill

Bernard Bresslaw, Jewish actor, who first came to prominence in the television comedy, The Army Game, and is best known for his part in the Carry On Films, lived for a time in Redhill;
Edwina Currie, writer, broadcaster and former Conservative MP and junior health minister, who was born of Jewish parents, lived in Redhill.

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) Reserved.
(ii) This is the name mentioned in Jewish Chronicle report of 18 April 1969 and most other reports, as well as in Jewish Year Books, although later press reports refer to Reigate and District Jewish Community. ↵
(iii) Most Jewish Chronicle press reports identify the name of the member whose home is being used for the meeting. ↵
(iv) Jewish Year Book 1971. It is also referred to as "newly formed" in the Jewish Chronicle report of 18 April 1969. ↵
(v) The Jewish Chronicle report of 24 September 1971. ↵
(vi) and (vii) Reserved.
(viii) Dr. Newman is listed as president in Jewish Year Books from 1971 (the first appearance of the community) and 1972. Jewish Chronicle report of 8 October 1971, reporting his death refers to him as founder and it is assumed accordingly that he served as chairman from the establishment of the community. ↵
(ix) J. Kemper is listed as president in Jewish Year Books from 1973. ↵
(x) F. Simon is listed as vice president in a Jewish Chronicle report of September 1971. ↵
(xi) Miss Langford is listed as hon. Secretary in Jewish Year Books from 1971 through 1982. ↵
(xii) H. Bernstein is listed as treasurer in a Jewish Chronicle report of September 1971. ↵
(xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.
(xv) Jewish Year Books 1980 and 1986, respectively. ↵
(xvi) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by 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. ↵
(xvii) Previous Registration Districts: Reigate (from 1 July 1837 to 1 April 1934); Surrey South Eastern (from 1 April 1934 to 1 October 1996; South East Surrey (from 1 October 1996 to 1 May 2000); East Surrey (from 1 May 2000 to 4 August 2008). Any registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵

Jewish Congregations in Surrey

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Page created: 11 August 2022
Page most recently amended: 12 August 2022

Research by David Shulman and Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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