Solihull & District Hebrew Congregation

Selected Press Reports relating to
Solihull and District Hebrew Congregation

Jewish Chronicle, 11 October 1963

For the first time in post-war days services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur were held for the small Jewish community in Solihull at the Women's Institute Hall. The average attendance was 45.

Jewish Chronicle, 24 November 1972

With help from the Birmingham Congregation regular Hebrew classes have been held for the community's children but it has not been possible to hold Shabbat services on a regular basis because such services are held in hired halls, which are not always available. The service attended by Mr Gold [of Birmingham] was held in Sharmans Cross School, and was attended by 90 people. 

Jewish Chronicle, 9 December 1977

Birmingham
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Immanuel Jakobovits, consecrated the new synagogue of the Solihull and District Hebrew Congregation last week. The synagogue, which was formally opened by Dr Phillip Wine, the first president of the congregation, has been built on land leased to the congregation by a community of Franciscan friars and marks the fruition of the first phase of the plans of a dedicated band of men after nearly 16 years of frustration and disappointment. A second phase, enlargement of the hall and ancillary rooms, will be embarked upon as soon as funds permit. Those present included Councillor Norman L. Green, the Mayor of Solihull, the presidents and ministers of the four Birmingham synagogues, Mr George Gee a vice-president of the United Synagogue, the Rev Fathers Pascal and Moore of the Franciscan Monastery, and the Rev Forsyte of St Ninian's Church; in whose hall services had been held previously. Dr Jakobovits said in his address: "I know that those associated with building this edifice went through a long struggle of darkness and now a new dawn is breaking that merits you to be part of the whole house of Israel." The service was conducted by the Rev Sidney Gold and the Rev Dr Reuben S. Brookes, of Birmingham's Singers Hill Synagogue, Mr William D. Mereine, president, and Dr H. Warson, warden of the Solihull congregation, assisted by the Singers Hill synagogue choir. Two youngsters of the community, Andrew Goorney and Philip Mereine, recited the Prayers for the Royal Family and the State of Israel. A luncheon followed in the Solihull civic hall.