the former

Aberdare Synagogue

and Jewish Community

Aberdare, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, South Wales

Page created: 23 August 2005
Latest revision or update: 27 July 2017

Village of Aberdare

Aberdare is situated on the confluence of the river Dar and the river Cynon in the Valleys of South Wales. It lies about 23 miles north-west of Cardiff, some 13 miles to the north of Pontypridd and 14 miles to the south-west of Merthyr Tydfil.

Until 1974, Aberdare was in the urban district of Aberdare in the county of Glamorganshire. From 1974 until 1996, it was part of the district of Cynon Valley in the new county of Mid Glamorgan. Since 1996, it has formed part of the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf - a unitary authority (within the ceremonial, or preserved, county of Mid Glamorgan).

Aberdare Jewish Community

A Jewish community existed in Aberdare from at least the 1860s (Into the Vortex by G. Alderman, p.3).

Congregation Data
Name:	Aberdare Synagogue also known as the Aberdare and Aberaman Hebrew Congregation
Address:	19A Seymour Street, Aberdare (These premises, which were initially the residence of a Mr. David Hart, had been used by the congregation for divine services from about 1889, and were purchased for the congregation in 1902.)
Current Status:	Closed (demolished)
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Communal Officers 1896:	Mr. M. Jacobs - President of Synagogue Hirsch Taffer - Shochet Source: Jewish Year Book 1896
Cemetery Information:	There is no Jewish cemetery in Aberdare, the closest being in Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil.

On-line Articles and Other Material
relating to the Aberdare Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

How 'Greeners' Came to the Valley by Michael Wallach, Jewish Chronicle Colour Magazine, 1975 (posted on JCR-UK).
Press Reports relating to the Aberdare Jewish Community 1865-1919
Press Reports relating to the Aberdare Jewish Community 1920-1968
Aberdare from "Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain" - Brief reference to the community in papers for a conference at University College, London, convened by the Jewish Historical Society of England, prepared by Aubrey Newman - 6th July 1975.
Bibliography

Aberdare Jewish Population Data
1934	90	(The Jewish Year Book 1935)
1946	63	(The Jewish Year Book 1947)

Former Jewish Communities in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf home page

Jewish Congregations in the former county of Glamorganshire

Jewish Congregations in Wales, listed according to current unitary authorities

Jewish Communities & Congregations in Wales home page