the former

Penrhiwceiber Synagogue

Penrhiwceiber, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, South Wales

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Village of Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber (Welsh: Penrhiw-ceibr) is a village just to the south of Mountain Ash (Aberpennar) in the Valleys of south-east Wales. It lies about 18 north-west of Cardiff, approximately halfway between Pontypridd and Aberdare.

Until 1974, Penrhiwceiber was in the urban district of Mountain Ash 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).

The Jewish Community

A small Jewish community existed in Penrhiwceiber in the early part of the twentieth century.

Congregation Data
Name:	Penrhiwceiber Synagogue
Address:	Not presently known⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Formation:	Formed by 1911.^(iv)
Closure:	The congregation probably became defunct by 1920.^(v)
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation was an unaffiliated congregation probably under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.
Readers:	Rev. Moses Levy - reader from about 1911 until about 1913.^(viii) Rev. M. Pustanski - reader from about 1913 until date uncertain.^(ix)
Lay Officers:	The following data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books. Presidents L. Levisohn - from about 1911 until about 1913.^(x) M. Freedman - from about 1913.^(xi) Treasurers V. Freed - from about 1911 until about 1913.^(x) R. Chinn - from about 1913.^(xi) Hon. Secretary M.I. Goldsmid - from about 1911.^(xii)
Registration District:	Rhondda Cynon Taf, since 1 October 2002^{^(xv)}- Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	There was no Jewish cemetery in Penrhiwceiber, the nearest Jewish cemeteries are Pontypridd (about 8 miles away) and Merthyr Tydfil (some 12 miles away).

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) and (ii) Reserved.
(iii) There was no address listed in Jewish Year Books. ↵
(iv) Based upon the congregation first being listed in Jewish Year Books1912. ↵
(v) Although the congregation remained listed in Jewish Year Books until 1925, the last change of information was in the 1914 edition, and accordingly it is probable that the congregation became defunct prior to the 1920s but the year book continued publishing the previous year's data. ↵
(vi) and (vii) Reserved.
(viii) Based upon Rev. Moses Levy's listing as reader in Jewish Year Books 1912 and 1913. ↵
(ix) Rev. Pustanski from London is referred to as reader of the congregation in a Jewish Chronicle report of 21 February 1913. He was first listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Book 1914 and although he remained listed until 1925, it is believed that the congregation had become defunct many years earlier. ↵
(x) Listed in Jewish Year Books 1912 and 1913 ↵
(xi) First listed in Jewish Year Book 1914 and although listed until 1925, it is believed that the congregation had become defunct many years earlier. ↵
(xii) The only person listed in Jewish Year Books as hon. secretary of the congregation - listed from 1911 until 1925, although it is believed that the congregation had become defunct many years prior to 1925. ↵
(xiii) and (xiv) Reserved.
(xv) The Registration District was previously known as Pontypridd until 1 October 2002. All records would now be held by the current office. ↵

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

Jewish Congregations in the former county of Glamorganshire

Jewish Congregations in the former administrative county of Mid Glamorgan

Jewish Congregations in Wales, listed according to current unitary authorities

Jewish Communities & Congregations in Wales home page

Page created: 13 May 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 16 January 2025
Page most recently amended: 19 January 2025

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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