JCR-UK

Plymouth Jewish Community

and Synagogue

Plymouth, Devon

 

 

    
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congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.
NOTE: We are not this congregation's official website,
the address of which can be reached by clicking on the logo below.

City  of Plymouth

The city of Plymouth, an historic port on the south coast of Devon, just to the east of the boundary with Cornwall, in South West England, has a population of about 240,000.  The county borough of Plymouth, created 1889, had been enlarged a number of times by incorporation of adjoining localities, including in 1914 the incorporation of the county borough of Devonport, also created in 1889.  In 1928 Plymouth was granted city status. In 1974, Plymouth lost its county borough status becoming a local government district within the county of Devon.  However, in 1974, it once again became a unitary authority, remaining within Devon for ceremonial purposes.

Plymouth Synagogue
Plymouth Synagogue
©David Shulman 2016

The Jewish Community

The Jewish community in Plymouth dates from the 1720s, a cemetery having been acquired by 1744 and the synagogue (still in use) was built in the early 1760s.

The Napoleonic Wars saw the heyday of the naval ports and, as a result of the hostilities between Britain and France, Plymouth prospered in common with the others. By 1815 Plymouth was one of the four principal Jewish centers outside London and shared this honour with Portsmouth, Liverpool and Birmingham. As many as 30 of its members were then licensed navy agents (although a quarter of a century earlier the community's status can be gauged by the counting of twelve silversmiths in its circle, although they were not all heads of businesses).(i)

In the early nineteenth century and again from the late nineteenth century until World War II, the synagogue had a branch congregation in Devonport.

The principal recent works covering the community is The Jews of Plymouth - an Illustrated History (2015), by Helen Fry (which we refer to here as "Fry's Plymouth").


Congregation Data

Name:

Plymouth Hebrew Congregation or Plymouth Synagogue

Address and founding:

Catherine Street (adjoining Guild Hall), Plymouth PL1 2A.

The synagogue is the oldest extant Ashkenazi synagogue still in use in the English speaking world, having been built in 1762 although not completed until 1763/4.(iii)

The plot of land on which the synagogue stands was acquired under a deed of trust (lease) of 27 April 1762(iv) (but held by a friendly non-Jew, as the legality of Jews holding land was then somewhat doubtful).(v) There were at least two subsequent leases of the land(v) and the freehold was purchased by the congregation in 1834.(vi)

Although the building has seen a number of major restorations and refurbishments,(ix) the only significant alteration to the building since its erection took place in 1864, when the ladies' gallery was extended with the addition of north and south wings.(x)

The synagogue is a Grade II* Listed Building, listed on 25 January 1954 (number 1130015). See Historic England Listing & Description.

Prior to the construction of the synagogue, regular services were held, from at least 1745, in residents' homes and rented rooms.(xi)

Status:

Active

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox.

Affiliation:

The congregation is an unaffiliated provincial congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.

Website:

http://www.plymouthsynagogue.com

Ministers and Readers:  (To view a short profile of a minister, reader or other religious functionary whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over the name.)

Unless otherwise stated, the following list has been extracted from those listed by Rabbi B. Susser in Chapter 6 of his thesis, The Jews of South-West England ("Susser's Thesis"), and/or those listed in Fry's Plymouth, p.114.(xiv)

(The Jewish Year Book of 1945/6 claimed that Rabbi David Tevele Schiff (Chief Rabbi 1765-1791) had been "the local minister" in Plymouth, "the only provincial minister in Anglo-Jewish history to become, later, Chief Rabbi in London." However, this claim appears to be extremely unlikely.(xv))

Rev. Levi Benjamin or Jacob Judah ben Benjamin - reader from the 1770s until 1829(xvi)

Rabbi Phineas ben Samuel - preacher from 1800 until about 1803(xvii)

Rev. Myer Stadthagen - shochet and reader/minister from 1829 until 1862(xix)

Rev. Levy Rosenbaum - minister from 1863 until 1893(xx)

Rev. Abraham Nathan Spier - minister/reader and shochet from 1884 until 1893(xxiii)

Rev. Elias Jaffe - minister from 1893 until at least 1895(xxiv)

Rev. Dr. Moses Berlin - minister from 1895 until 1902(xxv)

Rev. David Jacobs - minister from 1903 until 1914(xxvi)

Rev. Aaron K. Slavinsky - reader from 1907 until 1912, then minister until 1917, returning as minister from May 1918 until 1919(xxvii)

Rev. A. Sheinrock - temporary minister from about 1914 until about 1915(xxxi)

Rev. Leib Aisak Falk - minister from 1915 until 1918(xxxii)

Rev. Mendel Zeffert - minister from 1918 until 1928(xxxiii)

Rev. Simon Wykansky - chazan and shochet from 1920 until 1932(xxxiv)

Rev. Wilfred Wolfson - minister from 1928 until 1944(xxxv)

Rev. Emanuel Goodman - chazan from 1933 until 1959(xxxix)

Rev. Simon Isaac Susman - minister from 1944 until 1952(xl)

Rev. David Josovic - minister from 1954 until 1956(xli)

Rev. Irvin Broder - minister (or reader) from 1958 or 1959 until 1960(xlii)

Rev. Bernard Susser, BA (first term) - minister from 1961 until 1965(xlvi)

Rev. Alec Ginsburg - minister from 1965 until 1974 or 1975(xlvii)

Rev. Nathan Herzl Rockman - minister from 1975 until 1976 or 1977(xlviii)

Rabbi Dr. Bernard Susser (second term) - minister from 1977 until 1981(xlix)

Since 1981, the congregation has not had a resident minister and has relied upon the services of members of the congregation and visiting ministers, most notably Rev. Malcolm Wiseman, OBE, the minister of the Small Communities, and his colleague, Rev. Elkan Levy, director of the Office of Small Communities.(l)

Other Religious Functionaries (including Second Readers):

Hirsch Mannheim - shochet, appointed between 1761 and 1763.(lii)

Rev. Moses Isaac - beadle, teacher and mohel from about 1778 until 1790(liii)

Joseph ben Joseph Meir - beadle (and possibly reader) from at least 1778 until 1784(liv)

Rabbi Moses Ephraim - tutor and rabbi 1780s until 1815(lv)

Cantor Lima - second reader from 1786 until at least 1816(lviii)

Rev. Joseph Levy - beadle, shochet and teacher (and possibly reader) from at least 1800 until prior to 1810(lix)

Simeon ben Nathan - teacher from 1806 until at least 1812(lx)

Hayyim (Chaim) Issachar - beadle from about 1810 (or 1813) until 1830(lxi)

Rev. Isaac Falk Valentine - see Dock Minyan below

Rev. Enoch Zundel ben Zvi - see Dock Minyan below

Nahman ben Isaac - reader appointed in 1815(lxiv)

Rev. Michael Solomon Alexander - shochet and second reader from about 1823 until 1825(lxv)

Rev. H. Harris - second reader and shochet from 1829 until 1831(lxvi)

Rev. Isaac Stone - teacher from 1846 until 1847(lxvii)

Rev. Leopold Stern - shochet from 1850s until mid 1860s(lxx)

Rev. Joshua Levy - shochet from 1865 until 1867(lxxi)

Rev. Moses Lewis - shochet from 1884 until 1885(lxxii)

Hyman Aloof - beadle and second reader from 1924 until 1959(lxxiii)

Lay Officers:

See Appendix 2 (Officers of the Congregation) to The Jews of Plymouth by Helen Fry, displayed with the kind permission of Helen Fry.

The linked Appendix does not, however, list lay offices for the period between 1892 and 1917. Accordingly, the following lists of lay officers have been extracted from Jewish Year Books (first published in 1896/7).(lxxv)

Presidents (1896-1917)

1896-1900 - Myer Fredman(lxxvi)

1900-1901 - A. Titleboan

1901-1902 - Levin Fredman

1902-1903 - M. Roseman

1903-1904 - E.P. Ellis

1904-1905 - Myer Fredman(lxxvi)

1905-1907 - Tobias Brand

1907 - Gedaliah Robins(lxxvii)

1908-1909 - Tobias Brand

1909-1910 - M. Lewis

1910-1911 - Tobias Brand

1911-1915 - Ald. Myer Fredman(lxxvi)

1915-1916 - E.P. Ellis

from 1916 - Isidore Cohen

Treasurers (1896-1917)

1896-1898 - Abraham Morris

1898-1900 - L. Abrahamson

1900-1901 - Joseph Jacobs

1901-1902 - Eleazer Orgel

1902-1903 - E. Plaskowsky

1903-1904 - Tobias Brand

1904-1905 - A.E. Roseman

1905-1907 - Gedaliah Robins

1907-1909 - E.P. Ellis

1909-1911 - D. Jordan

1911-1913 - Abraham Cornick

1913-1915 - Isidore Cohen

1915-1916 - Israel Fredman

from 1916 - Myer Roseman

Secretaries and Hon. Secretaries (1896-1917)

1896-1898 - Myer Fredman, sen(lxxvi)

1898-1900 - Joseph Jacobs

1900-1901 - Israel Fredman

1901-1902 - Rev. Dr. Moses Berlin

1902-1903 - A.E. Roseman

1903-1905 - Israel Fredman

1905-1906 - Isidore Cohen

1906-1908 - Herschell Orgel

1908-1909 - Rev. David Jacobs

1909-1910 - Herschell Orgel

1910-1913 - Michael Solomon

1913-1915 - L. Robins

1915-1916 - Hyman Roseman

1916-1917 - Victor Levy

from 1917 - Michael Solomon

Branch Congregations:

Dock Minyan(lxxviii)

The Dock Minyan was established in 1803 as an offshoot of the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation. The congregation was situated in what was then known as Plymouth Dock, or simply 'Dock' (renamed Devonport in 1824), a municipality separate from Plymouth lying some three miles to the west of the Plymouth synagogue. Not only was it a long walk to the Plymouth synagogue on the Sabbath for members of the growing Jewish community in the Dock area, it would have been necessary to pass over a toll bridge, for which religious law prohibited payment on the Sabbath.  

Services were held in rented rooms.

Members of the Dock Minyan were required also to be members of the main synagogue and the relationship between the two congregations was governed by regulation and agreements, in order to ensure that the community remained united.

The minyan remained active until the 1840s and was finally dissolved in 1844.

Initially the Dock Minyan shared a shochet with the main synagogue, both congregations contributing to the cost. However, from 1811, shochets were appointed specifically for the minyan. The follow are the minyan's early known shochets:

Rev. Isaac Falk Valentine - shochet appointed in August 1811 and murdered in November 1811(lxxix)

Rev. Enoch (Zundel ben Zvi) - shochet appointed in 1811(lxxx)

Nahman ben Isaac - shochet appointed in 1815(lxxxi)

Devonport Synagogue

From about 1890 until its premises were destroyed in a German air raid in 1941, another branch congregation existed in Devonport, see separately the Devonport Synagogue.

Communal Magazine:

The Digest, founded by Rabbi Susser and published monthly.(lxxxiv)

Membership Data:

General

1845 - 19 ba'alai batim and 33 seatholders (Chief Rabbi's Questionnaire)

150 appropriated seats, 205 individual members (C. Roth, The Rise of Provincial Jewry)

Number of Seatholders - Board of Deputies Returns(lxxxv)

1852

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

52

52

40

41

50

72

Number of Seatholders - Jewish Year Books

1896

1900

1903

1911

1917

1939

1945

1948

70

66

70

78

80

110

115

140

Reports & Survey(lxxxvi)

1977 - 72 male (or household) members and 29 female members

1983 - 61 male (or household) members and 65 female members

1990 - 80 members (comprising 31 households, 20 individual male and 29 individual female members)

1996 - 72 members (comprising 25 households, 23 individual male and 24 individual female members)

2010 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

2016 - listed as having under 50 members (by household)

Charitable Status:

Plymouth Hebrew Congregation is a registered charity, number 220010 (standard registration), registered on 7 July 1966, with a linked charity, Plymouth Jewish Ladies Guild, number 220020-1, rules adopted 10 October 1979.(lxxxvii)

Registration District:

Plymouth, since 1 July 1837 - Link to Register Office website

Worship Registration:

The synagogue is registered as a Place of Worship - Worship Register Number 20929 - under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.(lxxxviii)

 
Plymouth Synagogue
The Synagogue entrance
©David Shulman 2016

 

The interior, viewed from the Ladies Gallery
©David Shulman 2016

For additional photographs of the Synagogue click here

 


Search the All-UK Database

The records in the database associated with Plymouth include:

  • Census:

    • Extracts for Plymouth from: 1841 / 1851 / 1861 / 1871 / 1881 / 1891 censuses (1,612 records).

  • UK Jewish Communal Leaders Database - Plymouth records (including Devonport):

    • Jewish Directory for 1874 (records of 22 individuals);

    • Jewish Year Book 1896/7 (records of 7 individuals); and

    • JCR-UK Listings (records of 188 individuals - as of the March 2024 update).

  • 1851 Anglo Jewry Database (updated 2016):

    • 1760s (1 record); 1770s (2 records), 1780s (11 records), 1790s (14 records), 1800s (33 records), 1810s (67 records); 1820s (94 records), 1830s (135 records), 1840s (266 records), 1850s (380 records), 1860s (185 records), 1870s (102 records), 1880s (60 records), 1890s (13 records), 1900s (8 records) and 1910s (2 records).

 

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Plymouth Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

 on Third Party Websites

 

Some Notable Jewish Connections with Plymouth and Devonport

  • Jacob Gottschalk Ascher (1841-1912), a chess master, journalist and president of the Young Mens' Hebrew Association in Canada, was born in Plymouth.

  • Louis Emanuel (also Louis Alexander Emanuel or L. A. Emanuel) (1819-1889), an English composer, conductor and bandmaster, was born in Plymouth.

  • Alderman Myer Fredman JP, Mayor of Devonport 1911-1912, was hon secretary and then president of the Plymouth Hebrew congregation.

  • Alderman Arthur Goldberg (d.1983), Lord Mayor of Plymouth in 1961, was life president of the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation.

  • Leslie Hoare-Belisha (later 1st Baron Hore-Belisha) (1893-1957), British politician and Member of Parliament, was born in Devonport. He initially represented the Liberal Party (MP for Devonport), then National Liberal Party and later the Conservative Party and served as the UK Minister of Transport (1934–1937) and Secretary for War (1937–1940).

  • Robert Lenkiewicz, whose paintings looked at themes such as vagrancy, sexual behaviour and suicide, lived in Plymouth from the 1960s until his death in 2002.

  • F. Ashe Lincoln, Q.C., R.N.V.R. (1907-1998), a distinguished naval officer, barrister, author and Jewish communal leader, who lived for many years in Portsmouth. Both his father, originally Rev. Reuben A. Tribich, and his son, Rabbi David Lincoln, ministered to congregations in the United Kingdom.

  • Sir Sigismund Ferdinand Mendl KBE (1866-1945) was a Liberal Party politician and businessman. He was MP for Plymouth, 1898-1900.

  • Judith Marilyn Spiers (b. 1953), a British radio and television presenter, was born in Plymouth. She presented the morning show on BBC Radio Devon from 2005 until 2015

  • Zionist leaders David Ben Gurion (future first Prime Minister of Israel) and Vladimir Jabotinsky trained with the Jewish Battalion at Crown Hill Fort, Plymouth, prior to the Battalion's departure for Egypt.

 

Other Plymouth Jewish Institutions & Organisations

Educational & Theological

  • Jacob Nathan and Congregational Hebrew Classes, formed by about 1932(xcvi) on the merger of:

    • Congregational Hebrew Classes, established during the early years of the congregation; and

    • Jacob Nathan Day School, established in 1869 in accordance with a bequest in the will Jacob Nathan. The school was initially at 69 Well Street Plymouth, but later moved to the Synagogue House or Vestry, opposite the Synagogue. The first headmaster was a Mr. Congdon. A later headmaster was Joseph Goldston.(xcvii)

Welfare and Communal Organisations

  • Meshivat Nefesh Society, a friendly society, the first in Southeast England, founded in 1795. To benefit its members, it took the form of a lottery and many activities were organised. The society invested its capital and interest was spent on the poor.(xcix)

  • Mikveh. The community had a mikveh from at least 1821. However, the latest mikveh, no longer in use, was at the back ofthe Vestry (opposite the Synagogue).(c)

  • Chevra Kadisha and Bikur Cholim Society (the latter was formerly the Sick Visiting Society, founded by 1901)(ci). The Chevra Kadisha was probably formed shortly after acquisition of first cemetery.

  • Plymouth Jewish Board of Guardians, founded by 1912.(cii)

  • Orphan Aid Society, formed by at least 1923.(ciii)

  • Ladies Guild, formed by at least 1947,(civ) it is now a registered charity (number 220020-1) linked to the congregation's charity registration.

  • Jewish Ladies Benevolent Aid Society, founded in 1904,(cv) which in about 1945 incorporated the Plymouth Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society,(cvi) which had been founded in about 1830.(cvii)[various]

  • Ladies Refugee Committee, formed by 1945,(cviii) but probably existing from some years earlier.

Social & Cultural Organisations

  • Anglo-Jewish Association Branch, founded by 1896.(cxi)

  • Young Men’s Jewish Association, founded in 1903.(cxii)

  • Jewish Literary & Social Society, founded by 1904.(cxiii)

  • Three Towns Jewish Social Society, founded by 1910.(cxiv)

  • Young Israel Society, founded by 1927.(cxv)

Israel & Zionist Organisations

  • Chovevei Zion Branch, formed by 1896.(cxviii)

  • JNF Commission, formed by at least 1927.(cxix)

  • Plymouth Zionist Society, formed by 1930.(cxx)

  • Plymouth Women's Mizrachi, formed by at least 1939.(cxxi)

  • Zion Society, formed by 1939.(cxxii)

  • Mizrachi Society, formed by 1954.(cxxiii)

Other Institutions

  • Plymouth Jewish Defence Committee, founded by 1948.(cxxvi)

  • Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (AJEX), branch founded by at least 1949.(cxxvii)

 

Plymouth Jewish Cemetery Information

The Plymouth Jewish community has two Jewish cemeteries:

  • The Plymouth Hoe Old Jews' Burial Ground, Lambhay Hill, The Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2NW. Burial date from 1744. The Cemetery was extended in 1758, 1811 and 1815. The cemetery is no longer in use but is still maintained by the community.
    The Burial Ground is a Grade II Listed Building, listed on 31 October 2017 (number 1448469). See Historic England Listing & Description.

Articles and other material about the old Plymouth cemetery on JCR-UK:

  • Tombstone Inscriptions in the Old Jewish Cemetery on Plymouth Hoe;

  • "Jewish Tombstone Inscriptions in S. W. England - Studies in Anglo-Jewish History No. 3", by Rabbi Dr. Bernard Susser, includes an Introduction that makes reference to Plymouth;

  • Jewish Tombstone of South-West England.  A brief article by Rabbi Dr. Bernard Susser, primarily on the Plymouth cemeteries and their inscriptions. A valuable insight into how he was drawn into his historical studies. It usefully supplements the above.

  • Gifford Place Jewish Cemetery, rear of 49 Gifford Place, Mutley Plymouth PL3. Opened in 1868 and still in use.

(See also IAJGS International Jewish Cemeteries Project - Plymouth)

 

Plymouth Jewish Population Data

Year

Number

Source

1896

250

(The Jewish Year Book 1896/7)

1897

260

(The Jewish Year Book 1897/8)

1905

300

(The Jewish Year Book 1905/6)

1945

370

(The Jewish Year Book 1945/6)

1947

335

(The Jewish Year Book 1948)

1951

350

(The Jewish Year Book 1952)

1965

225

(The Jewish Year Book 1966)

1978

175

(The Jewish Year Book 1979)

1985

155

(The Jewish Year Book 1986)

1987

150

(The Jewish Year Book 1988)

1990

200

(The Jewish Year Book 1991)

1992

100

(The Jewish Year Book 1993)

2003

181

(The Jewish Year Book 2004)

 

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

  • (i) Introduction in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (ii) Reserved.

  • (iii) Section on "Plymouth" from The Rise of Provincial Jewry by Cecil Roth, 1950 ("Roth's Plymouth"). ↵

  • (iv) History of Plymouth Synagogue by Rabbi B. Susser ("Susser's Plymouth") and Fry's Plymouth, pp.21/2. ↵

  • (v) Roth's Plymouth and the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (vi) Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (vii) and (viii) Reserved.

  • (ix) Susser's Plymouth. ↵

  • (x) Pamphlet issued by the congregation. ↵

  • (xi) Pamphlet issued by the congregation. ↵

  • (xii) and (xiii) Reserved

  • (xiv) The lists by Susser and Fry are not identical and the latter also includes a number of those listed below under "Other Religious Functionaries". Ministers' profiles provided with the assistance of Steven Jaffe. ↵

  • (xv) The claim is repeated in the Jewish Year Books 1947 and 1948 (and the 1940 edition had earlier also referred to Rabbi Schiff as being an early minister in Plymouth). However, the 1949 edition, while discussing oustanding early members of the congregation conspicuously makes no reference to Rabbi Schiff. No other reference has been found to indicate that Rabbi Schiff served the Plymouth community and the timeline alone would make it extremely unlikely. ↵

  • (xvi) Details in text of Susser's Thesis. Rev. Benjamin is also listed in Fry's Plymouth without end date. ↵

  • (xvii) Details in text of Susser's Thesis. Rev. Phineas is also listed in Fry's Plymouth without end date. ↵

  • (xviii) Reserved.

  • (xix) Jewish Chronicle report of 2 May 1862, Fry's Plymouth, pp.43/44, 114 (although on p.114, Rev. Stadthagen is listed as serving only until 1861, which is consistent with his grave stone inscription, on p.138, which refers to 32 years of service to the congregation) and Susser's Thesis. ↵

  • (xx) Fry's Plymouth, pp.46, 114 and Susser's Thesis, where he is listed as minister. No further information is known about Rev. Rosenbaum. ↵

  • (xxi) and (xxii) Reserved.

  • (xxiii) Fry's Plymouth, pp.46/47, 114 and Susser's Thesis, where Rev. Spier is listed as a shochet and his commencement date is incorrectly given as 1886. The Jewish Chronicle of 1 September 1893 reported on a wedding in Plymouth officiated by the Rev. A. N. Spier, father of the bride and late minister of the Plymouth Congregation. (However, he continued to reside in Plymouth until 1896.) ↵

  • (xxiv) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth. Fry (p.114) gives the start date as 1904, which is incorrectly as The Jewish Chronicle of 4 August 1893 reported that when Rev. E. Jaffe delivered his inaugural sermon in Plymouth on Saturday last, nearly the whole of the members were present. The last Jewish Chronicle report found placing Rev. Jaffe in Plymouth was in 1895. ↵

  • (xxv) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth. However, although Fry (on p.46) gives Rev. Dr. Berlin's start year as 1895, Susser gives the year as 1896, but a Jewish Chronicle report in 1895 places Rev. Berlin in Plymouth. Both Susser and Fry give the year of Rev. Berlin's departure as 1906, but a Jewish Chronicle report of 21 November 1902 states that the Rev. Dr. M. Berlin, of Plymouth, has been appointed Headmaster [in Manchester], and will take charge of the school immediately. Subsequent reports also place Rev. Berlin in Manchester in 1902. He was also listed as minister of the congregation in the first Jewish Year Book (1896/7) through the 1902/2 edition. ↵

  • (xxvi) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth. Although Fry (pp.47, 114) gives 1912 as the year of Rev. Jacobs's departure, Susser gives the year as 1914 and Jewish Chronicle reports confirm that he remained in Plymouth until at least 1914. He is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Book 1903/4 through 1906/7, 1909 and 1910 and (jointly with Rev. Slavinsky) 1911 through 1914. ↵

  • (xxvii) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114), both of which give Rev. Slavinsky's year of appointment as 1909. However, The Jewish Chronicle of 12 July 1907 reports his acceptance of a "call" from the Plymouth Congregation Both also give the year of his departure as 1918. However, The Jewish Chronilcle of 12 September 1919 indicates a departure in 1919. Jolles's Encyclopaedia of British Chazanim, etc. resolves the dellemma, referring to a short period of service at Notting Hill (1917 to May 1918) followed by Rev. Slavinsky return to Plymouth. He is also listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Book, jointly with Rev. Jacobs 1911 through 1914, jointly with Rev. Sheinrock 1915 and jointly with Rev. Falk 1916 and 1917. ↵

  • (xxviii) to (xxx) Reserved.

  • (xxxi) Not listed or mentioned in either Susser's Thesis or Fry's Plymouth. Rev. Sheinrock is listed, jointly with Rev. Slavinsky, as a temporary minister in the Jewish Year Books 1915. ↵

  • (xxxii) Not listed amongst the ministers in either Susser's Thesis or Fry's Plymouth. although Fry refers to him in the text of her book (p.86). The Jewish Chronicle of 28 May 1915 reports on a large congregation attended Plymouth Synagogue the first day of Pentecost, to welcome the Rev. L. A. Falk, who was inducted into office as minister of this congregation and during the morning service delivered his inaugural sermon. The Jewish Chronicle of 8 February 1918 reported that Rev. L.A. Falk, who had been appointed Chaplain to the [Jewish] Battalion, was presented with a cheque by the members of the [Plymouth] congregation, on his departure with the Regiment. He is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books jointly with Rev. Slavinsky 1916 and 1917 and on his own 1918 and 1919. ↵

  • (xxxiii) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as in office during this period. Rev. Zeffert is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1920 through 1928 (in 1922 through 1927 jointly with Rev. Wykamsky). ↵

  • (xxxiv) Rev. S. Wykansky is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as cantor or chazan/shochet during this period. The Jewish Chronicle of 10 September 1920 reported that Rev. S. Wykansky, of Hanley, has been unanimously elected First Beader of the Plymouth congregation and on 1 April 1932 it referred to him as the recently appointed shochet to Hull community. He is listed as second named minister in Jewish Year Books 1922 through 1927 and as reader in the editions 1928 through 1933. ↵

  • (xxxv) Listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister during this period. The Jewish Chronicle of 24 March 1944 reported on a farewell supper in Plymouth in honour of the Rev. W. Wolfson. He is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1929 through 1940 (the last edition prior to the war-time cessation of publication). ↵

  • (xxxvi) to (xxxviii) Reserved.

  • (xxxix) Rev. Goodman is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as chazan/reader during this period. He is also listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1934 through 1960 (except for the war years in which there was a cessation of publication). ↵

  • (xl) Rev. Susman is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister during this period. He is also listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1945/6 through 1952. ↵

  • (xli) Rev. Josovic is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister during this period. He is also listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1955 and 1956. ↵

  • (xlii) Rev. Broder is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister of the congregation. the former giving a 1958 start date and the latter 1959 and both give a 1960 end date. He is listed, surprisingly (and, it would appear, erroneously) as reader of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1961. ↵

  • (xliii) to (xlv) Reserved.

  • (xlvi) Rev. Susser is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister during this period. He is also listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1962 through 1965. ↵

  • (xlvii) Rev. Ginsburg is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister from 1965 until 1975. However, earlier research had indicated that he left in 1974. He is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1966 through 1975. ↵

  • (xlviii) Rev. Rockman is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister of the congregation. Both give a 1975 start date, but the latter gives an end date of 1977 and Rabbi Susser, who was Rev. Rockman's immediate successor, states that he left in 1976. He is listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1976 through 1978. ↵

  • (xlix) Rabbi Susser is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (p.114) as minister of the congregation during this period. He is listed as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1979 through 1981. ↵

  • (l) Fry's Plymouth (p.51). ↵

  • (li) Reserved.

  • (lii) Hirsch Mannheim was licensed by the existing London authorities during the interregnum in the London Rabbinate between the retirement of Hart Lyon in 1761 and the appointment of Tevele Schiff in 1763 (Cecil Roth's The Rise of Provincial Jewry 1950). Nothing further is known about him, including when he ceased serving in Plymouth. ↵

  • (liii) Fry's Plymouth, p.42. However on p.114 she gives a starting date for Moses Isaac of 1760s?, which appears an error. ↵

  • (liv) Rev. Meir is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth. Susser lists him as cantor (reader), although the inscription on his gravestone refers to him as beadle (Fry's Plymouth, p.139). ↵

  • (lv) Reference to Rabbi Ephraim's in Cecil Roth's The Rise of Provincial Jewry, 1950; Susser's Thesis -text; and Fry's Plymouth, pp.42, 114. ↵

  • (lvi) and (lvii) Reserved.

  • (lviii) Fry's Plymouth, p. 138  gives start year as 1786 but p.43 gives as 1796. The former appears to be correct as Cantor Lima's wife died in 1793 and is buried in Plymouth.  However Susser's Thesis (text) also indicates a 1793 start date. ↵

  • (lix) Rev. Levy is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth. ↵

  • (lx) Susser's Thesis (text). ↵

  • (lxi) Fry's Plymouth, p.43 and Susser's Thesis. The former gives the start date for Issachar (Issacher) as 1813 and the latter as about 1810. ↵

  • (lxii) and (lxiii) Reserved.

  • (lxiv) Nahman ben Isaac's details in text of Susser's Thesis. ↵

  • (lxv) Rev. Alexander is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth.  Details in text of Susser's Thesis. ↵

  • (lxvi) Fry's Plymouth, pp.43, 114 and also listed Susser's Thesis as shochet. No further information is known about Rev. Harris. ↵

  • (lxvii) Fry's Plymouth, p.45. ↵

  • (lxviii) and (lxix) Reserved.

  • (lxx) Rev. Stern is listed as shochet in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (pp.45/6, 114) during this period. He presumably also served as second reader. ↵

  • (lxxi) Rev. Levy is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (pp.46, 114) during this period. Susser refers to him as a shochet but Fry does not specify. He presumably also served as second reader. Nothing further is known about him. ↵

  • (lxxii) Rev. Lewis is listed in both Susser's Thesis and Fry's Plymouth (pp.46, 114) during this period. Susser refers to him as a shochet but Fry does not specify, but adds that he served for less than a full year. He presumably also served as second reader. Nothing further is known about him. ↵

  • (lxxiii) Hyman Aloof is listed in Susser's Thesis and mensioned in Fry's Plymouth (pp. 89, 97, 99, 147). ↵

  • (lxxiv) Reserved.

  • (lxxv) Where a person is first listed in a year book as holding a particular office, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor. Initially year books corresponded to the Hebrew year, and thus ran roughly from autumn of one year - the year of publication - until autumn of the next year. From 1909, year books were published according to the Gregorian year, being published generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book. For example, if an officer is listed in Jewish Year Books 1909 through 1912, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1908 and continued in office until 1912. However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and, accordingly, his actual years of office may differ from those shown here, especially if the annual meeting for the election of officers was held late in a calender year. In several instances the officers' given name has been added from Fry's Plymouth. ↵

  • (lxxvi) There were two officers named Myer Fredman. The first (c.1856-1927, married Fanny), whom Fry refers to as "sen" and the second (c.1870-1927, married Rebecca) was active in local politics and became mayor of Devonport. It is believed that in the lists of officers displayed here, the former served as hon. secretary in the 1890s and has accordingly been designated "sen" and the latter is listed on several occasions as serving as president of the congregation ↵

  • (lxxvii) Gedaliah Robins died on 7 December 1907 (aged 59) and therefore could not have served into 1908. ↵

  • (lxxviii) Unless otherwise stated, the source of all data on the Dock Minyan is Fry's Plymouth, pp. 35-37. ↵

  • (lxxix) Rev. Valentine is discussed on Fry's Plymouth, pp.36, 55 and Susser's Thesis. ↵

  • (lxxx) Rev. Enoch is mentioned in Fry's Plymouth, p.36. ↵

  • (lxxxi) See footnote (lxiv) above. ↵

  • (lxxxii) and (lxxxiii) Reserved.

  • (lxxxiv) Fry's Plymouth, p.49. ↵

  • (lxxxv) Primarily the Paper on Plymouth from "Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain". ↵

  • (lxxxvi) 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. ↵

  • (lxxxvii) Charity Commission website, accessed December 2023. Clicking the charity numbers will take you to the charities' registrations on the website. ↵

  • (lxxxviii) Page 421 of the 2010 List of Places of Worship. ↵

  • (lxxxix) to (xcv) Reserved.

  • (xcvi) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1933. ↵

  • (xcvii) Fry's Plymouth, pp 24/5 and listed in the first Jewish Year Book 1896/7 until the 1920's. ↵

  • (xcviii) Reserved.

  • (xcix) "Plymouth Synagogue" from Kol Dodi, by Rabbi David Katanga, 2015, pp. 178/9. ↵

  • (c) Fry's Plymouth, p. 26. ↵

  • (ci) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1901/2. ↵

  • (cii) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1913. ↵

  • (ciii) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1924. ↵

  • (civ) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1948. ↵

  • (cv) Noted in the Jewish Year Book 1904/4 (although the 1945/6 edition refers, presumably erroneously, to 1890). ↵

  • (cvi) Noted in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (cvii) Noted in the Jewish Year Book 1902/3. ↵

  • (cviii) Based upon first listing in the Jewish Year Book 1945/6. ↵

  • (cix) and (cx) Reserved.

  • (cxi) Listed in the first Jewish Year Book (1896/7). ↵

  • (cxii) Note in the Jewish Year Book 1903/4. ↵

  • (cxiii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1904/5. ↵

  • (cxiii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1911. The Three Town refer to Plymouth, Devonport and East Stonehouse which were merged together in 1914 to form present day Plymouth.   ↵

  • (cxv) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1928. ↵

  • (cxvi) and (cxvii) Reserved.

  • (cxviii) Listed in the first Jewish Year Book (1896/7). ↵

  • (cxix) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1928. ↵

  • (cxx) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1931. ↵

  • (cxxi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1940. ↵

  • (cxxii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1940. ↵

  • (cxxiii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1955. ↵

  • (cxxiv) and (cxxv) Reserved.

  • (cxxvi) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1949. ↵

  • (cxxvii) First listed in the Jewish Year Book 1950. ↵

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Page created (incorporating previously posted Susser Archives): 2 March 2004
Page significantly enhanced and notes added: 6 December 2023
Page most recently amended: 2 April 2024

Research by Frank J. Gent and David Shulman, assisted by Steven Jaffe
Latest formatting by David Shulman

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