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the former

Great Yarmouth Hebrew Congregation

& Jewish Community

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

 

 

    


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congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.

The Town of Great Yarmouth

The coastal town and seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, frequently just known as Yarmouth, is situated on the eastern coast of East Anglia and has a population of approximately 60,000.  It forms the main town of the Borough and district of Great Yarmouth in the county of Norfolk.

The Jewish Community

There is believed to have been a medieval Jewish community in Great Yarmouth about which little is known, apart from the name of one of its residents. The modern Jewish community dates from the eighteenth century, when a Jewish congregation, now defunct, was established.

Congregation Data

Name:

Great Yarmouth Hebrew Congregation

Address:

Row 42 (situated off Market Place), also known as Synagogue Row or Jews Row, and later referred to as being off Howard Street.

A purpose-built synagogue, which included a small adjoining cottage for use by the shochet. The foundation stone was laid on 10 May 1847(iv) and the building was consecrated on 31 August 1847 by Rev. Moss B. Levy of Brighton.(v) The synagogue was reputedly the smallest in England, holding just sixty places in all, including the ladies' section.(vi)

Due to a dwindling community, services had ceased at the synagogue by about 1866.(viii) It was temporarily re-opened, for the New Moon of Ab and on the Fast of the Ninth of Ab services in 1872, during the Chief Rabbi's stay in the town (although the Sabbath services were held at his residence).(viii)

The synagogue closed in 1877(ix) and in April 1892, it was sold for £150, having been used for some time previously as a store-house for nets and other fishing gear.(x) It was the used as a parish mission hall, bearing the title "Synagogue Mission House".(xi)

Meanwhile, the congregation was reformed in 1877 and services were held for some time in private houses and in a temporary synagogue at 130 King Street (the home of A. Goldstone),(xiv) but the congregation appears to have gradually become defunct.(xv)

In early 1899, the congregation was reconstituted(xvi) and in May 1899 the former synagogue in Row 42 was re-acquired under a lease with a purchase clause (for £230).(xvii) Following renovation, services recommenced in July 1899(xviii) and on Sunday, 22 October 1899, the synagogue was reconsecrated in a ceremony officiated by the Chief Rabbi.(xix)

Following dissention within the community, a dispute over the synagogue ownership and dwindling numbers (see the various Jewish Chronicle press reports for 1909), the congregation was dissolved in 1909.(xx)

However, in 1911 it was resolved, yet again, to reestablish the congregation(xxi) and it is unclear whether the congregation continued to use the Row 42 synagogue.

Formation and Previous Address:

The community dates from the eighteenth century,(xxii) although the date of construction of the Row 42 synagogue (1847) is often referred to the date of founding of the congregation.

Prior to the building of the Row 42 synagogue, the situation is not wholly clear. Certain sources(xxiii) state that such synagogue was built on the same site of a previous synagogue that had become dilapidated and had to be demolished. However, in 1842 the address of the synagogue was given as Chapel Street,(xxiv) which is nowhere given as an alternative name for Row 42, but if this is the case, then it would confirm that the synagogue in Row 42 replaced an earlier synagogue on the same site.

Previously a synagogue was situated in Row 108, and this had become dilapidated, was demolished and a Masonic Hall was erected on the site. It was in this hall, that in 1834 a deputation from the Chartists' Convention held a meeting, as the then mayor of Yarmouth had refused them the use of the Town Hall.(xxv) (Cecil Roth(xxviii) queries whether Chapel Street could be an alternative name for Row 108. This does not appear possible as the Row 108 synagogue was demolished prior to 1834 and congregation was at Chapel Street still in 1842).

Closure:

Although the congregation remained listed in Jewish Year Books until 1924, it appeared to have ceased activities many years earlier, probably in about 1915.(xxix)

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox

Affiliation:

The congregation was an unaffiliated congregation under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi.

Ministers:  (To view a short profile of a minister whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over the name.)

Rev. I. Sturnberg - in 1842(xxxiii)

Rev. I. Cohen - from at least 1845 until at least 1848(xxxiv)

Rev. S. Levy - dates uncertain (followed Rev. I. Cohen)(xxxv)

Rev. M. Hirsch - dates uncertain (followed Rev. S. Levy)(xxxvi)

Rev. Levi Levenberg  - dates uncertain (followed Rev. M. Hirsch)(xxxvii)

Rev. Isaac Marks - dates uncertain (but prior to 1853)(xl)

Rev. S. Pearlstein - from 1899 until about 1901(xli)

Rev. Jacob J. Miller - from about 1901 until date uncertain (not later than 1905)(xlii)

Rev. Isaac Jacob Super - from at least 1905 until at least 1906(xliii)

Rev. J. Levine - from about 1907 until about 1910 or 1911(xlvi)

Rev. Nathan Salasnik - from 1911 until about 1914(xlvii)

Rev. Solomon Freedberg - in 1914/1915(xlviii)

Lay Officers:

During the early 1900s, there was a dispute within the congregation, which consisted of two rival parties - pro-Goldstonites and anti-Goldstonites, Mr. A. Goldstone being the sole trustee.(li) At times it would appear that there were rival officers elected by the respective parties. Accordingly the officers listed below, in particular from the period from about 1905, may only have represented one of the rival parties.

Founders

1842 - Simon Hart(lii)

        - Joseph Miers(lii)

        - Aaron Mordecai(lii)

1847 - Michael Mitchell(liii)

1877 - A. Goldstone (liv)


Presidents

1842 - Isaac Mordecai(lvii)

1852 - Isaac Mordecai(lviii)

1854 - Abraham Solomons(lix)

1899-1905 - Abraham Goldstone(lx)

1905-1906 - H. Rosenthal(lxi)

1906 - Louis Julian Harrison(lxiv)

1907 - Hermann Cohen(lxv)

1909 - M.C. Williams(lxvi)

1913 - S. Morris(lxvii)

from 1914 - Abraham Goldstone(lxviii)


Vice Presidents

1901 & 1902 - H. Rosenthal(lxxi)

1905-1907 - M.J. Falkenburg(lxxii)


Chairman

1911-1913 - Louis Julian Harrison(lxxv)

Wardens

1848 - D.L. Cohen(lxxvii)

1908-1909 - H. Cohen

                  & Abraham Goldstone (lxxviii)


Treasurers

1852 - Abraham Solomon(lxxx)

1901 - Louis Julian Harrison(lxxxi)

1902 - I. Jones(lxxxii)

1905 - H. Rosenthal(lxxxiii)

1907 - Louis Julian Harrison(lxxxiv)

1908 - William Bloom(lxxxvii)

1909 - S.D. Harrison(lxxxviii)

1913 - A. Rosen(lxxxix)


Hon. Secretaries(xcii)

1848 - Isaac Mordecai(xciii)

1899 - Lewis Jones(xciv)

1900 - Louis Julian Harrison & J. Jones(xcv)

1901 - J. Jones(xcvi)

1905 - Louis Julian Harrison(xcix)

1907 - H. Levy(c)

1908 - Louis Julian Harrison(ci)

1909 - Alfred Lurie-Lever(cii)

1913 - M.J. Horwitz(ciii)

Membership Data:

General

1845 - 83 ba'alai batim and 99 seatholders (Chief Rabbi's Questionnaire)

1851 - 300 appropriated seats and 679 individuals (ibid.)

Number of Seatholders - Board of Deputies Returns (unless otherwise stated)

1852

1854

1860

1870

1901

1913(cvii)

8

12

9

2

17

15      

Registration District:

Norfolk, since 1 April 2011(cviii) - Link to Register Office website

 


Search the All-UK Database

The records in the database associated with Great Yarmouth (Norfolk), as well as neighbouring Lowestoft (Suffolk) (10 miles to the south), include:

  • 1851 Anglo Jewry Database (updated 2016)

    • Individuals in the 1851 Anglo Jewry Database who were living in:
      Great Yarmouth during the 1770s (1 record), 1780s (2 records), 1790s (4 records), 1800s (7 records); 1810s (14 records); 1820s (21 records), 1830s (32 records), 1840s (35 records), 1850s (68 records), 1860s (12 records), 1870s (5 records), 1880s (6 records), 1890s (3 records) and 1900s (2 records); and
      Lowestoft during the 1820s (1 record), 1830s (3 records), 1850s (7 records), 1880s (3 records) and 1890s (1 record).  

 

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Great Yarmouth Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

 

on Third Party Websites

  • Jewish Encyclopaedia article on Yarmouth by Joseph Jacobs and Victor Rousseau Emanuel, c-1906.

 

Other Great Yarmouth Jewish Institutions & Organisations

Educational & Theological

  • Hebrew and Religious Classes(cxv)

Other Institutions

  • Agudath Zion of Yarmouth - formed in 1908 under the presidency of S.I. Citron. (cxvi)

  • Norfolk and Norfolk Fund for Refugees, Yarmouth Committee - formed in 1939 under the chairmanship of D. Rodker. Refugee boys were placed in homes in the town.(cxvii)

 

Great Yarmouth Jewish Cemetery Information

 

There are three Jewish burial grounds in Great Yarmouth:

  • The Old Jews' Burial Ground, Alma Road, Great Yarmouth
    The cemetery was acquired under a lease dated 1801, the freehold being purchased in 1838. Visible headstones date from 1802 to 1853. The cemetery was closed in 1854. Only about 11 headstones remain, semi-legible, in two rows.
    See Photographs from Great Yarmouth Old Jewish Burial Grounds on JCR-UK.

  • Great Yarmouth Old Cemetery, Jewish Section, Kitchener Road, Great Yarmouth
    Opened in 1855, with known burials dating from 1858 to 1936. There are approximately 40 burials recorded, although less than 25 headstones survive.

  • Caister Cemetery, Jewish Section, Ormsby Road, Caister-on-Sea
    Burials here date from 1929. There have been about a dozen burials in the Jewish Section (for which 150 plots were reserved).

(For additional information, see also IAJGS Cemetery Project - Great Yarmouth)

 

Great Yarmouth Jewish Population Data

1842

10 families

(The Jewish Chronicle, 22 August 1842)

1847

48

(The Jewish Chronicle, 23 July 1847)

1857

57

(Papers on Yarmouth from Provincial Jewry in Victorian Britain 1975 Conference)

1895

40 (8 families)

(The Jewish Chronicle, 20 September 1895)

1900

10 families

(The Jewish Year Book 1900/1)

1901

12 families

(The Jewish Year Book 1901/2)

1914

56

(The Jewish Year Book 1915)

1915

50

(The Jewish Year Book 1916)

 

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

  • (i) to (iii) Reserved.

  • (iv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 14 May 1847. ↵

  • (v) The Jewish Chronicle report of 3 September 1847. ↵

  • (vi) Section on (Great) Yarmouth from Cecil Roth's The Rise of Provincial Jewry, 1950. ↵

  • (vii) Reserved.

  • (viii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 30 August 1872. ↵

  • (ix) Notes on the Jews of Yarmouth (1st page, 2nd paragraph), article by Rev. Michael Adler, in The Jewish Chronicle of 13 September 1895. ↵

  • (x) The Jewish Chronicle reports of 4 April 1892 and 15 April 1892. ↵

  • (xi) Notes on the Jews of Yarmouth (1st page, 2nd paragraph), article by Rev. Michael Adler, in The Jewish Chronicle of 13 September 1895. ↵

  • (xii) and (xiii) Reserved.

  • (xiiv) The Jewish Chronicle reports of 14 September 1888 and 12 September 1890. ↵

  • (xv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 13 November 1891. ↵

  • (xvi) The Jewish Chronicle report of 24 February 1899. ↵

  • (xvii) The Jewish Chronicle reports of 19 May 1899 and 26 May 1899. ↵

  • (xviii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 21 July 1899. ↵

  • (xix) The Jewish Chronicle report of 27 October 1899. ↵

  • (xx) The Jewish Chronicle report of 3 December 1909. ↵

  • (xxi) The Jewish Chronicle report of 12 May 1911. Jewish Year Books contine to list Row 42 as the address of the synagogue until 1924, although it is believed that the congregation became defunct some years earlier ↵

  • (xxii) Section on (Great) Yarmouth from Cecil Roth's The Rise of Provincial Jewry, 1950. ↵

  • (xxiii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 8 April 1892 and the section on (Great) Yarmouth from Cecil Roth's The Rise of Provincial Jewry, 1950. ↵

  • (xxiv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 August 1842. ↵

  • (xxv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 8 April 1892. ↵

  • (xxvi) and (xxvii) Reserved.

  • (xxviii) Second paragraph of the section on (Great) Yarmouth from his The Rise of Provincial Jewry, 1950. ↵

  • (xxix) There are no reports of communal activities beyond the early part of World War I and all data in Jewish Year Books remained unaltered after 1915 until delisting from 1925. ↵

  • (xxx) to (xxxii) Reserved.

  • (xxxiii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 August 1842. ↵

  • (xxxiv) Rev. Michael Adler in his Notes on the Jews of Yarmouth, 1st page, 2nd paragraph (Jewish Chronicle of 13 September 1895), quoting C.J. Palmer's Perlustration of Great Yarmouth, states that Rev. Cohen was the "rabbi" at a Jewish wedding held in Yarmouth Town Hall in 1845. He is referred to as the "new rabbi" ?) in The Jewish Chronicle report of 6 October 1848. His wife, Esther, died in 1850 and is buried in Yarmouth, which is an indication that he was still in the town at such time. ↵

  • (xxxv) According to N. Goldston in his letter to The Jewish Chronicle, published on 20 September 1895, Rev. S. Levy followed Rev. I. Cohen as minister of the congregation. ↵

  • (xxxvi) According to N. Goldston (see previous note), Rev. M. Hirsh followed Rev. S. Levy as minister of the congregation. ↵

  • (xxxvii) Rev. Michael Adler's article Notes on the Jews of Yarmouth, 1st page, 2nd paragraph (published in The Jewish Chronicle of 13 September 1895), refers to Rev. Levenberg (d. 1870 and buried in Great Yarmouth) as being appointed in about 1850, which is not corroborated elsewhere.  Also, according to N. Goldston (see note (xxxv) above), Rev. Levenberg followed Rev. M. Hirsch as minister of the congregation. ↵

  • (xxxviii) and (xxxix) Reserved.

  • (xl) The Jewish Chronicle report of 7 October 1853 refers to Rev Isaac Marks as the late reader of the synagogues at Yarmouth and Glasgow. ↵

  • (xli) The Jewish Chronicle 8 September 1899 reported on Rev. Pearlstein's appointment and report of 27 October 1899 refers to Rev. Pearlstein's appointment five weeks previously. He is listed as reader and shochet of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1900/1. ↵

  • (xlii) Rev. Miller was named as minister of the congregation in a The Jewish Chronicle report of 29 September 1901 and other press reports of 1901 and 1902. He is listed as reader and shochet of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1901/2 through 1904/5 (although the data on the congregation remained unchanged between those two editions). ↵

  • (xliii) Rev. Super was "re-elected" as minister of the congregation in August 1905 (Jewish Chronicle report of 29 August 1905), but by September 1906, the post was vacant and congregation was advertising for a replacement (Jewish Chronicle advert of 7 September 1906). He is listed as reader and shochet of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 through 1907/8. ↵

  • (xliv) and (xlv) Reserved.

  • (xlvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 2 February 1907 places Rev. Levine in Great Yarmouth and a report of 3 December 1909 refers to him being given three months’ notice terminating his appointment as minister and shochet, on the "dissolution" of the congregation. However, he is listed as reader and shochet of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1909, the 1910 edition states that the congregation was dissolved but he is again listed in 1911. ↵

  • (xlvii) The Jewish Chronicle on 12 May 1911 reported that the congregation had been re-formed and that Rev. Natham(sic) Salasnick(sic), of London, has been appointed minister and shochet. Rev. Nathan Salasmik(sic) was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Book 1912, 1913 and from 1915 through to the congregation's final listing in 1924. However, this is clearly an error as The Jewish Chronicle on 3 April 1914 reported that "Rev. Nathan Salas, late of Great Yarmouth" had been appointed to the Port Talbot congregation. ↵

  • (xlviii) The Jewish Chronicle on 26 February 1915 reported that Rev. S. Freedberg, of Great Yarmouth, was elected chazan, teacher and shochet of the Aberdare and Aberaman congregation. He is not listed in any Jewish Year Book with regard to Yarmouth. ↵

  • (xlix) and (l) Reserved.

  • (li) Letter to The Jewish Chronicle of 17 September 1909. ↵

  • (lii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 August 1842. ↵

  • (liii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 24 January 1890. ↵

  • (liv) The Jewish Chronicle report of 14 September 1888. ↵

  • (lv) and (lvi) Reserved.

  • (lvii) Elected - The Jewish Chronicle report of 22 August 1842. ↵

  • (lviii) The Jewish Chronicle report of 1 October 1852. ↵

  • (lix) Board of Deputies returns - The Jewish Chronicle report of 26 May 1854. ↵

  • (lx) First mentioned as president - The Jewish Chronicle report of 5 May 1899. Mr. Goldstone was listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1900/1 through 1904/5. ↵

  • (lxi) First mentioned as president - The Jewish Chronicle report of 7 July 1905, but successor by September 1906. Mr. Rosenthal was listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵

  • (lxii) and (lxiii) Reserved.

  • (lxiv) Only mention as president - The Jewish Chronicle report of 7 September 1906. ↵

  • (lxv) Only mention as president - listed in Jewish Year Book 1907/8. ↵

  • (lxvi) Referred to a president only in 1909. First mention - The Jewish Chronicle report of 27 August 1909. ↵

  • (lxvii) Only mention as president - listed in Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵

  • (lxviii) A. Goldstone was listed as president in Jewish Year Books 1915 through 1923. He died in 1923. Obituary - The Jewish Chronicle of 13 April 1923. ↵

  • (lxix) and (lxx) Reserved.

  • (lxxi) References to H. Rosenthal's election as vice president - The Jewish Chronicle reports of 29 November 1901 and 14 November 1902. ↵

  • (lxxii) Reference to Mr. Falkenburg's election as hon. vice president mentioned as president - The Jewish Chronicle report of 7 July 1905. He was listed a vice president in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵

  • (lxxiii) and (lxxiv) Reserved.

  • (lxxv) L.J. Harrison was listed as chairman in Jewish Year Books 1912 and 1913. He is also referred to as chairman in The Jewish Chronicle reports of 12 May 1911. ↵

  • (lxxvi) Reserved.

  • (lxxvii) Report of election as warden - The Jewish Chronicle of 6 October 1848. ↵

  • (lxviii) Listed as wardens in the Jewish Year Book 1909. ↵

  • (lxxix) Reserved.

  • (lxxx) Report of election as treasurer - The Jewish Chronicle of 1 October 1852. ↵

  • (lxxxi) First mention as treasurer - The Jewish Chronicle of 14 June 1901. ↵

  • (lxxxii) Election as treasurer - The Jewish Chronicle of 14 November 1902. ↵

  • (lxxxiii) H. Rosenthal is listed as treasurer in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵

  • (lxxxiv) L.J. Harrison is listed as treasurer in the Jewish Year Book 1907/8. ↵

  • (lxxxv) and (lxxxvi) Reserved.

  • (lxxxvii) W. Bloom is listed as treasurer in the Jewish Year Book 1909. ↵

  • (lxxxviii) Report of the election of S.D. Harrison as treasurer - The Jewish Chronicle of 17 September 1909. ↵

  • (lxxxix) A. Rosen is listed as treasurer in the Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵

  • (xc) and (xci) Reserved.

  • (xcii) This list does not include those persons known only to have served as the secretary for marriages, although such persons may also have served as the secretary of the congregation. These persons include:
    Michael Mitchell, who held such office until 1877 (The Jewish Chronicle of 22 June 1877);
    Rev. Isaac Jacob Super, Board of Deputies returns 1906 (The Jewish Chronicle of 29 June 1906);
    Rev. J. Levine, Board of Deputies returns 1907 (The Jewish Chronicle of 1 February 1907); and
    Rev. Nathan Salasnik, Jewish Year Books 1912 and 1913. ↵

  • (xciii) Report of I. Mordechai's election as hon. secretary - The Jewish Chronicle of 6 October 1848. ↵

  • (xciv) In a letter to The Jewish Chronicle of 5 May 1899, Lewis Jones signs as hon. secretary. However, a J. Jones is listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1900/1 through 1904/5. It is not known whether this is the same person. ↵

  • (xcv) Listed as joint hon. secretaries in Jewish Year Book 1900/1. It is not known whether J. Jones and Lewis Jones (see above) are the same person. ↵

  • (xcvi) Listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1901/2 through 1904/4. It is not known whether J. Jones and Lewis Jones (see above) are the same person. The Jewish Chronicle of 29 November 1901 refers to an A. Jones as hon. secretary. ↵

  • (xcvii) and (xcviii) Reserved.

  • (xcix) L.J. Harrison was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1905/6 and 1906/7. ↵

  • (c) H. Levy was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Book 1907/8. ↵

  • (ci) L.J. Harrison was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Books 1909 and 1910. ↵

  • (cii) Report of election of A. Lurie-Lever as hon. secretary - The Jewish Chronicle of 17 September 1909. ↵

  • (ci) M.J. Horwitz was listed as hon. secretary in Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵

  • (civ) to (cvi) Reserved.

  • (ci) Jewish Year Book 1914. ↵

  • (cviii) Previous Registration Districts: Yarmouth (originally Great Yarmouth) - from 1 July 1837 to 1 January 1924; Yarmouth and Flegg - from 1 January 1924 to 1 January 1939; and Great Yarmouth - from 1 July 1939 to 1 April 2011; All registers would now be held by the current office. ↵

  • (cix) to (cxiv) Reserved.

  • (cxv) The reader and shochet for the congregation would generally also serve as teacher. ↵

  • (cxvi) The Jewish Chronicle of 2 October 1908. ↵

  • (cxvii) The Jewish Chronicle of 17 March 1939. ↵

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Page created: 23 August 2005
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 31 May 2023
Page most recently amended: 14 June 2023

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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