You can edit almost every page by Creating an account. Otherwise, see the FAQ.

Lauderdale Road Synagogue

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki




Basic information
Address 2 Ashworth Road

Maida Vale

LONDON W9 1JY

Heritage designation Grade II[1]
Completed 1896
Minhag Spanish & Portuguese

(Sephardi)

Local Community Rabbi Rabbi Israel Elia
Senior Rabbi Rabbi Joseph Dweck
Weekday Shacharit 7:30am
Shabbat Shacharit 8:30am
Image from the street of Lauderdale Rd Synagogue

History of the Community

The Spanish & Portuguese Jews’ Congregation was founded in 1657. Spanish and Portuguese Jews, also called Western Sephardim, are a distinctive sub-group of Iberian Jews who are largely descended from Jews who lived as New Christians in the Iberian Peninsula during the immediate generations following the forced expulsion of unconverted Jews from Spain in 1492 and from Portugal in 1497. The Alhambra Decree (also known as the Edict of Expulsion) was an edict issued on 31 March 1492, by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain (Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon) ordering the expulsion of all unconverted practicing Jews from the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, including from all its territories and possessions, by 31 July of that year.[2] Subsequently, many Jews fled to Turkey, the Netherlands and Great Britain.

Lauderdale Road Synagogue was opened in 1896 to accommodate the drift of Spanish and Portuguese members from Bevis Marks to West London. The Congregation’s senior rabbi today is Rabbi Joseph Dweck who also usually attends Lauderdale Road Synagogue.[3]

The synagogue building is built in a Byzantine style with a large domed ceiling, huge stained glass windows set in arched recesses, tapestry carpets across the polished wooden floors, as well as a huge and impressive ark, topped with its own miniature dome, which is a work of art in itself.[4]

Community Events

The Friendship Club meet on a Wednesday afternoon and provides a warm, happy and friendly atmosphere for the more senior members of the community.[5] Lunches and entertainment are usually provided. Entertainment includes magic shows and concerts.[6] Other common events are the Shabbat Bereshit dinner - this year hosted by Hatan Bereshit Adam Musikant, followed by a communal dinner with guest of honour financial journalist, Martin Lewis OBE.[7] The synagogue often hosts Shabbat lunches with activities for the children. The next event is celebrating Hanukkah with the Youth Leaders.

Choral Music at Lauderdale Road

The Spanish & Portuguese Jews’ Congregation has always taken pride in its musical heritage with special melodies existing for almost every occasion. The Sephardi Centre Music Fund has been established to undertake musical projects such as concerts, talks, discussions, and recordings. These projects will include reviving music that was lost and is still being lost; commissioning new music, (possibly including compositions by members of the congregation) and recording the music on CDs for future generations. There has also been a drive to produce clear sheet music as opposed to Tonic Sol-far of the congregations tunes in order to facilitate its performance. Baruch Haba is an example of one of the congregations oldest melodies and is based on a Spanish folk tune.[8] Another regular piece is Mizmor L'David by Michele Bolaffi who was the musical director of the Great Synagogue of Livorno during the early 19th century.[9]

References[edit]

  1. "Maida Vale", Wikipedia, 2018-10-14, retrieved 2018-10-22
  2. "The Edict of Expulsion of the Jews - 1492 Spain". www.sephardicstudies.org. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  3. "Welcome to our shul! This week – Lauderdale Road Synagogue". Retrieved 2018-10-21.
  4. "https://www.thejc.com/comment/blogs/secret-shul-goer-no-8-lauderdale-road-1.445043". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21. External link in |title= (help)
  5. "Lauderdale Road Archives - S&P Sephardi Community". S&P Sephardi Community. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  6. "Concert @ Lauderdale Road". Jonathan Garcia. 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  7. "SHABBAT BERESHIT". S&P Sephardi Community. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  8. Citation needed
  9. "Michele Bolaffi | Jewish Music Research Centre". www.jewish-music.huji.ac.il. Retrieved 2018-10-22.


This article "Lauderdale Road Synagogue" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Lauderdale Road Synagogue. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.