The Belfast Jewish Community ( ga, Pobal Giúdach Bhéal Feirste, and previously known as Belfast Hebrew Congregation) is the Jewish community in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. Its Rabbi is the Rev David Kale. The community follows the Ashkenazi

Orthodox Orthodox, Orthodoxy, or Orthodoxism may refer to: Religion * Orthodoxy, adherence to accepted norms, more specifically adherence to creeds, especially within Christianity and Judaism, but also less commonly in non-Abrahamic religions like Neo-pa ...

ritual. Membership has fluctuated from 78 in 1900, approximately 1500 during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, about 375 after World War II, to 350 in 1945, 380 in 1949 and 200 in 1999. The congregation was fewer than 80 people .

History

Established in 1870, the congregation's first two "ministers" (

rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...

s) were Reverend Joseph Chotzner (serving from 1870 to 1880 and 1892 to 1897) and Rev. Jacob Myers. M. A. Jaffe (father of

Otto Jaffe Sir Otto Moses Jaffe, JP (13 August 1846 – 29 April 1929), also spelt Jaffé, was a German-born British businessman, who was twice elected Lord Mayor of Belfast and was a leader of the Jewish community in the city. Family Jaffe was born in ...

), who came to Ireland in 1851, was instrumental in founding the synagogue. Later, the position was filled by Rabbi

Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog ( he, יצחק אייזיק הלוי הרצוג; 3 December 1888 – 25 July 1959), also known as Isaac Herzog or Hertzog, was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, his term lasted from 1921 to 1936. From 1936 until his deat ...

(1916–1919), who later become Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Israel, and Rabbi Jacob Shachter (translator of

Zvi Hirsch Chajes Zvi Hirsch Chajes ( he, צבי הירש חיות - November 20, 1805 - October 12, 1855; also Chayes or Hayot or Chiyos) was one of the foremost Galician talmudic scholars. He is best known for his work ''Mevo Hatalmud'' (Introduction to the Tal ...

), 1926–1954. Elizabeth Jane Caulfield, the Countess of Charlemont, regularly attended the synagogue and apparently converted to Judaism there.

Lord Mayor of Belfast The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairperson of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 60 Councillors#UnitedKingdom, councillors. The Lord Mayor also serves as the representative of the city of Belfast, welcomin ...

, was life-president of the Belfast Hebrew Congregation, which worshipped at the Great Victoria Street synagogue.

Buildings

Currently located on Somerton Road, the congregation previously had the synagogue building on Annesley Street (1904–1964) and Great Victoria Street (1871–1904). (The foundation stones were dated 7 July 1871 and 26 February 1904.) Annesley Street, Belfast

The synagogue, designed by Eugene Rosenberg, is unusual in that it is circular, not rectangular. There is no balcony for women, but a raised platform on either side. The roof is held up by concrete-covered beams that forms the shape of a Star of David. The candelabrum and eternal light, together with bronze and silver letters adorning the Ark doors, are by Israeli sculptor, Nehemia Azaz. The synagogue has a plaque in memory of Jews killed during the

Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; ...

. Listed in the UK National Inventory of

War Memorial A war memorial is a building, monument, statue, or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or (predominating in modern times) to commemorate those who died or were injured in a war. Symbolism Historical usage It has ...

s, the English part of the inscription reads: "In memory of the martyred millions of European Jewry 1933–1945."

References

External links

Official website
o
''Jewish Communities and Records – UK''
(hosted by ''jewishgen.org'').
McKevitt, Greg: "150 years of Belfast's Jewish community"

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

, 27 January 2015 {{Authority control 1870 establishments in Ireland 1870 establishments in the United Kingdom Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Ireland Ashkenazi Jewish culture in the United Kingdom Ashkenazi synagogues Jews and Judaism in Northern Ireland

Orthodox synagogues in the United Kingdom Religious buildings and structures in Belfast Synagogues in Northern Ireland

History

Buildings

See also

References

Further reading

External links