Richmond Synagogue

Richmond Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish community in Richmond, London. The congregation, whose synagogue building is in Lichfield Gardens, has 250 members[1] and is a member community of the United Synagogue.[2]

Richmond Synagogue
Religion
AffiliationUnited Synagogue
RiteOrthodox Judaism
LeadershipRabbi Meir Shindler
StatusActive
Location
LocationLichfield Gardens, Richmond TW9 1AP
MunicipalityLondon Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Geographic coordinates51.46219°N 0.29967°W / 51.46219; -0.29967
Architecture
Architect(s)Stern Thom Fehler Architects
Completed1987
Website
www.richmondsynagogue.org.uk
Plaques inside the synagogue

History

A Jewish community is known to have existed in Richmond in the late 17th century. King William III dined with Solomon de Medina, a Jewish businessman, at his country house in Richmond in November 1699.[3]

Until 1916, Richmond's Jewish religious community was known as the Richmond Hebrew Congregation. From 1916 to 1938, as Richmond Associate Synagogue, it met at Central Hall, Parkshot, Richmond,[4] a building opened on 28 June 1916 by Leopold de Rothschild, the then-President of the United Synagogue.[5] From 1938, the renamed Richmond District Synagogue met at a converted chapel at 8 Sheen Road, which was compulsorily purchased by Richmond upon Thames Council to make way for a Waitrose supermarket and multi-storey car park.[4][6]

Designed by Stern Thom Fehler Architects,[7] a new purpose-built synagogue building at Lichfield Gardens was opened on 8 March 1987 by Chief Rabbi Sir Immanuel Jakobovits and Rabbi Moshe Barron. A rabbi's house was later built on part of the synagogue's car park.[5]

People

Richmond Synagogue's rabbi, since June 2016, is Meir Shindler, who was previously at Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue.[1][8][9] Previous rabbis have included Maurice Ginsberg (1922–61),[5] Yitzchak Schochet (1991–93),[10] Jonathan Hughes (2013–15)[11][12][13] and Yossi Ives (2003–12).[14][15] Notable congregants have included Eldred Tabachnik and Lord Woolf.[5]

Activities

Services are held on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm and on Saturday mornings at 9:30 am.[16] The synagogue operates a day centre for Jewish people over 60.[17]

See also

References
  1. Jackman, Josh (1 July 2016). "Minister stabilises ton-up Richmond". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  2. "Richmond". Communities. United Synagogue. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  3. Greenstreet, Anthony (1998). "Sir Solomon de Medina of Richmond". Richmond History: Journal of the Richmond Local History Society. 19: 32–35.
  4. Roberts, Marcus. "Richmond & South West London: History". jtrails.org.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  5. Savinson, Richard. "History of the Richmond Jewish Community". Richmond Synagogue. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  6. "Richmond Synagogue". JCR-UK. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  7. "New synagogue in Richmond". Portfolio. Stern Thom Fehler Architects. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. Odling, George (3 July 2016). "Richmond Synagogue celebrates 100th anniversary with the induction of new Rabbi". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  9. "Richmond selects its leading couple". The Jewish Chronicle. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  10. "Rabbi Yitzchak Y. Schochet M.A." Mill Hill United Synagogue. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  11. "Richmond United Synagogue Welcome New Rabbinic Couple". News. United Synagogue. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  12. Dyduch, Amy (30 November 2013). "From Reading Football Club to Richmond Synagogue". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  13. Rocker, Simon (23 July 2015). "'Poaching' row over Radlett's rabbi". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  14. Rocker, Simon (1 September 2011). "Richmond rabbi uses Israeli knowhow to aid the world". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  15. "Welcome to Richmond, Rabbi". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 26 March 2004. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  16. "Service times". Richmond Synagogue. 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  17. "Richmond Synagogue Day Centre". Housingcare.org. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2016.

Further reading
  • Greenstreet, Anthony (1998). "Sir Solomon de Medina of Richmond". Richmond History: Journal of the Richmond Local History Society. 19: 32–35.
  • Howitt, Arthur (1930). Richmond and its Jewish Connections. R W Simpson, 27pp and 12 illustrated plates
  • History of the Richmond Synagogue. Richmond Synagogue, 1976
  • Renton, Peter (2000). The Lost Synagogues of London. London: Tymsder Publications, pp. 145–6, ISBN 978-0953-11047-6
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