Belfast Hebrew Congregation

Infobox religious building
building_name=Belfast Synagogue


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location=40 Somerton Road
Belfast, Northern Ireland
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religious_affiliation=Orthodox Judaism
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status=Active Synagogue
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year_completed=1967
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materials=The Belfast Hebrew Congregation is the oldest known Jewish community or synagogue in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The community follows the Ashkenazi Orthodox ritual. Membership has fluctuated from 78 in 1900, about 375 after World War II, and 99 in 1999. [ [http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Belfast/index.htm JCR-UK] 350 in 1945, 380 in 1949]

History

Established in 1870, first two "ministers" (rabbis) were Reverend Joseph Chotzner (serving from 1870 to 1880 and 1892 to 1897) and Rev. J. E. Myers. [Jewish Encyclopedia] Having immigrated in 1851, M. A. Jaffe (father of Otto Jaffe) was instrumental in founding the synagogue. Later, the position was filled by Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog (1916-1919), who later become Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Israel, and Rabbi Jacob Shachter (translator of Zvi Hirsch Chajes), 1926-1954.

Elizabeth Jane Caulfield, the Countess of Charlemont, regularly attended the synagogue and apparently converted to Judaism there. [Jewish Encyclopedia, citing: The Athenœum, p. 733, London, 1882; The Guardian, xxxvii. 801, London; The Jewish Chronicle, June 2, 1882; The Times, June 1, 1882, London.J]

Otto Jaffe, Lord Mayor of Belfast, 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 [ [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Ireland.html Virtual Jewish History] ] building on Annesley Street (1904-1964) and Great Victoria Street (1871-1904). (The foundation stones were dated July 7, 1871 and February 26, 1904.)

The synagogue 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 synagogue has a plaque in memory of Jews killed during the Holocaust. Listed in the U.K. National Inventory of War Memorials, the English part of the inscription reads: "In memory of the martyred millions of European Jewry 1933-1945." [UKNIWM [http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.43397/fromUkniwmSearch/1] ]

ee also

* History of the Jews in Ireland
* History of the Jews in Northern Ireland

References

On Rabbi Jacob Shachter (1886-1971) of Romania and Manchester UK, see [http://www.yasharbooks.com/Guide.html this biography] at Yashar Books.