Sinai Synagogue (Leeds)
History
Prior to World War II the Jewish community in Leeds was overwhelmingly Orthodox. Rabbi L. Graf of the Reform Synagogue in Bradford attempted to start a community of worship in Leeds, presiding over a service of six people in a house in Oakwood on 8 January 1944. Numbers grew and services moved to a variety of sites, eventually buying the defunct Sephardi Synagogue building at 21 Leopold Street, Leeds 7 in November 1951, which was used until 16 September 1960.
Plans for a new building on Roman Avenue began in 1957. Construction began in March 1960, and was completed in November of the same year. It was designed by Halpern & Associates of London. On 12 June 1960 the foundation stone was laid and a section of Harehills Cemetery consecrated for the use of the congregation. The building was consecrated on 6 November 1960.
In 1969 it was recognised as a "major organisation in the community" by the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, gaining a seat on the Council's executive.
Cultural activities such as religious classes expanded until they were too large for the rooms, so a temporary building was erected in the car park in 1965; this was used until 1985, by which time additional rooms had been attached to the synagogue.
The community has a burial ground in current use at Harehills Cemetery, Leeds, which is managed by Leeds City Council.
The congregation publishes a quarterly magazine, the Sinai Chronicle.
See also
- History of the Jews in England
- List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
- List of synagogues in the United Kingdom
References
- ^ "Cantor Rachel Weston". Sinai Synagogue Leeds. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Sinai (Reform) Synagogue Leeds, West Yorkshire". Jewish Communities & Records - UK. JewishGen. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ "Simcha at Sinai". Movement for Reform Judaism. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ Sterne, Ernest C. (June 1985). The Early History of the Sinai Synagogue, Leeds 1944–1970. Harrogate: Enid Taylor Ltd.
- ^ "Sinai Synagogue Cemetery (Leeds)". Leeds Jewish Community West Yorkshire. JCR-UK. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Sinai Chronicle". Sinai Synagogue, Leeds. Retrieved 17 September 2024.