Portsmouth & Southsea Synagogue
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Name
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Portsmouth & Southsea Synagogue
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Dates
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1936-
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Location
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Portsmouth & Southsea
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Type
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Synagogue
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Description
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Tucked away on Elm Grove in Southsea, Portsmouth & Southsea Synagogue is one of the oldest synagogue communities in Britain, established in 1730.
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The original synagogue in Queen Street stood from 1780-1936 when it was rebuilt to meet the needs of the growing congregation. The new synagogue maintained original features such as the Aron Hakodesh, (the holy ark, or sacred space where the Torah scrolls are kept).
The Portsmouth Evening News celebrated the opening of the Elm Grove synagogue in 1936, writing of the ‘city’s good relations with the Jews’. The synagogue was opened and consecrated with ‘all the impressive rites and ceremony of the Jewish faith’ by Dayan A. Feldman and Mr. Naphtall Phillips, Chairman of the Building Board.
This synagogue also contained a mikvah (a ritual bath used for purification). Kenneth Marks, a scholar of synagogue archaeology, noted that the expense of maintaining the mikvah, and the lack of demand has meant that this is no longer in use. However, the synagogue still holds periodical Ashkenazi Orthodox services today.
If you would like to find out more or arrange a visit to the synagogue, please contact: portsmouthandsouthseasynagogue@gmail.com.
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Items with "Related Items: Portsmouth & Southsea Synagogue"
| Title |
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| Portsmouth Synagogue |
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