Western Marble Arch Synagogue

The Western Marble Arch Synagogue (WMA) was founded 1761. Currently the Western Marble Arch Synagogue is a leading modern orthodox synagogue based in central London, England. The result of a merger between the Western and the Marble Arch Synagogues, the synagogue offers a range of religious and social activities to its members and the wider community.

History

Western Synagogue

The Western synagogue was founded in 1761 in Great Pulteney Street, Westminster. The congregation, formally named, in the transliteration of the era, Hebra Kaddisha Shel Gemillith Hassadim, Westminster (Holy Congregation of the Assembly of Israel, Westminster) first met in the home of Wold Liepman, a prosperous immigrant merchant from St. Petersburg. A series of leased spaces followed until 1826 when the congregation built an elaborate synagogue in St. Alban's Place, Haymarket (London) and renamed itself The Western Synagogue..^[1]

Spiritual leadership

Sir Jonathan Sacks, formerly Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth
Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld

Current Executive Board of Directors

His Honour Barrington Black, President
Mr. Steven Truman, Vice President
Mr. Stanley Simmonds
High Commissioner Mr. Bernard Silver, Warden

Seat of the Chief Rabbi

In November 2003 the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Prof Sir Jonathan Sacks accepted the position of the spiritual leader of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue,

The Synagogue was never generally accepted as "the seat of The Chief Rabbi". Indeed, such a concept is simply not Jewish and the Mrs Proudie like claim seems based on the Catholic concept of a bishop's cathedra. "Dr Sacks' shul" would be a much more appropriate title . In any event, any justification for the Synagogue's spurious claim to be the seat of the Chief Rabbi has now fallen away, since Dr Sacks' retirement and the installation of his successor, who has chosen not to be based at WMA.

Notable members

Sir Samuel Montagu, MP, (Lord Swaythling)^[1]
Sir Stuart Samuel^[1]
Viscount David de Stern^[1]
Constance, Lady Battersea, wife of Cyril Flower, 1st Baron Battersea^[1]
Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery^[1]

Bibliography

Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lindsay, Pual, The Synagogues of London, Vallentime Mitchell, London, 1993, p. 66

External links

Synagogue Website
Western Marble Arch Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).

51°30′54″N 0°09′33″W / 51.5151°N 0.1591°W / 51.5151; -0.1591

[Lindsay,_Pual_1993,_p._66-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lindsay, Pual, The Synagogues of London, Vallentime Mitchell, London, 1993, p. 66

[1]