Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue

“In 1933 a small group, headed by John de Lange and Gertrude Heilbron, decided they wished to worship in the Liberal manner. They called on the Jewish Religious Union (JRU) for advice and assistance which was readily forthcoming. As an experiment the first Services, those for the High Holy Days, were held at the Hove Town Hall. The JRU sent the Reverend Marcus Goldberg to conduct them and the enthusiastic attendance – there were 80 present on Rosh Hashanah and 120 on Yom Kippur – encouraged the organisers to proceed with their plans to establish a permanent congregation and to employ Reverend Goldberg as Minister.

“With the help of Lewis Coleman-Cohen the use of a house at 29 New Church Road, Hove was obtained and one room in it was prepared as a House of Worship. A desk on a platform was the Almemah; a wardrobe, the Ark: and a harmonium and three singers behind a curtain, the Choir. In the context of the times, it was an audaciously courageous departure from orthodoxy.

“By October 1936 the membership of the congregation had reached 120. A Ladies Committee. Chaired by Daisy de Lange, had been set up and a Religion School consisting of Anthony Cohen, Denis Davis, Mick de Lange, Alan Lindsey-Lewis, Peter Maurice and Pamela Middleburgh, was organised. With the increasing interest that was being shown, the House of Prayer was too small for the High Holy Days Services which were again held at the Hove Town Hall whilst in the ensuing years they were moved first to the Marmion Hall and then to the Ralli Hall. The first Bar Mitzvah took place in November 1937, though there was no Confirmation ceremony until 1940 and this was an isolated incident.

“It had become obvious that larger permanent premises were needed so in 1938 plans were made to purchase the gymnasium at 6 Lansdowne Road for conversion. The work was completed in the nick of time for Rabbi Dr. Israel Mattuck to be able to bless the marriage of Reginald Cohen to Joan Maurice on 12th July 1938 the first wedding in the congregation’s history. The Synagogue was not consecrated until later that year.

“The outbreak of the Second World War severely hampered the infant congregation’s development. Rabbi Dr. H. Lemle who had replaced Marcus Goldberg, was interned as a German refugee. This left the Synagogue without a Minister and with a diminishing membership. Despite these problems an Extraordinary General Meeting in August 1940 unanimously voted to continue.

“It was thus that Archie Fay, with the assistance of other Lay Readers, came to the rescue. He and Charles Berwitz agreed to lead the congregation on a temporary basis. Little did he realise that until his death in 1962 he was to remain the Spiritual Leader of the Brighton congregation after becoming an Ordained Lay Minister in 1950.

“The post-war years witnessed a recovery in the Synagogues fortunes. The Religion School grew rapidly and all manner of activities, including a youth group developed. Confirmation was introduced on a regular basis.

“In 1949 the House of Prayer had been altered but it was not until after the death of Archie Fay that the property adjoining was acquired as an annexe housing the classroom, office and Council Chamber and named in his memory. Many years later in 1975 a similar honour was to he bestowed upon his widow with the construction of the Elizabeth Fay Memorial Entrance. The part they both played in the life of the Synagogue will never be forgotten.

“It was during the three years (1962-65) that Rabbi David Baylinson served it that the congregation developed the warm, active character for which it is renowned. His American background and vibrant personality led to the introduction of such things as the Simchat Torah Generation Service and the Young Married Group.

“Since the departure of the charismatic David Baylinson the Synagogue has had a series of Ministers each of whom has left something of himself behind. We should not forget, however the sterling contribution made by the congregation’s Lay Readers who ensured that its members were able to worship regularly during many periods without an incumbent.

“The Reverend Meyer Benjamin introduced the Friends of the Religion School in 1974 and it was in the same year that the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen decided to hold its Annual Remembrance Service at the Liberal Synagogue every fifth year. Soon after receiving his ordination in 1975 Reverend Benjamin decided to return to South Africa. In 1977 we welcomed Rabbi Charles Wallach and we were soon to join in the unusual experience of his being married in his own Synagogue on 5th August 1979.

“Meanwhile the decision to change the congregation’s name had been taken and that which had been known for the best part of forty one years as the Brighton and Hove Liberal Jewish Synagogue became the Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue.

“The continuity of having the same Minister for seven years has led to a steady growth in membership and the Synagogue has reached its Jubilee Year secure in the knowledge that it holds a respected position both in its own community and in its national movement, the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues. The year’s celebrations were provided with a unique prologue by courtesy of T.V.S. at Sukkot 1984 when a special Service was broadcast nationwide. the first occasion that a Jewish Service had been conducted in its entirety on television. A far cry from the tiny group that met in that small room in 1935!”

In 1992[check year], after a period when the congregation was led by lay leaders, Rabbi Willie Wolff joined the synagogue, to be followed a few years later in 1995 [check date] by Rabbi Paul Glantz. Since December 2000 the congregation has been led by Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah.

written by Denis Davis (1985)