Belfast Jewish Community

{{Short description|Jewish community in Belfast, Northern Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox religious building |building_name = Belfast Jewish Community | native_name = |image = |caption = |map_type = Northern Ireland |map_size = 250 |map_caption = Location within Northern Ireland |location = 49 Somerton Road, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland | country = United Kingdom |coordinates = {{coord|54|37|40|N|5|56|2|W|region:UK_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |religious_affiliation = Orthodox Judaism |consecration_year = 1964 |rite= Nusach Ashkenaz | status = Synagogue |functional_status= Active |leadership = Rev David Kale (Rabbi) |website = {{url|belfastjewishcommunity.org.uk}} |architect = Eugene Rosenberg |architecture_type = Synagogue architecture |architecture_style = Modernist |facade_direction = | established = 1870 {{small|(as a congregation)}} |year_completed = 1967 |construction_cost = |specifications = no |capacity = |length = |width = |height_max = |materials = }} The '''Belfast Jewish Community''' (previously known as '''Belfast Hebrew Congregation''') is the Jewish community in Belfast, Northern Ireland.<ref name="JCR-UK">{{cite web | url=https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Belfast/index.htm | title=Belfast Jewish Community & Hebrew Congregation | publisher=JCR-UK | date=22 October 2020 | access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Its Rabbi is the Rev David Kale.<ref name="Frot">{{Cite news |last=Frot |first=Mathilde |date=8 October 2021 |title=Belfast threatened by kosher meat shortage |work=The Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/belfast-threatened-by-kosher-meat-shortage-1.521284 |access-date=8 October 2021}}</ref> The community follows the Ashkenazi Orthodox ritual. Membership has fluctuated from 78 in 1900, approximately 1500 during World War II, about 375 after World War II, to 350 in 1945, 380 in 1949 and 200 in 1999.<ref name="JCR-UK"/> The congregation was fewer than 80 people {{As of|2015|01|lc=y}}.<ref name="McKevitt">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31003098 | title=150 years of Belfast's Jewish community | work=BBC News | date=27 January 2015 | accessdate=28 January 2015 | author=McKevitt, Greg}}</ref>

==History== Established in 1870, the congregation's first two "ministers" (rabbis) were Reverend Joseph Chotzner (serving from 1870 to 1880 and 1892 to 1897) and Rev. Jacob Myers.<ref>''Jewish Encyclopedia'' (corrected by descendant)</ref> Daniel Joseoh Jaffe (father of Otto Jaffe), who came to Ireland in 1851, was instrumental in founding the synagogue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blankgenealogy.com/getperson.php?personID=I5255&tree=Blank1|title=Sir Otto Moses Jaffe b. 1846 Altona, Germany d. 29 Apr 1929 London, England: Blank Family|website=www.blankgenealogy.com|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irelandbeforeyoudie.com/top-10-famous-people-buried-in-belfast-city-cemetery/|title=10 Most Famous people buried in Belfast City Cemetery|last=Ireland Before You Die|date=2014-10-21|website=Ireland Before You Die|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> 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.<ref>''Jewish Encyclopedia'', citing: ''The Athenaeum'', p.733, London, 1882; ''The Guardian'', xxxvii. 801, London; ''The Jewish Chronicle'', 2 June 1882; ''The Times'', 1 June 1882, London.</ref>

Otto Jaffe, Lord Mayor of Belfast, was life-president of the Belfast Hebrew Congregation,<ref name="Lunney">{{Cite web |last=Lunney |first=Linde |date=October 2009 |title=Jaffé, Sir Otto |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/jaffe-sir-otto-a4250 |access-date=26 May 2026 |website= Dictionary of Irish Biography|doi=10.3318/dib.004250.v1}}</ref> which worshipped at the Great Victoria Street synagogue.

==Buildings== Currently located on Somerton Road, the congregation previously had the synagogue<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Ireland.html|title= Ireland Virtual Jewish History Tour|website= Jewish Virtual Library|access-date= 31 October 2020}}</ref> building on Annesley Street (1904–1964) and Great Victoria Street (1871–1904). (The foundation stones were dated 7 July 1871 and 26 February 1904.)

thumb|The community's former synagogue building on Annesley Street, Belfast

The synagogue, designed by Eugene Rosenberg, 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 candelabrum and eternal light, together with bronze and silver letters adorning the Ark doors, are by Israeli sculptor, Nehemia Azaz.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Larmour|first1=Paul|title=Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide|date=1987|publisher=Friar's Bush Press|isbn=0946872104|pages=98}}</ref>

The synagogue has a plaque in memory of Jews killed during the Holocaust. Listed in the UK National Inventory of War Memorials, the English part of the inscription reads: "In memory of the martyred millions of European Jewry 1933–1945."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.43397/fromUkniwmSearch/1|website= Imperial War Museums|access-date = 8 October 2021|title= Belfast Hebrew Congregation Holocaust Memorial}}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{portal|Judaism|Northern Ireland}}}} * History of the Jews in Northern Ireland

==References== <references/>

==Further reading== *{{Cite web |url=https://blogs.qub.ac.uk/specialcollections/jewish-heritage-in-northern-ireland/ |title=Jewish Heritage in Northern Ireland |website=Special Collections at Queen's University Belfast |date=4 June 2019 |access-date=24 November 2022}} * On Rabbi Jacob Shachter (1886–1971) of Romania and Manchester UK, see [https://www.yasharbooks.com/Guide.html this biography] at Yashar Books. *{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZleyo1RH5Y |title=Odd Men In |date= 19 November 2018 |last=Towb |first=Harry |author-link = Harry Towb|type=video |publisher=YouTube |publication-place=Belfast|access-date = 25 May 2026|time= 33:07 (Belfast's current synagogue is featured) }}

==External links== *[https://www.belfastjewishcommunity.org.uk/ Official website] *[http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Belfast/index.htm Belfast Hebrew Congregation] on [http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/ ''Jewish Communities and Records – UK''] (hosted by ''jewishgen.org''). *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-31003098 McKevitt, Greg: "150 years of Belfast's Jewish community"], BBC News, 27 January 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2026.

Category:1870 establishments in Ireland Category:1870 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:20th-century synagogues in the United Kingdom Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Ireland Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in the United Kingdom Category:Ashkenazi synagogues Category:Jews and Judaism in Northern Ireland Belfast Category:Modernist architecture in Ireland Category:Modernist synagogues Category:Orthodox Judaism in Ireland Category:Orthodox synagogues in the United Kingdom Category:Religious buildings and structures in Belfast Category:Round and octagonal synagogues Category:Synagogues completed in 1967 Category:Synagogues in Northern Ireland