West London Synagogue

West London Synagogue on Upper Berkeley Street
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Basic information
Location	Upper Berkeley Street, London, England, United Kingdom
Affiliation	Movement for Reform Judaism
Municipality	London
Year consecrated	1870
Status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II listed
Leadership	Senior Rabbi: Julia Neuberger Presidents: Mark Fox and Alexander Landau
Website	www.wls.org.uk
Architectural description
Architect(s)	Davis & Emmanuel (original synagogue); Mewes & Davis (additional administrative building in Seymour Place); Julian Sofaer (Seymour Place extension)
Architectural style	Neo-Byzantine
Completed	1870 (synagogue); 1933-34 (Seymour Place building; extended in 1964 and 1973)

File:Junction of Hampden Gurney Street and Upper Berkeley Street - geograph.org.uk - 1039158.jpg

The synagogue, shown from the junction of Hampden Gurney Street and Upper Berkeley Street

The West London Synagogue of British Jews, abbreviated WLS (Hebrew: ק"ק שער ציון‎, Kahal Kadosh Sha'ar Tziyon, "Holy Congregation Gate of Zion") is a Reform synagogue and congregation near Marble Arch in London. It was established on 15 April 1840. The current edifice in Upper Berkeley Street, dedicated in 1870, is Grade II listed. It is the oldest house of prayer affiliated with the Movement for Reform Judaism, predating the denomination by some seventy years, and one of the oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom.

History

Main article: Movement for Reform Judaism § History

On 15 April 1840, twenty-four members of the Mocatta, Goldsmid and other families announced their secession from their respective congregations, the Sephardi Bevis Marks Synagogue and the Ashkenazi Great Synagogue of London, and their intention to form a prayer group for neither "German nor Portuguese" but "British Jews", that would allow them to worship together. The Mocattas and Goldsmids were quarreling with the wardens and complaining over lack of decorum for years. The new prayer group, convening in Burton Street, hired Reverend David Woolf Marks in March 1841. Marks and the congregation adopted a unique, bibliocentric approach often termed "neo-Karaism" by their critics, largely rejecting the authority of the Oral Torah. They abolished the second day of festivals and excised various prayers grounded in rabbinic tradition. It was only after almost a century that the congregation adopted mainstream Reform Judaism.

On 27 January 1842, the West London Synagogue of British Jews was consecrated in its first permanent building, at Burton Street Chapel. By 1848, it had become too crowded for the congregation. A new location was found, in Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, at a cost of £,5000, and it was consecrated on 25 January 1849. In 1867 a new location was required again. Eventually, its current edifice in Upper Berkeley Street was consecrated on 22 September 1870. It cost £20,000 and had the capacity of 1,000 attendants at the time.

With Marks' retirement in 1895, he was replaced by Rabbi Morris Joseph, who abandoned his predecessor's philosophy, which was never very popular with constituents. He brought West London closer to mainland Reform, excising petitions for the restoration of sacrifices in Jerusalem. During the 1920s, mixed seating was introduced. In 1929, the synagogue appointed Hebrew Union College graduate Rabbi Harold F. Reinhart, who brought it into the World Union for Progressive Judaism. In 1942, West London was a founding member of the Associated British Synagogues (from 2005, Movement for Reform Judaism).

Rabbi Werner van der Zyl served as Senior Rabbi from 1958 to 1968, after Reinhart resigned and seceded with eighty supporters to form the independent Westminster Synagogue. Rabbi Hugo Gryn succeeded van der Zyl in 1968, until his death in 1996. Mark Winer then served as Senior Rabbi for twelve years, retiring in September 2010. Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger became Senior Rabbi in 2011. The current rabbinic team also includes Rabbi Helen Freeman, Rabbi David Mitchell and Rabbi Sybil Sheridan. The synagogue's archives, from 1841 to 1942, are held in the University of Southampton Libraries Special Collections.

Ritual and edifice

Services at West London synagogue follow the prayer books of the Movement for Reform Judaism, which incorporate material from both Sephardi and Ashkenazi traditions. A choir and organ, located behind a screen to the rear of the dais, accompany the congregation in all musical parts of the service except for the aleinu and the kaddish.

Men and women sit together during services, and also play equal parts in leading them. Male worshippers are required to wear a kippah; females can wear one if they wish to do so.

The current building, dating from 1870, is located near Marble Arch in London. The main sanctuary was built in the Neo-Byzantine architectural style by Davis & Emmanuel. Its premises, which extend into Seymour Place, also contain offices, a library and various community facilities.

The bimah and ark were built in 1869–70 by Davis & Emmanuel.

The synagogue's organ, which was renovated in 2007, has 55 stops on four manuals and pedal.

See also

• List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
• List of synagogues in the United Kingdom

External links

• Official website
• The Movement for Reform Judaism
• West London Synagogue of British Jews on Jewish Communities and Records – UK (hosted by JewishGen)