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..

Spiritual leadership

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

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

Current Executive Board of Directors

• Mr. Stanley Simmonds, President
• Mr. Alan Lee, Vice President
• Mr. Alan Goldberg, Warden
• Mr. Andrew Tobias, 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,

Notable members

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

Bibliography

• Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History

See also

• Synagogues
• Synagogue architecture
• Judaism
• Modern Orthodox Judaism
• Ashkenazi Jews

External links

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