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Sinai_Synagogue_(Leeds) Latitude and Longitude:
53°50′50″N 1°30′37″W / 53.8471°N 1.5103°W / 53.8471; -1.5103
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Sinai Synagogue, Leeds
Religion
Affiliation Reform Judaism
LeadershipRachel Weston [1]
StatusActive
Location
LocationRoman Avenue, Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 2AN
England
Geographic coordinates 53°50′50″N 1°30′37″W / 53.8471°N 1.5103°W / 53.8471; -1.5103
Architecture
Completed1960
Website
www.sinaileeds.uk

Sinai Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation on Roman Avenue in Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1944 [2] and is affiliated to the Movement for Reform Judaism. [3]

The community has a burial ground in current use at Harehills Cemetery, Leeds, which is managed by Leeds City Council. [4]

It publishes a quarterly magazine, the Sinai Chronicle. [5]

History

Prior to World War II the Jewish community in Leeds was overwhelmingly Orthodox. [6] Rabbi L. Graf of the Reform Synagogue in Bradford attempted to start a community of worship in Leeds, presiding over a service of six people in a house in Oakwood on 8 January 1944. [6] Numbers grew and services moved to a variety of sites, eventually buying the defunct Sephardi Synagogue building at 21 Leopold Street, Leeds 7 in November 1951, which was used until 16 September 1960. [6]

Plans for a new building on Roman Avenue began in 1957. Construction began in March 1960, and was completed in November of the same year. [6] It was designed by Halpern & Associates of London.[ citation needed] On 12 June 1960 the foundation stone was laid and a section of Harehills Cemetery consecrated for the use of the congregation. [6] The building was consecrated on 6 November 1960. [6]

In 1969 it was recognised as a "major organisation in the community" by the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, gaining a seat on the Executive. [6]

Cultural activities such as religious classes expanded until they were too large for the rooms, so a temporary building was erected in the car park in 1965; this was used until 1985, by which time additional rooms had been attached to the synagogue. [6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Cantor Rachel Weston". Sinai Synagogue Leeds. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Sinai (Reform) Synagogue Leeds, West Yorkshire". Congregation Data. JCR-UK. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Simcha at Sinai". Movement for Reform Judaism. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Sinai Synagogue Cemetery (Leeds)". Leeds Jewish Community West Yorkshire. JCR-UK. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Sinai Chronicle". www.sinaileeds.uk. Sinai Synagogue, Leeds. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Sterne, Ernest C. (June 1985). The Early History of the Sinai Synagogue, Leeds 1944–1970. Harrogate: Enid Taylor Ltd.

53°50′50″N 1°30′37″W / 53.8471°N 1.5103°W / 53.8471; -1.5103

External links

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