United Synagogue

UNITED SYNAGOGUE, one of the six chief organizations of London Jews. These are, in order of seniority: (I) the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' congregation, founded in 1657: principal synagogue, Bevis Marks, Aldgate (built 1699-1701) ; three. con stituent synagogues. The post of Haham has not been filled since Dr. M. Gaster resigned in 1917 after 37 years' tenure. President of the Elders, Sir Francis Montefiore, Bart. (2) West London synagogue of British Jews (Reform), founded in 1841 mainly by members of the preceding synagogues, 34 Upper Berkeley street, W.I. Minister Emeritus, Rev. M. Joseph; minister, Rev. V. C. Simmons, B.A.; Chairman of Council, P. S. Waley. (3) The United synagogue, founded by Act of Parliament in 187o by a union of the Duke's place and other Ashkenazic synagogues and consisting of 18 constituent, two district and 13 associated synagogues: the chief Rabbi is Dr. J. H. Hertz (q.v.) and the president is Lionel de Rothschild, O.B.E. (4) The Federation of Synagogues (38 constituents). (5) The Adas Yisroel (Rabbi V. Schonfeld), 124, Green lanes, N.16. (6) The Liberal Jewish synagogue, established 1910, 28 St. John's Wood road, N.W. 8. Rabbi I. I. Mattuck and Rev. M. L. Perlzweig. President, Dr. C. G. Montefiore. Besides these six organizations there are many independent synagogues. The United synagogue is confined in its direct spiritual, educational and charitable work to London, but it exercises considerable influence over the Jews of the empire by reason of the high respect felt towards its Chief Rabbi. (See pp. 18. sqq. of H. P. Stokes, Studies in Angl. Jew. Hist. 1913.)

of the United Synagogue and other bodies, metropolitan, provincial and colonial, will be found in the current issue of the Jewish Year Book.

The United Synagogue of America

is a federation of Jewish congregations, sisterhoods and young people's organizations, in the United States, Canada and Cuba. It was founded in 1913 by the late Prof. Solomon Schechter, for the purpose of advancing the cause of Judaism in America and the maintenance of Jewish tradition in its historical continuity. It was incorporated on April 24, 1916. The United Synagogue of America does not endorse innovations introduced by any of its constituent bodies, yet em braces all elements essentially loyal to traditional Judaism. In 1918, the Women's League was organized with the object of advancing traditional Judaism by furthering Jewish education among women, by creating and fostering Jewish sentiment in the home, by promoting the observance of Jewish dietary laws and home ceremonials, Sabbath and Festivals, and by generally strengthening the religious institutions of the home and the com munity. In 1921, the Young People's League was established for the purpose of enlisting the activity of the Jewish youth in the advancement of traditional Judaism by extending their knowledge of Judaism, deepening their devotion to its precepts and estab lishing closer relations between them and the Synagogue; to foster a knowledge of Hebrew and to encourage an active interest in the Zionist cause.