The Great Synagogue of London was, for centuries, the centre of Ashkenazi synagogue and Jewish life in London.

History

The earliest Ashkenazi synagogue constructed in London after the return of Jews to England in the 17th century was built about 1690 at Duke's Place, north of Aldgate. An enlarged building, designed by George Dance the Elder, was consecrated in 1766 on the same site, and this was completely rebuilt in 1790 in the style of Adam.

The Royal Dukes of Cambridge, Cumberland, and Essex, sons of George III, visited the Great Synagogue of London in 1809. There were seated on elegant Egyptian revival chairs as they watched the religious service.^[1]

It was destroyed in the London Blitz on May 10, 1941.

Rabbis

The Rabbis of the Great Synagogue, and their terms of office, included:

• Aaron Hart 1704-1756
• Hart Lyon 1758-1764
• David Tevele Schiff 1765-1792
• Solomon Hirschell 1802-1842
• Nathan Marcus Adler 1845-1890
• Hermann Adler 1890-1911

Cantors

Myer Lyon was hazzan at the Synagogue from 1767. For some time he also doubled as an opera singer uat Covent Garden Theatre under the name 'Michael Leoni'.

Sources

• Roth,Cecil, The Great Synagogue London 1690-1940, London 1950. (available in an online version here).

See also

• History of the Jews in England

References

fr:Grande synagogue de Londres