Letters from the Pontypridd and Brynmawr Hebrew congregations supporting the election of Mr P. Caller as representative for South Wales to the Chief Rabbinate Council, September 1963

Description

These letters are addressed to Mr Stone of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation and refer to the election of Mr P. Caller as representative of South Wales to the Chief Rabbinate Council.

The first letter is from the Pontypridd Hebrew Congregation and reads: " Dear Mr Stone, With reference to the Biennial Election of the Chief Rabbinate Council. The Committee of this Congregation has discussed the matter and have unanimously decided to support Mr P. Caller as their representative to the Chief Rabbinate Council. We wish him every success in this office. Yours sincerely, M. Freedman (Hon Sec)"

The second letter is from the Brynmawr Hebrew Congregation and reads "Dear Mr Stone,
Re Elective Rep Chief Rabbinate Council. I have much pleasure in informing you that my Congregation heartily approve of the nomination of Mr P. Caller. [five illegible words] as Representative for the ensuing period. Wishing your community a Happy New Year."

The Chief Rabbinate Council is the council of the Chief Rabbi. The Chief Rabbi is the spiritual leader of the United Synagogue. Founded in 1870 the United Synagogue is the union of Orthodox Jewish synagogues in the United Kingdom. The Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth from 1948 to 1965 was Sir Israel Brodie.

The Pontypridd Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1867 and continued until the 1978. The synagogue was located at Cliff Terrace, Treforest, Pontypridd. Their cemetery was based at the Glyntaff Cemetery in the Jewish Section.

The Brynmawr Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1889 and closed in 1965. The synagogue was located at Heathcock House in Bailey Street.

Newport Monmouthshire Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1859 by orthodox Jews meeting at a temporary synagogue in Llanarth Street. A synagogue at Francis Street was opened in 1869 and consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Dr Herman Adler in 1871. In 1934 the congregation moved to their Nathan Harris Memorial Hall in Queen's Hill which was converted to a synagogue. In 1997 this synagogue was closed, and the congregation moved to their Prayer House by the Jewish Burial Ground on Risca Road. Within 20 years the congregation had dwindled to a few members able to attend and this too had ceased to hold services.

Sources:
https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/community/val2_pontypridd/index.htm;
https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/val1_brynmawr/index.htm;
"History of our Shul. The First Hundred Years", published by Newport Congregation in 1959;
Oral history interviews with members of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation, recorded in 2018 by JHASW.

Depository: Gwent Archives.