THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE SQUARE MILE - BEVIS MARKS AND THE CITY OF LONDON

The last fifteen years have witnessed a significant transformation in the role of Bevis Marks Synagogue. Over the years, emigration from the East End led to dwindling attendances while intermarriage with the much more numerous Ashkenazim of Anglo-Jewry has led to a steady disappearance of one Marrano name after another. However, the tragic destruction of the Great Synagogue during the blitz left Bevis Marks in a unique position as Britain's oldest synagogue, while the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 brought a stronger sense of unity between Ashkenazim and Sephardim.

Literally thousands of Jews work in the City of London mid-week, offering the opportunity for Bevis Marks to take on a wider symbolic role as 'the Synagogue of the Square Mile', and the venue for major ceremonial services of significance for Anglo-Jewry as a whole.

EMIGRATION FROM THE EAST END, A DWINDLING CONGREGATION WITH DISAPPEARING MARRANO NAMES


Bevis Marks painting
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By the end of the nineteenth century, significant numbers of Bevis Marks congregants had moved out of the East End and into the expanding suburbs of North West London. Mindful of the need to walk to Synagogue on the Sabbath, an obvious step was the building of other synagogues in Lauderdale Road, near Maida Vale and St John's Wood, and most recently in Wembley.

Throughout the twentieth century, the exodus to the suburbs continued so that very soon the vast majority of the Spanish & Portugues Congregation attended Lauderdale Road, while attendances at Bevis Marks dwindled to the point of questionable sustainability. At the same time, Marrano names began to disappear as children of the Spanish & Portuguese minority (among Jews in England) intermarried with children of the much more numerous Ashkenazi majority.

In the nineteen sixties, and not for the first time, it was suggested that Bevis Marks should either be sold to the United Synagogue (the only conceivable purchaser) or be closed as a Synagogue and, given its status as a listed building, turned into a museum. These proposals were rejected and the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation continued to carry the financial burden of sustaining a historic building with a small but dedicated congregation.

THE EMERGENCE OF THE MID-WEEK CONGREGATION - CITY PROFESSIONALS

The nineteen eighties brought a major transformation in the City of London as it moved to protect its status as Europe's foremost centre for Financial Services. There has always been a large population of young Jewish City professionals but now significant numbers of these were recent arrivals, brought in by some of the multitude of foreign banks and financial institutions who found it essential to set up a base in London. As a result, Bevis Marks has developed a mid-week Congregation for morning services, which are held on every weekday. Needless to say, many of these mid-week congregants are Ashkenazim but, since the creation of the State of Israel, the Sephardi pronounciation at Bevis Marks is no longer unfamiliar to them.

A FOCAL POINT FOR ALL ANGLO-JEWRY

In 1989, the City of London celebrated the 800th anniversary of its Mayoralty. After the service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, Jewish Members of the Court of Common Council decided there should be a Jewish service, for which Bevis Marks was the obvious venue. This service was a huge success and over the years since then, major civil services have been held at Bevis Marks for the 50th anniversary of the Council of Christians & Jews, the 50th Anniversary of VE Day, the first visit to Britain of a President of Israel in 1997, and most recently, Lord Levene's installation as Lord Mayor of London in 1998.

The dwindling Sabbasth Congregation, the disappearance of Marrano names, the increasing role of Ashkenazim in the Bevis Marks congregation, and not least the presence during the week of thousands of Jews working in the City suggest an exciting alternative to closure - a role as the Cathedral Synagogue of Anglo-Jewry and a cultural centre for all Jews working in the City.

Nothing, however, helps to bring about change more effectively than a crisis. In the early nineties, the Congregation discovered that the original eighteenth century floor was suffering from rot and that over three quarters of it was beyond saving. Faced with the huge cost of renewing the entire floor, the Congregation decided to launch an Appeal. Lord Levene of Portsoken, although not then a member of the Congregation, kindly agreed to be President of the Appeal Committee. Then, within months, and with the urgently needed repair work about to begin, Bevis Marks was severly damaged by the first of two IRA bombs in the City. Generous donations came in from all over the world, while the largest contribution of all came from the Corporation of London.

The success of this Appeal demonstrated clearly not only Bevis Marks' status as a unique part of Anglo-Jewry's heritage but also its architectural standing as the most authentic example of English religious architecture during the Wren period. As a result of the Appeal, the financial burden of maintaining Bevis Marks has largely been lifted. More precious than this however, is the recognition throughout Anglo-Jewry and within the Corporation of the City of London that Bevis Marks is an important part of the heritage and history of England, and of the City of London in particular.

Bevis Marks outside gate
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BEVIS MARKS AND CORPORATION OF LONDON

Some thirty years before Bevis Marks was built, the Spanish & Portuguese Jews' Congregation began the custom of presenting each Lord Mayor with a silver salver, loaded with chocolates or sweetmeats. This continued for over a hundred years until it was formally discontinued in 1780, although it has been revived to mark special occasions.

In 1942, as the Holocaust was reaching its height in Continental Europe, the Corporation elected a Jewish Lord Mayor, Sir Samuel Joseph. A special service was held in Bevis Marks to celebrate this and the Congregation presented Sir Samuel with a silver salver that had previously been presented to one of his predecessors in 1728. This salver has now been acquired by the Bevis Marks Trust and will be on display in the Synagogue from the start of our Tercentenary Programme.

Bevis Marks Ark
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The Corporation played a significant role in the enfranchisement of Britain's Jews from the time of the Resettlement. When the Corporation took over responsibility for the regulation of the number of brokers in the city in 1697, it was stipulated that twelve of the 124 brokers were to be Jews, while another twelve were to be 'non-Jewish aliens'. The role of the City of London in enabling Kews to become Members of Parliament has been related elsewhere.

Members of the Congregation were invited to attend the Lord mayor's Banquet as early as 1703 and in 1855 Sir David Salomons became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London. Since then, there have been eight Jewish Lord Mayors, the most recent being Lord Levene of Portsoken in 1998/99.

THE GATES OF HEAVEN

To establish Bevis Marks' new and unique role, more is needed than fund-raising and a major civic service every two years. With thousands of Jews working in the City every weekday, there is scope for them to have a cultural meeting place that is open to all of them and a kosher venue for lunches and a drink after work. To this end, a new building has just been completed that will provide not only a Succah during the Feast of Tabernacles but also the premises for a kosher bistro throughout the year.

This will add to, and enhance the capacity of the Abraham Lopes Dias Hall, which will be refurbished. Every Jewish Congregation has a Hebrew name. The Spanish & Portuguese Jews of London are The Holy Congregation of the Gates of Heaven so The Gates of Heaven would seem to be a good name for the new bistro.

A CONGREGATION OF LEVIIM

The tribe of Levi were given no territory in the ancient land of Israel; their role was to live in the cities and provide the facilities for the religious worship of their brethen.

By inviting the whole of Anglo-Jewry to use Bevis Marks as their Cathedral Synagogue, the Spanish & Portuguese Jews Congregation have cast themselves in the role of Leviim, with a similar mission of stewardship.

It has been clear for almost a century that Bevis Marks is not sustainable as a family or local community synagogue.

Looking forward, not to this Tercentenary, but through it, the Bevis Marks Congregation see this role of stewardship as more than a sustainable answer to financial problems; it is a mitzvah (commandment) that is uniquely theirs and they are extremely proud and privileged to have it.