Southport community gets ‘new vigour’ as it joins the United Synagogue

Southport Hebrew Congregation is to join the United Synagogue with immediate effect as its newest constituent member after a Tuesday night vote gave Jews in the seaside resort “a new vigour”.

The United Synagogue (US) Council decision had been planned for earlier in the year but was put on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the town’s popularity and prosperity grew towards the end of the 19th century, Jews followed, and the first orthodox synagogue was consecrated by the then Chief Rabbi Rev Dr Hermann Adler in 1893.

The community continued to prosper as Southport became a popular resort and attractive commuter town for the industrial cities of Liverpool and Manchester and in 1926 a magnificent new orthodox synagogue was built.

Southport soon had its own Kashrut Commission, Chevra Kadisha, care home, social committee, youth clubs, Masonic lodges, and charities. In its heyday, there were more than 120 children enrolled in Cheder.

Adrian Fletcher, Senior Warden of Southport Hebrew Congregation, said: “We are thrilled to be joining the United Synagogue. We have a long and proud history and we know that with [US] support, our future is secure too. A new vigour has appeared amongst our members now that there is a real prospect for our longevity.”

Michael Goldstein of the United Synagogue said he had “been struck by the community’s warmth and commitment to Yiddishkeit and look forward to them becoming part of our family”.