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You are here: Home / Archives for New London Synagogue

New London Synagogue

The New London Synagogue on Abbey Road, St. John's Wood, was founded in September 1964 following Louis Jacobs's failed bid to reclaim the pulpit of the New West End Synagogue, and the scandal that ensued. It originally presented itself as an 'independent Orthodox congregation' (see the Constitution adopted in May 1965), separate from the United Synagogue but nonetheless advocating full observance of Jewish law. Jacobs remained at the head of the New London Synagogue for 36 years, until his retirement in the summer 2000, by which time the synagogue had joined several other institutions in the country under the umbrella of Masorti, the European equivalent of the Conservative movement in the United States. Below are a number of documents covering the general history of the New London Synagogue, from its founding to the present day.

Louis Jacobs’s intervention at the Convocation of Religion for World Peace

Convocation held at Cow Palace, San Francisco, on 27 June 1965, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the United Nations. Click on the picture to read reports of the event. ... Continue Reading ➨

The Conversion Problem and the New London Synagogue

Paper written in 1976. This communication does not deal with the wider question of intermarriage or of Judaism as a missionary religion. Its concern is with the severely practical and immediate problem facing a would-be convert to Judaism or a ... Continue Reading ➨

New London Synagogue – The First Twenty Years

This skilfully edited scrapbook, produced by Anne Cowen, is a record of the events of which led to the establishment of the New London Synagogue and its early days. Click on the picture to open the scrapbook. ... Continue Reading ➨

Reflections on a Controversy

Originally published in Quest, 1 (September 1965); republished in New North London News (Autumn 2000), pp. 9-11. On the occasion of Rabbi Jacobs’ retirement after 36 years as minister of New London Synagogue, we reproduce with kind acknowledgement ... Continue Reading ➨

Revelation – A Statement of the Theological Position of the New London Synagogue

Sermon delivered at the New London Synagogue, probably around 1964. The New London Synagogue came into being as the result of a dispute concerning revelation. But revelation is a theological concept and theology is notoriously elusive. While I am ... Continue Reading ➨

A New House

Sermon preached on the Consecration of the New Hall of the New London Synagogue on 10 September 1967. “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof. . . .” (Deut. 22: 8). Three years ago, almost to the day, this venerable ... Continue Reading ➨

Personal remarks upon the start of the New London Synagogue

Sermon delivered upon the start of the New London Synagogue, 1964. May I begin with a few personal remarks? First I want to say how much the loyalty of my friends and supporters has meant to me. In particular I refer to the deposed Board of ... Continue Reading ➨

Show Us Thy Way

Sermon preached at the New London Synagogue on Rosh Hashanah 5726 (27 September 1965). ‘Teach me Thy way, O Lord; And lead me in an even path.’ (Psalm 27: 11). Last Rosh Ha-Shanah, when our congregation met in a building bearing many of the ... Continue Reading ➨

Where do we go from here?

Originally published in New London News 2:3 (January 1970). Just what it was that differentiated New London Synagogue members from other traditional congregations in Britain was pointedly made clear one wet, cold evening in late November when ... Continue Reading ➨

The New London Synagogue – Platform or Movement?

Originally published in New London Forum: Journal of the New London Synagogue 2:2 (April 1984). Right from the beginning, when the New London Synagogue was founded as an independent congregation, some of its supporters looked forward to, and some ... Continue Reading ➨

Constitution of the New London Synagogue – May 1965

Constitution adopted at the first Annual General Meeting 23rd May, 1965 ------------ New London synagogue 33 ABBEY ROAD, LONDON, N.W.8 Preamble to Constitution “That the members of the New West End Synagogue here assembled reaffirm their ... Continue Reading ➨

The Captive In Our Midst?

New London News - APRIL 1972 Vol. 3. No. 1. Rabbi Jacobs-with that complete loyalty which he gives us-would deny that this description fitted him. Yet I wonder if he has not sometimes' in his private thoughts' felt a little disappointed with ... Continue Reading ➨

New London Synagogue – Information Handbook

INFORMATION HANDBOOK NEW LONDON SYNAGOGUE March 1972 HISTORY AND OUTLOOK THE New London Synagogue came into being as the result of a controversy which none of its founders had sought. Two issues were involved: the theological issue of the meaning ... Continue Reading ➨

What We Stand For

Sermon preached at the New London Synagogue, first day of Rosh Hashanah, 7 September 1964. My friends, Welcome to our new Synagogue. Who would have dreamed last Rosh Ha-Shanah that we would be here worshipping together as a newly formed ... Continue Reading ➨

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