Kehilat Middlesbrough Newsletter No 26 September 2010 page 1 (of 12)
Restoration of the Middlesbrough Sefer Torah
As many of you will recall, we made an urgent appeal for funds to restore a Sefer Torah from the former Middlesbrough Shul which was brought to Israel in July 2000, and which, until recently, had been in regular use in the Pisgat Moriah shul in Pisgat Zeev, Jerusalem. (See the original report here on our website).
Our ex-Boro friends around the world responded most generously and sufficient funds were raised to enable the work to be undertaken, in time for the Rosh Hashana shul services, September 2010.
The Sefer, which retains its original distinctive red mantle, bearing the name of the Middlesbrough Hebrew Congregation, has now been returned to the AronKodesh of Pisgat Moriah.
Middlesbrough Synagogue Video
In November 1998, shortly before its final closure, David Simon, in association with the Macmillan Academy, produced a ten minute video of the former Middlesbrough Synagogue. In effect, a Guided Tour of the shul. it is a remarkable piece of history! The video has been posted on to Youtube, so that everyone can now see it. Here is the link:
Copyright in the video belongs to David and he has agreed that it be spread far and wide. The Academy has a stained glass window from the Shul in memory of his grandfather, as does Hall Garth College.
Family Histories
Terry Greenberg has, at long last, completed Parts II and III of his memoirs. Aside from his personal reminiscences, Terry gives a graphic description of life in Middlesbrough in the years preceding World War II.
Other personal histories available on this website are:
Bad news, I am afraid - I cannot send out any more newsletters. Well, I could if I was to do the printing from my very old and slow budget-style printer, which would take ages. Briefly, I have moved offices. I used to use an HP 5550 which could churn out 12 to 15 12-page double-sided newsletters in less than 5 minutes and it was by making use of this printer that I was able to help. The new offices have slower printers and there are various printer restrictions which I cannot bypass.
I have written to the members of my mailing list apologising with the suggestion that they find someone who has access to a PC (I believe that there are very few to whom this cannot apply). However, I am glad to have been able to help during the time that it has been possible to do so. David Niman, England
[Ed note: David, we really do owe you a very great debt of gratitude for sending out these printed copies for such a long time - very many thanks.
As there are just seven members remaining on the list, who prefer printed copies of the Newsletter, perhaps someone would be prepared to step into the breach?]