Patrick Comerford
When I was at the Chanukah party in Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue earlier this week, I was delighted to receive a new welcome pamphlet that was produced about six weeks ago.
This new six-page pamphlet, produced on 17 November 2024 in the format of an A4 hand-out, includes six of my photographs of the synagogue, and a text written by me and Sarah Friendman.
The photographs are reproduced here, and the short introduction reads:
Thank you for visiting us today. Our community is a small and friendly congregation based in Milton Keynes and it attracts members from a wide area in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. This short document gives some interesting and photographs about our community. It is compiled with permission from documents by Reverend Patrick Comerford and Sarah Friendman.
A larger history … Did you know? There was a mediaeval Jewish community in Newport Pagnell during the reign of Henry II.
The extensive Jewish contribution to the code-breaking activities at Bletchley Park during World War II is well documented.
The present community in Milton Keynes has a more recent history. The first Shabbat morning Service was held in the synagogue 20 years ago, on 20 August 2002. But the story of the present Jewish community in Milton Keynes dates back 45 years.
In 1977, a letter was written to the Jewish Chronicle inviting anyone in the area interested in forming a Reform Synagogue community to get in touch. The response was impressive, and the first service was held on 4 March 1978.
Initially, services and social events were held in members’ homes but, as numbers increased, the congregation began using hired halls for events. They were given use of one of the rescued Czech scrolls for services. After World War II, about 1,500 Torah scrolls, formerly belonging to destroyed Jewish communities, were brought to London. Those that were still usable were distributed for use in small communities.
In time, the name was changed to Milton Keynes and District Reform Synagogue to reflect a growing membership of people from surrounding areas like Leighton Buzzard, Northampton and Bedford.
Milton Keynes Council allowed the congregation priority use of Tinkers Bridge small meeting place in 1998, and regular services and social events were held there for about 10 years. Rooms at the Open University were hired for children’s Jewish education classes on Sunday mornings, and a small, short-lived satellite community was founded in Kettering.
At the same time, members of the synagogue became involved in interfaith matters, connecting the Jewish community with the wider community in Milton Keynes. To this day, the synagogue remains a valued and active member of the rich faith life of the city, with representatives on Milton Keynes Council of Faiths and several other community organisations.
The first community rabbi was appointed in November 1990. After a few years, the community began fundraising for a new building so that all events could be held under the same roof. The congregation was registered as a charity on 23 September 1996.
After a brief move to Shenley Brook End Meeting Place, the community began fundraising for a new building so that all events could be held under the same roof. The congregation was registered as a charity on 23 September 1996.
Gradually, the dream of a new building became a reality. A building committee was formed, and a plot of land in Giffard Park was found under the reserve sites provision. Two years later, a 60 tonne crane and eight lorries carrying the building sections arrived at the site.
By the end of the day, the synagogue building had taken shape and the first service took place there on Saturday 17 August 2002, with a Bar Mitzvah.
The dedication service of the new synagogue on Sunday 6 April 2003 was attended by many invited guests from the local community. The service was conducted by the late Rabbi William Wolff, then Regional Rabbi in North-East Germany and later honorary Chief Reform Rabbi of Germany, and Rabbi Sammy Rodrigues-Pereira, Rabbi Emeritus of Hatch End Reform Synagogue in north London.
The guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, the Mayor of Milton Keynes, leaders of Reform and Liberal Judaism, interfaith representatives, and other local dignitaries.
In 2007, the community chose a new design for the Aron haKodesh or Ark. The new Ark with its ‘Tree of Life’ decoration was installed in time for Rosh haShanah in 2008. The matching bimah and lectern in time for the 30th anniversary celebration on 22 November 2008. The community celebrated its 40th anniversary on 1 July 2018 with an open day. The synagogue building’s 20th anniversary was marked with a special kiddush on 20 August 2022.
Now in 2024, we have an active synagogue, with a regular Cheder (Children’s Jewish education), Bar mitvahs, services for our holy days, adult education events, a choir and many other activities.
One of the treasures of Milton Keynes synagogue is scroll No 970 from Pacov in the Czech Republic.
During World War II, 1,564 Torah scrolls were taken by the Nazis from synagogues throughout Bohemia and Moravia. They survived the war and were stored in an old dilapidated synagogue in Prague. They were bought in 1964 and moved to Westminster Synagogue in London, where the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust was set up. The Trust repaired the scrolls and loans them out to synagogues around the world.
Find out more:
https://www.patrickcomerford.com/2022/11/milton-keynes-synagogue-celebrates-20.html
Shabbat Shalom, שבת שלום
