Patrick Comerford
I have been through Luton and Luton Airport a number of times – including one memorable occasion when I missed a flight to Dublin because I had left my passport back in Stony Stratford. But I had never stopped to look at Luton or to walk around the town, until this week.
It was a short visit, with only a few hours between buses, and I never got to see some of the important sites in Luton, such as Saint Mary’s Church, built in the 12th century and one of the largest churches in Bedfordshire, Luton Hoo, or the Kenilworth Road grounds of Luton Town, the Hatters.
Luton is known for the former Vauxhall factory and for its cultural, ethnic and religious diversity, with large Irish, South Asia and Black African communities, and a large presence of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Out of a total population of 225,262 in 2021, the Jewish community in Luton is relatively tiny, with only 246 or 0.1 per cent of the population.
Over the years, the Jewish community in Luton has seen significant transformation, with many rises and falls in the number of Jews living in the town. The first Jewish family to settle in Luton moved there around 1880, and there were about five families living in the town by 1912.
The first organised Jewish community meeting in Luton took place in Duke Street on 23 September 1923, when it was resolved to form what became known as the Luton Hebrew Congregation. Nine local residents were present at that meeting. A week later, a general meeting of the newly formed Luton Hebrew Congregation was held on 30 September 1923, when the first president was elected.
It was agreed to apply to the United Synagogue for affiliation for burial rights. A later affiliation with the Federation of Synagogues was subsequently reversed, and the Luton Synagogue, although independent in its administration, was affiliated to the United Synagogue for burial purposes.
The first services, including High Holyday Services and religion classes, were held from 1924 to 1929 at 51 John Street above a factory that has since been demolished, and these were served by various visiting teachers.
The Revd Harry David Ritvo was appointed as a minister in 1929. A house at 5 Moor Path was bought that year and was rebuilt as a synagogue that could hold about 90 people. It became the first-ever synagogue in Luton.
At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, there were about 25 Jewish families in Luton. But this number increased rapidly to over 2,000 people when families were evacuated from London during the Blitz.
With this growth in numbers, High Holiday services were held in at least three different places, and a house in Cheapside was bought to provide shelter for refugees from London.
These war-time changes became a turning point in the history of the Luton Jewish community and a new synagogue and communal centre were needed. The Empire Cinema on Bury Park Road, which had opened as an independent cinema on 29 November 1921, was bought by the Jewish community in 1949.
Work on converting the cinema began in 1952, and it was consecrated as a synagogue by the Chief Rabbi the Very Revd Dr Israel Brodie, on Lag Ba’Omer 5713, 7 May 1953. At the time, the congregation had about 200 members and there were regular services as well as religious classes and social functions, and a youth club, young marrieds’ group, ladies’ guild, a parent teacher association and a friendship club for older members.
The Belfast-born Jewish historian Steven Jaffe has researched notable Jewish connections with Luton, including Marty Feldman (1934-1982), actor, comedian and comedy writer, who spent his childhood in Luton after being evacuated from London during the war.
The journalist and biographer Michael Freedland (1934-2018), who presented the long-running radio programme, ‘You Don’t have to be Jewish’, grew up in Luton. Others include David Pleat has been a player and later manager of Luton Town Football Club.
The late Chief Rabbi, Lord (Jonathan) Sacks (1948-2020), was appointed head of the Luton Hebrew Congregation’s Hebrew and Religious Classes in June 1977, his first congregational post, and he conducted his first Shabbat services there as an occasional visiting rabbi.
Rabbi Yossi Schwei was inducted as minister of the Luton Hebrew Congregation on 10 May 1992, by Dr Jonathan Sacks, by then the Chief Rabbi, at a service led by the Revd Maurice Schwartz.
But from the late 1980s it was apparent that new premises were needed. The membership was falling in numbers and rising in age, and few members lived near Bury Park.
A protracted search began for a new building or site and to sell the former cinema. Eventually, the synagogue in Bury Park Road was sold at the end of 2001, when it was bought by the Islamic Cultural Centre.
In the eight years that followed, the Jewish community had a series of temporary homes in Luton, from Luton Town Hall to various community centres and a variety of houses. Eventually, a disused medical surgery on Dunstable Road was bought in 2009 and work began on converting it into a synagogue.
The first service in the new synagogue was held on 5 September 2009 and it was consecrated 15 years ago, on 27 June 2010, by Lord Sacks. The Luton Hebrew Congregation became a constituent member of the United Synagogues on 12 July 2010, and the community changed its name to Luton United Synagogue.
The synagogue was extensively refurbished in 2017. The building serves as a synagogue and as a community centre, and there are regular services and social and cultural events.
Today the congregation has about 130 members and is part of the 5+1 group, consisting of six small United Synagogue communities, five in Hertfordshire and one in Bedfordshire.
The 5+1 group has an intercommunal social programme that tries to match those provided by large synagogues while retaining the closeness of smaller communities. The other five congregations are in: Potters Bar, St Albans, Shenley, Watford and Welwyn Garden City.
In addition, Bedfordshire Progressive Synagogue (Rodef Shalom) is a progressive Jewish Congregation based in Luton and Bedford, with members throughout Bedfordshire and in Buckinghamshire and North Hertfordshire. It has been based in Luton since 1982. Although it does not have a permanent building, services are held in both Luton and Bedford.
Shabbat Shalom, שבת שלום
