EILAT

The Red Sea and her reefs teem with coral, colour and life. On the shore, the bright city of Eilat offers a view into Sinai and the gateway to the South. The starfish is in memory of my father, David Baum z”l.

The Synagogue on Abbey Road

The Synagogue was built in 1880–1882 for the St. Johns Wood Orthodox community at the cost of £12,000. From 1913 to 1964 it was the seat of the Chief Rabbi – who lived nearby at Hamilton Terrace. Slender white columns and cornices, restrained Egyptian palmates and lotus flowers on the ceiling combine to create an elegant and restrained interior. There is both air and light in abundance – giving a generous feel to the interior. Externally, the building is set back from the street and the entrance is highlighted by an arcaded portico - making a statement of quiet confidence about Jewish emancipation. Its orientation is unusual; northeast to southwest – not towards Jerusalem.

Draw me after you and I will come running, In the river, I am the prayer

Song of Songs 1:4

The Moon Sang to the River, Leah Goldberg

Dedicated to Pamela Fialko of blessed memory by her loving husband, children, grandchildren and in-laws

Corinne Burton of blessed memory by Sir Michael Burton and their family

Stanley & Shula Cohen of blessed memory by their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren

The architect, Hyman Henry Collins FRIBA, was one of the first Jewish architects practicing in Britain. This is the largest of his six executed synagogue projects and the only one that has survived. The style was described as ‘Italian, with Byzantine feeling.’ It was originally designed to seat 490 worshippers, but was enlarged in 1890 when the Bimah was moved from its central position to be integrated with the Ark. Some saw this as evidence of German Reform thinking and as the beginning of a new trend in Synagogue interior design. By the mid-1950s, the building could no longer accommodate its membership and a new community centre and Synagogue was built on Grove End Road (1957–1964). The Abbey Road building was sold with planning permission for redevelopment as a block of flats to E Alec Colman –who at the ‘eleventh hour’ sold the building to the newly independent congregation of New London Synagogue.

The officers of NLS had the wisdom to appoint the late Professor Sir Misha Black to advise on the redecoration.

Anne Cowan