SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Leeds must have one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. I remember the New Vilna Synagogue on Harrogate Road at Moortown. I also remember when Sainsbury's first opened at Moor Allerton, visiting it out of curiosity and being amazed at the large number of Jewish foods that were on sale there.When Lewis's was open on the Headrow their foodhall used also to sell Jewish specialities like Matzo.Rakusens, a Leeds company manufactured this special Passover bread, and they are still in businesshttp://www.rakusens.co.uk/Menu%20Page.htmYou don't see as many men with black coats hats and ear curls walking about as you do in Cheetham Hill of course, but still Leeds must still rank as one of the largest Jewish cities in the country, outside of London.

The third largest Jewish community in the country after London and Manchester. Having lived in the East End as the last remnants of the Jewish population left, I've been interested in Jewish history in Leeds.You don't see many Jews in traditional dress as the majority of the Jewish population of Leeds isn't Orthodox. There is a lot of material on web that shows the community's past in the area between Regent Street and North Street and their move up to Harrogate Road.    

There used to be an old synagogue on Belgrave Street in town (IIRC), brick built, I had heard it was the first prupose built one in the country. Got knocked down in the 80's. The 19th century immigrants settled round there and North Street and gradually moved north, the synagogues moving with them.

http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... 67516First in Yorkshire, not the country.

The largest Orthodox Jewish community in England is in Bensham, Gateshead, I think. I used to live in the middle of it when I was at college. All the men wore black coats and hombergs, and next to each front door was a little plastic container holding prayers, which they had to touch before entering. There was a lovely smell of fresh bagels every Sunday morning.

simong wrote: The third largest Jewish community in the country after London and Manchester. Having lived in the East End as the last remnants of the Jewish population left, I've been interested in Jewish history in Leeds.You don't see many Jews in traditional dress as the majority of the Jewish population of Leeds isn't Orthodox. There is a lot of material on web that shows the community's past in the area between Regent Street and North Street and their move up to Harrogate Road.     In fact the majority of Jewish people in Leeds are Orthadox, all the main three synogogues are orthadox, it is just the Sinai that is a reform synogogue. The reason why you wont see many people dressed in the black coats/ hats etc as these tend to be either lubavitch or very religious orthadox jews. Most Orthadox people are very integrated, hence they can be observant of the faith but not necessarily dressed like this.

Maybe more Orthodox people in Gatehead dress more traditionally because I believe there is a Jewish college of some sort there?

LS1 wrote: In fact the majority of Jewish people in Leeds are Orthadox, all the main three synogogues are orthadox, it is just the Sinai that is a reform synogogue. The reason why you wont see many people dressed in the black coats/ hats etc as these tend to be either lubavitch or very religious orthadox jews. Most Orthadox people are very integrated, hence they can be observant of the faith but not necessarily dressed like this. Thanks, I have never been sure of the difference - it was purely a secular interest if you like.

Si wrote: The largest Orthodox Jewish community in England is in Bensham, Gateshead, I think. I used to live in the middle of it when I was at college. All the men wore black coats and hombergs, and next to each front door was a little plastic container holding prayers, which they had to touch before entering. There was a lovely smell of fresh bagels every Sunday morning. You will find these little containers (called a mezuzah I believe) on the front door of almost all Jewish homes.    

Having also lived in Bensham I can confirm what's been said.It's a funny area in some ways - I suppose you'd call it a lower working class area [that's me ], it's mostly Tyneside flats - the north east version of back to backs. That is tops to bottoms, a flat on top of another within a house. But there are some big old houses too. Seeing Jews in traditional garb so much led me to research the subject and it was fascinating to learn their customs and beliefs. It was a bit odd on a Friday night on my way out to the boozer passing all these homes where you could hear prayers and religious chanting going on. Made me feel a bit guilty! [But didn't stop me ]Because it was a mix of residents there were some of yer usual low lifes of course, same as everywhere else, but if I may say without offending anyone, I felt that these gentle, law abiding people tempered the place.I loved living there.