Letters to Reverend Malcolm Weisman and Mr Kamisser from the Newport Mon. Hebrew Congregation regarding help over the High Holidays, 1980

Description

The first letter dated 29 April 1980 is addressed to Reverend M. Weisman (also spelled Weissman) and is from the Newport Mon. Hebrew Congregation regarding the loss of Reverend David Braunold as Minister-Reader. In the letter the President of the congregation, E. E. Nathan, asks for advise and help for the High Holidays. In the top left of the letter is a newspaper clipping of an advertisement from Jews College Certificate requesting a Baal Musaph for a high holiday position.

The second letter dated 30 September 1980 is from E. E. Nathan and thanks Reverend Malcom Weissman (also spelled Malcolm Weisman) for recommending Mr Kamisser to help over the High Holidays.

The third letter dated 30 September 1980 is from E. E. Nathan to Mr Kamisser thanking him for helping the Newport Mon. Hebrew Congregation over the High Holidays.

Reverend Malcolm Weisman OBE was the Honourary Senior Jewish Chaplain to the British Military as well as the Chief Rabbi's minister for small communities.

Newport Monmouthshire Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1859 by orthodox Jews meeting at a temporary synagogue in Llanarth Street. A synagogue at Francis Street was opened in 1869 and consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Dr Herman Adler in 1871. In 1934 the congregation moved to the Nathan Harris Memorial Hall in Queen's Hill which was converted to a synagogue. In 1997 this synagogue was closed, and the congregation moved to the Prayer House by the Jewish Burial Ground on Risca Road. Within 20 years the congregation had dwindled to a few members able to attend and this too had ceased to hold services.

Sources:
"History of our Shul. The First Hundred Years", published by Newport Congregation in 1959;
Oral history interviews with members of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation, recorded in 2018 by JHASW;
https://www.jta.org/1976/11/01/archive/behind-the-headlines-helping-jews-in-small-british-communities-to-remain-jewish.


Depository: Gwent Archives.