South Wales Argus newspaper article relating to vandalism of Jewish and Christian graves in Newport, 28 April 1993

Description

South Wales Argus newspaper article relating to vandalism of Jewish and Christian graves in Newport, 28 April 1993. The article reports that more than 30 graves were overturned and sprayed with obscene graffiti. The article includes a number of quotes from Ezekiel Nathan, President of the Newport Monmouthshire Hebrew Congregation Burial Committee. Mr Nathan said it was the first time that "anything like this has happened here" and confirmed that it was a "catastrophe for the community" which would have to pay the £2000 cost of repairs. The article also includes a photograph of Mr Nathan, recording the damage in the Jewish Burial Ground.

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.

Depository: Gwent Archives.