Balance sheet and accounts for the Newport Hebrew Congregation, Newport, 1957

Description

The balance sheet and accounts for the Newport Hebrew Congregation dated 31 October 1957. This document includes the dates and times for the general, trustees, and council meetings, followed by a four point agenda and advice regarding the correct format for which sent nominations to the secretary should adhere to. The liabilities and assets are covered, with the income and expenditure accounts subsequently enclosed. The statement for the members' subscriptions, donations, and offerings expands across two pages, using a letter based key to highlight the status of certain paid expenses. The general charities fund, cemetery offerings and receipts, plus the miscellaneous receipts and offerings have each been calculated. Balances of the Orphan Aid Society, cemetery care, the Board of Deputies, the Board of Guardians, the building repairs and general reserve account, and the account of Chevra Kedisha have also been totalled. On the final page, the plot reservations are displayed in detail; reserved plots, paid in respect thereof, balance to be paid, transferred or received during year, and balance due from estate of deceased members.

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.