Chatham Memorial Synagogue




		News - October 2008 Children’s group - Atid

		We would like to thank Karen Connolly who has run our children’s group Atid for the last 4 years. Atid has operated in the Centenary Hall during our Shabbat and Yom Tov services. We are looking for a volunteer to look after the children and keep them occupied during the services. Please email jon@chathamshul.org.uk if you are able to help. We regret that Atid will not be able to operate until we find a successor to Karen.

		News - September 2008 Happy New Year

		Wishing all our members, friends and anyone who browses this web site a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year and well over the fast. Our Rosh Hashanah newsletter is now available to download from our Newsletters page.

		Synagogue Open Days


	Chatham Memorial Synagogue was open to the public on the European Day of Jewish Culture on Sunday 7 September and the English Heritage Open day on Sunday 14 September 2008.

News - August 2008

The Magic of Chatham Synagogue

On Sunday 31 August 2008, at the annual garden party, the members of Chatham Memorial Synagogue and their families and guests were treated to a magic show from Ari Phillips, a synagogue member who is a professional magician and children’s entertainer.

Ari’s wife Ismini entertained everyone to two beautiful arias from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and two Israeli folk songs.

News - June 2008

Kosher Stag Weekend

On Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June 2008, the congregation at the Friday evening and Shabbat morning services at Chatham Memorial Synagogue were joined by 9 Orthodox young men who were celebrating the forthcoming marriage of one of their number, Jonathan Gilmour. Jonathan, who is a trained chazan, conducted the services, assisted by his friends who also formed an impromptu choir.

The congregation then enjoyed a Kiddush and Shabbat Lunch in honour of the occasion and also in celbration of the 80th birthday of the Chairman of the Synagogue Trustees, Hilary Halpern.

News - March 2008

Magnus 150th Anniversary service

The Mayors of Queenborough, Medway and Ramsgate and consorts with Jon Weiner and Gabriel Lancaster from the synagogue at the civic service to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the election of Lazarus Magnus as Mayor of Queenborough.

The Mayor of Ramsgate can be seen wearing the chain of office presented by Sir Moses Monefiore who incidentally was a member of the Magnus family.

The service was conducted by Revd Malcolm Weisman OBE, Minister for Small Communities together with Rabbi Cliff Cohen of Thanet and District Reform Synagogue and Jon Weiner, David Herling and Gabriel Lancaster from the Chatham Memorial Synagogue.

Irina Shub, a member of the synagogue and a Medway archivist spoke about the life of Lazarus Magnus - click here for the full text.

The synagogue was built by Simon Magnus in memory of his son Lazarus (photo on left) who died tragically at the age of 39.

For further details, please visit our Magnus page.

News - January 2008

Holocaust Memorial Day


	Once again Chatham Memorial Synagogue had a central role in the organistion and planning of the 2008 Holocaust Memorial Day event. The 2009 event will be at the synagogue.


	This year’s event was held in Rochester Caththedral on Sunday 27 January and was attended by over 200m people. As in previous years, the event was organised in partnership with Medway Council and the Medway Inter-Faith Action Forum.

A powerful poem read by a Holocaust survivor and written by her late brother was followed by various contributions from students of local schools and music from the Cathedral Special Choir. Prayers were read by representatives of Chatham Memorial Synagogue, Kent Liberal Jewish Community and Medway Inter Faith Action.

Please visit our Holocaust Memorial Day page for further details.

News Archives

For archived news from 2004-2007, visit our News Archives page:


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	Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Website last updated 07 October 2009