Cardiff United Synagogue FoCUS magazine, Cardiff, February 2003-April 2011

Description

These images of the FoCUS magazine covers cover the period from February 2003 to Spring 2011. The magazine has been published by the Cardiff United Synagogue (CUS). There are 4 issues of FoCUS per year coinciding with the Jewish holidays - Passover (Pesach), Pentecost, (Shavuot), New Year (Rosh Hashanah), and Festival of Lights (Chanukah). The first seven images are from the Cardiff United Newsletter, the precursor of FoCUS.

The issues vary in topics but follow similar structure. The contents include: address from the current CUS rabbi or editorial board; calendar of events; report on recent events that took place, e.g. Cheder Succah programme, Simchat Torah, or Kiddushim; articles about Jewish way of life, including historical details, e.g. a custom of Chanukah Menorah lighting; invitations to social events, e.g. ‘Chanukah Social for All Ages’; announcement from the CUS Council, e.g. a fundraising appeal to repair and maintain the Jewish cemeteries, adult education classes, synagogue services, and Yahrzeit reminder services; invitations to join various social groups, e.g. Children’s Jewish Birthday Club; advertisements, e.g. from the Jewish Military Museum (now Jewish Museum London), notice board with condolences, congratulations, and thank you messages.

About Cardiff United Synagogue.

The Cardiff United Synagogue was established in 1942 when the Cardiff Hebrew Congregation and the Cardiff New Hebrew Congregation were united into a single organisation. The early years of the Cardiff congregation remain shrouded in mystery, but it is known that a Jewish cemetery was founded in 1841 and a purpose-built synagogue was built for the Cardiff Hebrew Congregation in 1858 in East Terrace. As the congregation outgrew the premises, a new synagogue was opened on Cathedral Road in 1897. In 1889, a group of recent immigrants left the “Englisher shul” to form the “foreigners’ shul” formally known as the Cardiff New Hebrew Congregation. Having initially worshipped at Edward Place and Clare Road, the New Congregation moved to purpose-built premises on Windsor Place in 1918. After the 1942 reunification, the Cardiff United Synagogue continued to use both the Windsor Place and the Cathedral Road synagogues until 1955 when the former was sold, and a new synagogue was built on Ty-Gwyn Road in Penylan. The Cathedral Road synagogue was eventually sold in 1988 and the Ty-Gwyn Road synagogue in 2003 with the congregation moving to its current premises in Cyncoed Gardens.

Sources.
- 'The History of the Jewish Diaspora in Wales' by Cai Parry-Jones (http://e.bangor.ac.uk/4987).
- JCR-UK/JewishGen (https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/card/index.htm).

Depository: Glamorgan Archives.