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Description

A photograph of Harry Poloway, a member of Newport Hebrew Congregation and a famous Cardiff toastmaster, standing in front of the arc in the synagogue.

Harry Poloway, master of ceremonies and toastmaster, was born in Newport in 1915. He was a trained electrical engineer and spent time in the Second World War volunteering for the RAF. He is best known as Newport’s legendary Jewish toastmaster, who hosted ceremonies for Nelson Mandela, the Aga Khan, and the Dalai Lama. He was also the official toastmaster for the British Royal Family.

Harry was known for his passionate work in fundraising for charities (he was a prominent member of the Newport's Rotarians club) and his immense support for the local Jewish communities. For his amazing work he received several honours such as an MBE in 2005. Harry died in 2016.

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:
Doreen Jacobs, 'Obituary for Bimah Magazine'; http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14523483.Newport_s_legendary_toastmaster_Harry_Poloway_dies_aged_100 [Accessed 5th July 2018];
“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.

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