Register of the Newport, Monmouthshire, Hebrew Classes, 1959 - 1965

Description

A maroon Collins Cathedral guide-ruled analysis book with a broken spine. On the first page is hand-written: "REGISTER NEWPORT, MON, HEBREW CLASSES". The register covers the period from 5719 (Hebrew calendar]/1959 to 1965. It shows attendance, exam marks and prizes awarded.

The back fly sheet lists work covered from September 1961 to January 1962. Juniors studied translation, practical translation, gen. knowledge (months of the year, numbers, Hebrew names, general words). Seniors studied translation, history, gen. knowledge (festivals & customs, numbers, Hebrew terms) and grammar (elementary simple grammar, nouns, adjectives, verbs).

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.