Rabbi in low key community visit
Members of the Jewish community in Northampton met the Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks, during a low-key visit to a synagogue in the town.
Around 60 people attended the synagogue in Overstone Road, in Northampton town centre, to welcome Sir Jonathan and his wife to the town.
The Chief Rabbi was greeted by the synagogue's chairman John Josephs, before addressing the assembled group on the survival of small Jewish communities, education and interfaith relations in society. He then stayed to answer questions and to share coffee with members of the community.
Graham Goldcrown, of the Northampton Hebrew Congregation, said: "We have been requesting a visit for quite some time but Sir Jonathan has a very busy schedule. He managed to fit us in with about three weeks' notice but we didn't tell anyone in the town because it was meant to be an informal visit to meet with community members, rather than an official event with dignitaries.
"It was so nice that we had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the Rabbi on a more personal level, to ask questions and to drink coffee with him. To be able to just approach him informally as opposed to at some sort of public gathering with lots of other people there gave me an almighty adrenaline rush which lasted a considerable time.
"It was the closest thing to us having a visit from royalty. It means that Jews in Northampton are recognised as a main contributor to religion in the area and the thriving well-established community that we are."
The Jewish community in Northampton dates back to medieval times and was originally situated in what is now Sheep Street, and had a synagogue and cemetery.
Marcus Roberts, co-founder of JTrails, which has put together a history tour detailing the town's Jewish history, said: "It was one of the leading Jewish communities in the country and included a number of rabbis and scholars, including one whose teachings are still known today."
Jews were expelled from England by Edward I in 1290 and even after they were permitted to return, few were left in Northampton until the 18th century. The population swelled again during World War One.
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
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