Mazel tov! The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF) and Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme have awarded significant funding to the Foundation for Jewish Heritage for its plans to develop a Welsh Jewish Heritage Centre at the historic former synagogue at Merthyr Tydfil.
The NHLF awarded just under £400,000 toward the detailed planning of the project. After successful completion of this phase, the Foundation will be able to make a second round submission to the NHLF for potentially nearly £3 million in Delivery Phase funding.
Meanwhile, the Foundation announced, the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme is providing £107,800 in support to the project, which forms part the proposals within the Placemaking Plan for the town centre, with an additional £25,000 of funding for the Development Phase being provided by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, a leading advisor to the project.
It said the grants represented “a major moment” for the project, whose vision is “to present the 250+ year history, traditions and culture of the Welsh Jewish community while also addressing contemporary issues around religious and ethnic diversity, promoting inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue while combating ignorance and prejudice.”
Built in 1876-77, the Merthyr Tydfil synagogue, a Grade II listed building, is the oldest purpose-built synagogue still standing in Wales and is considered architecturally one of the most important synagogues in the UK. It was sold in 1983 when the Jewish community disbanded and was used as a community center and a gym and then stood derelict from 2006. The Foundation for Jewish Heritage purchased the synagogue building in 2019 and received major funding for urgent preservation work. Half of the funding came from the CADW, the Welsh government’s historic environment service.
“Merthyr Tydfil synagogue represents shared heritage – it is a special Jewish story and a special Welsh story,” the Foundation’s CEO Michael Mail said in a statement. “Through this crucial financial support, we hope to be able to save a listed building at risk, the most important Jewish heritage site in Wales, and provide a solution that will secure its future and make an important contribution to Merthyr and Wales as a whole.”
Andrew White, Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said, “It is our privilege to support the Foundation for Jewish Heritage’s project with a grant to develop their proposals to establish a bilingual Welsh Jewish Heritage Centre at the historic synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil. This funding will allow the Foundation to refine their plans and apply for additional funding to realise their ambitious vision.”