In 2015, the Middle Street Synagogue, Brighton, designed by Thomas Lainson and opened in 1875, was named by Historic England as one of the 10 most beautiful synagogues in Great Britain.
The Grade II listed historic building was closed for worship some 15 years ago, but — Yael Breuer wrote this month in the Jewish Chronicle — it is now being given new life as a cultural venue that “ hosts open days, tours, school groups, art exhibitions, film nights and displays about Jewish heritage and culture for the Jewish and wider community.”
In recent months, the shul has attracted capacity crowds for events including “A Taste of the High Holy-Days” and an evening focusing on the Jews from Arab Lands with Lyn Julius as the keynote speaker.
This explosion of activity is down to the enthusiasm and hard work of local resident Vicky Bhogal, whose passion for the building is contagious.
The building needs repairs, however, and a Crowdfunding Campaign was launched in November “to raise funds to address urgent remedial care to the building to make it safe for the winter, to obtain professional advice to develop the wider strategy for restoring the building, to upgrade the electrics and to make the building accessible to all and fully compliant with DDA and Health and Safety requirements. ”
The goal of the £100,000 campaign is “to evolve [the synagogue] into an occasional use synagogue with a fully inclusive Jewish Heritage Centre for Brighton.”
Bhogal is Middle Street’s voluntary acting manager and curator, and Breuer’s Jewish Chronicle states that her efforts “have helped to attract some 4,000 visitors over the past few months and annual running costs have been covered by donations and event entrance fees.”
“We have had a huge amount of love and support for the shul and have put it back on the map,” she says. “It is ideally located for visitors in the centre of the city, next to the sea and close to the Royal Pavilion and museums.
“My vision is for it to be an inspiring educational visitor centre and meeting place for the celebration of the whole of Jewish life and our rich heritage.
“With the current growth of antisemitism, especially in Brighton, it’s very important to have an exquisite shul here which stands testament to the achievements of the local Jewish community, which contributed so much to the construction and life of the city.”
Watch a local Brighton TV report (for Latest TV Brighton) on the synagogue:
Read the Jewish Chronicle article