United Synagogue Commemorates the 150th Anniversary of Willesden Jewish Cemetery
The United Synagogue celebrated the 150th anniversary of Willesden Jewish Cemetery on Sunday, 4th June 2023. Some 200 people took part in the events throughout the day.
In the morning 120 guests attended a ceremony chaired by Sir Bernard Rix, an advisor to the cemetery’s “House of Life” project which has opened the site to the public as a place of heritage. Guests heard from the Chief Rabbi, who also unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion; the newly-elected Mayor of Brent, Councilor Orleen Hylton, whose council have supported and continue to support the cemetery; Nigel Franklin, the nephew of pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin who is buried at the cemetery outlined how misogyny at university and in academia robbed Rosalind Franklin of prominence in her lifetime; the United Synagogue’s Chief Executive Jo Grose and the charity’s Head of Heritage Miriam Marson, who organised the event. Guests then enjoyed a guided tour of the cemetery followed by a talk by Professor David Latchman about the lives of the four chief rabbis buried at the cemetery.
Other attendees included the representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Brent, Miss Mei Sim Lai OBE DL, a number of Brent Councillors and local MPs Dawn Butler and Barry Gardiner.
The Chief Rabbi formally opened the Heritage Centre where Professor Andrew Eder, United Synagogue lead Trustee for the House of Life project, sponsored the new mezuzot: bronze casts of mezuzot from the homes of Jewish people in pre-war Poland linking the past and present.
The afternoon was open to the public with four very popular walking tours led by experienced volunteer educators. 70 new visitors explored the expansive 21-acre site, taking in 150 years of rich heritage, as they learned about the site’s origins.
The historic Victorian cemetery is the final resting place of nearly 30,000 members of the Jewish community with burials still carried to this day. The cemetery was opened in 1873 as the first major building project of the United Synagogue since the charity’s creation by an Act of Parliament in 1870. The architect was Nathan Solomon Joseph, who also designed the New West End Synagogue and Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow.
The United Synagogue’s “House of Life” project at Willesden Jewish Cemetery was created with the help of a £1.7m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The United Synagogue is responsible for maintaining more than a dozen cemeteries across England, including several historic ones in East London.
The Chief Rabbi said: “In Jewish tradition, death is an integral part of life, and our treatment of the dead is a reflection of the way we live.”
Miriam Marson, the United Synagogue’s Head of Heritage, said: “We are delighted by the overwhelming response to our new guided walk and the genuine enthusiasm shown by visitors. The success of this guided walk reinforces our commitment to preserving and celebrating our heritage while fostering a deeper connection between our community and the legacy of the US and the Cemetery. The fact that we had a waiting list clearly demonstrates the community’s passion for history and their eagerness to engage in educational experiences that celebrate the past. The popularity of the day underscores the significance of preserving and promoting heritage sites, ensuring their stories continue to resonate with current and future generations.”
Willesden Jewish Cemetery celebrates 150th Anniversary
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis
Jo Grose, the United Synagogue’s Chief Executive
Miriam Marson, the United Synagogue’s Head of Heritage
