A visit to London synagogue's sukkah
Lauderdale Road Synagogue was founded over 100 years ago to meet demands of growing West London Jewish population. Legacy of its first members lives on with festivals like Sukkot
Philip Mauriz, a member of the synagogue, told JN1 that the festival of Sukkot is a time to pass traditions onto his children.
Video courtesy of jn1.tv
"The festival of Sukkot is to remind us how the Jewish people lived in the desert, in booths or tents, and we decorate our sukkah because it is important to be joyful on this festival," he said.
In the spirit of joy, children made models of some of the important elements of the festival.
Aside from the historical significance of Sukkot, the celebration is also a harvest festival which involves the Four Species.
"The lulav and etrog is to represent parts of the body, and how we worship God on this festival," Mauriz explains. "We have the palm, which is the lulav, and the willow, and the myrtle and the etrog.
"The palm is to represent the spine, the willow – the mouth, the myrtle is to represent the eyes, and the etrog is to represent the heart. So that combined you should be upright as the willow. You should not speak of a foul mouth, and your eyes should be concentrating on good things and with a pure heart."
With a past steeped in history, no one can leave Lauderdale Road Synagogue without admiring its heritage. The synagogue was founded over 100 years ago to meet the demands of a growing West London Jewish population.
"Over in these centuries between Cromwell and the 19th century they were arriving in England from all these countries, and so the Spanish and Portuguese community expanded and London expanded," says Lauderdale Road attendant Francis Treuherz.
"As they moved into West London after one or two smaller congregations, a new building was built here in Maida Vale. A large and prosperous congregation of Jews from all over the Mediterranean.
"The influx of Jews from the Spanish and Portuguese Diaspora has not stopped. In modern times the congregation has been augmented by Jews from Iraq, Iran, from Lebanon and Egypt."
The legacy of the synagogue’s first members lives on with festivals like Sukkot, enabling Jewish people to stop and take stock of their past.
