Few left to fight in Galloway's Bradford

If Rudi Leavor has a concern, he won't go to his local MP. A constituent of George Galloway in Bradford West, he is resigned to incidents such as the Respect leader storming out of a debate with an Israeli.

"That's Galloway, unfortunately," said Mr Leavor, chairman of Bradford Reform Synagogue, who speaks instead to nearby MP Kris Hopkins.

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Bradford synagogue closes

Close on 200 people attended the final service at Bradford Synagogue, bringing a 106-year history to an end.

The service was conducted by Carl Evans, who led the congregation in a rendition of Adon Olam sung to the tune of We’ll Meet Again.

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Bradford makes most of Yorkshire's oldest shul

Bradford Reform can boast an architecturally extravagant synagogue, but there is nothing outlandish about its expenditure.

Saved from closure by a £5,000 heritage grant last year, the small community leads a hand-to-mouth existence, reliant on the support of outside donors.

"Every day there are tiny little miracles," says fundraising manager Rachel Yosef. "We have people who come to us out of the blue with donations. But it's never easy. This place has been on the point of shutting down since it was built."

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Struggling Bradford Reform set to sell listed synagogue

The 35-member Bradford Reform congregation is poised to sell its Victorian synagogue, which was recently upgraded to Grade ll* listed status.

According to joint chairman Rudi Leavor, “the future of the synagogue is in jeopardy” and will be decided at an EGM on June 22.
“We have very few members now and the expenses are just the same. There are not enough people to maintain the synagogue as a going concern.”
The shul’s council backed the sale at a meeting this week on the grounds of a declining community and lack of funds.

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