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Bradford makes most of Yorkshire's oldest shul

August 13, 2010 09:07
Chink of light: Rachel Yosef and Rabbi Walter Rothschild in the impressive interior of the Moorish shul,  which has been reprieved from closure by a donation from a heritage group

By

Jessica Elgot,

Jessica Elgot

3 min read

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."

Council member Ken Fabian, who runs tours of the synagogue, notes that the 2001 Census "found 350 Jewish people in Bradford. Where are they? We have 35 members."