The Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation is a synagogue

Synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...

 in Bournemouth

Bournemouth

Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...

, England.

History

The congregation formed in 1905. It built its present building in 1911. Albert Samuel, brother of Herbert Samuel

Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel

Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...

 laid the cornerstone.

Architecture

The curvaceous roof line and window shape reveal what would have been a very contemporary Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...

 take on the Moorish Revival

Moorish Revival

Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...

 style that was extremely popular for synagogues. The squat tower with its square dome and "attractive interlocking window arcade" mark the original entrance. The Horseshoe arch

Horseshoe arch

The horseshoe arch, also called the Moorish arch and the Keyhole arch, is the emblematic arch of Islamic architecture. They were formerly constructed in Visigothic Spain. Horseshoe arches can take rounded, pointed or lobed form....

ed windows to the left are also part of the original facade. The new entrance, to the right of the tower, and barrel-vaulted interior with a ladies' gallery is the result of a 1957-62 expansion. The Torah Ark, also dating from the 1960s, is a mosaic design by craftsmen form Florence intended to echo the Temple of Solomon by featuring the Biblical columns Boaz and Jachin

Boaz and Jachin

Boaz and Jachin were two copper, brass or bronze pillars which stood in the porch of Solomon's Temple, the first Temple in Jerusalem.-Description:...

.

External links

• http://www.bournejewish.com
• Bournemouth Hebrew Congregation on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).