Federation of Synagogues

The Federation of Synagogues was established in 1887, consisting then of 16 small synagogues in the East End of London. By 1991 it had 14 constituent and 20 affiliated congregations, all in the the Greater London area.

The objects of the Federation include the provision of services of orthodox rabbis, ministers and dayanim; the provision of a burial society; assistance to synagogues to build, reconstruct and decorate places of worship; the maintenance of kashrut; the support of charitable and philanthropic works; the furtherance of the progress of Eretz Yisrael. There are also associated organisations: the office of Rav Rashi; the London Kashrus Board; the London Talmud Torah Council; and the Federation Burial Society. The cemeteries of the Federation Burial Society are at Montague Road, Angel Road, Edmonton and at Upminster Road North, Rainham.

The Federation is considered by E.N. Adler to be next in importance to the United Synagogue in the history of Anglo-Jewry. It was founded by the first Lord Swaythling (Sir Samuel Montagu) as a counterpoise to the United Synagogue under the presidency of Lord Rothschild. The members tended to be Jews based in the East End, not the West End or City of London where Jews generally attended the United Synagogue. Chaim Bermant has described the Federation as the poor man's United Synagogue. East European refugees were used to smaller synagogues which played a daily part in the social life of its members being an advice centre and a meeting place. Also, the Burial Society fees were lower: members of the Federation had been refused admission to members of the United Synagogue Burial Society, so in 1890 the Federation Burial Society was started.

In 1991 most of the Jewish population had moved to the north, or further east of London. The Federation's offices moved to Hendon.