How many times have we heard the expression "the end of an era". Here is one rather sad example.
Clapton Shul was founded in 1919 in East London, England where most of the Jewish population resided at that time. In 1931 a new building was established and over the following 40 years it had become the flagship Shul of its area. In the 1940s and 1950s it was not uncommon for several Chupahs to take place on one day and on the Yomim Naraim members felt it a privilege to be able to sit just at the very back of the Shul.
Visitors were awestruck by the beautiful architecture and many came especially just to sit under the ornate arched ceiling which was painted blue with silvery stars so that it felt as though you were davening ma'ariv under the night sky.
In the early 1970s, Mr. Harry Bodlander was appointed Shammas of the Shul and felt honoured to hold that position for the next 30 years. Apart from his Shabbos and Yom Tov duties, he also helped in the office and on many occasions during a weekday he acted as a guide to school children from all religions explaining the various parts of the Shul.
In the latter years, the congregation dwindled and as there was not enough financial assistance to keep up the running costs of the Shul, it sadly fell into disrepair and in 2005 the decision was made to close it down.
This beautiful building was sold in 2006 to a Chassidic Charitable Trust. It was hoped that they would use the Shul as a study centre but they very soon sold it to a developer who then immediately demolished it before it could be saved by being awarded a certificate as a building of outstanding beauty and heritage site.
This was "the end of an era" for Anglo Jewry. What the Nazis set out to do in 1930s Germany, the British Developer finished off in 2006!! An incredible waste of a beautiful building.
Please watch the video which is only 2 minutes long.
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