Brighton building to a 50th

HOVE MP Peter Kyle was among the guests as Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue celebrated 50 years in its Palmeira Avenue premises with a special service and kiddush. The 120 congregants also included former MP Ivor Caplin and Geoffrey Marx, chair of Reform Judaism.

An anniversary exhibition featured archive documents such as a 1966 petition in support of the building of the synagogue after the local council had rejected the initial application.

Rabbi Andrea Zanardo noted afterwards that the shul “is the largest in Sussex, has the highest number of cheder students and the lowest average age of members.

“There must be something good in our brand, a well balanced marriage of halachah with modernity. We proudly stand on the more traditional side of the Reform movement and make our voice heard at national and local level.”