• Introduction
• History
• Key Dates
• Disability and Access

• Touring the area
• Places of interest
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Barnstein also ran his own school; an advertisement of 1887 referred to it as 'Mildmay Lodge School' and it was situated on the Folkestone Road in Dover, right next to the former school of Rabbi Cohen's. It boasted 'thorough education, extensive grounds, highest references'. Barnstein also provided tutoring and kosher boarding for Jewish pupils wishing to attend Dover College.

Very early in his incumbency, he oversaw the first burial in the new cemetery, in 1868. Also on 10 May 1868 he conducted a wedding at the synagogue. This event attracted fulsome coverage in the Dover Express. They were impressed with the interior decorations of the synagogue, the '...superb dresses of the ladies...' and noted the fact that various Christians guests were present. As to the bride, who arrived by carriage and four greys from Folkestone, she was complimented on her dress of a '...rich silver grey corded silk, with white satin trimmings, with veil and a wreath of orange blossoms.' There were six brides maids from Miss Cohen's school, dressed in light material and wearing veils and carrying more wreaths of flowers - they were mostly dressed in prevailing colours of pink, blue and white. They stationed themselves around the Bimah (Reading Desk) during the proceedings and then later strewed the outwards path of the newly-wed couple with flowers.

In 1868 the Jewish community was delighted when George Jessel was elected as the new Liberal Member of Parliament for Dover. Jessel, who lived in London, was a celebrated Lawyer regarded as one of the greatest legal minds of his day. He also had an annual income of £20,000 a year! During his term as Member for Dover he would deliver an annual state of the nation lecture which was regarded by most as a high-point of the year in Dover. On being made the first Jewish Master of the Rolls, in 1873 (a post which traditionally included responsibility for the Jewish House of Converts in London!) Jessel decided to resign his parliamentary seat, no doubt to the great regret of his Jewish constituents. Later the local paper was to eulogise him as 'one of the brightest spots in the city's political history'.

In 1887 Barnstein was directly involved with the aftermath of one of the most dramatic and tragic events to affect Dover in the 19th Century - the sinking and wreck of the W.A. Sholten with the loss of twenty six lives. Rabbi Barnstein officiated at the burial of the seven Jewish victims of the ship-wreck at the Jewish cemetery. This along with the solemn interment of the Christian victims was regarded as memorable beyond anything that has been previously witnesses in the living memory of the town.

Other than these more notable events punctuating the life of Jewish community, life continued quietly for the most part, centered on the commerce of the town, port and its military garrisons. The community was important at this time for providing charitable help to Jewish travellers - it is noted that the synagogue gave frequent aid to large numbers of penniless Jewish itinerants heading for the continent.