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MICHEL & THE MODERN COMMUNITY

The founder of the modern Jewish community and congregation was George Leopold Michel, a German immigrant from Frankfurt am Mainz. He was in town by 1858 when he established G.L.Michel and Son, a company of leather merchants and shoe machinists. Alongside Samuel Isaac, he was one of a small number of the founders of the industrialised shoe industry in Northampton thus earning himself a foot-note [sic] in the history of British industry. A leading light in the commercial life of the town, he was also one of the county's most senior and respected freemasons.

As well as helping to found the mechanised shoe industry, it seems Michel also helped found the community, gathering what few of his fellow Jews he could find in Northampton, for services at his home in Newlands. This was the informal beginning of the Northampton Hebrew Congregation, which he formally established in 1888

The community itself was very poor and working class, with the majority of members employed in the shoe and leather industry, or as tailors. Most were compelled to work on Saturdays, and at periods the synagogue could not muster a minyan of men, as they were all labouring.

In 1890, the community got its first synagogue in the Overstone Road. A second-hand prefabricated Mission Church, or 'Iron Church', the was interior modified for use as a synagogue.

Since this time the community has established itself as an unobtrusive part of Northampton life. One well known Jewish family in Northampton were the Doffmans. Saul and Hyman Doffman, originally of Leicester, established their tailors' shop in Northampton circa 1900. Their shop on Abington Street was a well-known landmark.

Saul had extensive civic involvements - he was active in the Merchant Tailors, becoming Chairman of the Midland area in 1930. He also patronised the fine arts as a member of Borough Libraries and Art Gallery Committee from 1934 - 1937. He was a Liberal on the town council in 1934 and a Labour councillor from 1940. Saul was also the Chairman of the Navy Cadet Corp, on the Managing Board of the local Manfield Orthopaedic Hospital and was a governor of the Town and County Schools and the School for Girls. His brother Hyman represented Northampton on the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Twelve years later, the community got its first. Previously, many Northampton Jews were buried at the Witton Cemetery in Birmingham at some inconvenience and considerable expense. The new cemetery was a segregated quarter acre patch of land on the edge of the municipal cemetery, on the Towcester Road leading out of Northampton. An Ohel (cemetery building) was added later. There had been some debate about the merits of allowing the Jews to have their own separate cemetery, as it was argued that the late 19th century was a time when old religious divisions should no longer be perpetuated.

The community were forced to press their case, and eventually got their cemetery, on the grounds of financial hardship. It was pointed out that the councillors' high mindedness would effectively force the community to continue to send their dead to Birmingham, at a very great expense, thus creating serious financial hardship its very poor members.