• Introduction
• History
• Key Dates
• Disability and Access

• Touring the area
• Places of interest
• Post a comment

A serious incident erupted in 1893 when the dissidents forced their way into the burial ground by night to bury the child of a Mrs Feldman the daughter of the dissident schochet. The incident occurred as the main synagogue had classed the dissenting group as outsiders who therefore had to pay their three Guineas burial fee up-front along with one pound and five shillings expenses before interment could take place. The Chief Rabbi supported the dissenters as he urged that the burial should take place. The burial took place after the baby had already been dead for five days.

It became apparent that Mrs Feldman had suffered serious financial hardship during her pregnancy and was not supported by the charity of the main synagogue. She therefore was forced to receive Parish relief during her confinement - a relative rarity for any Jew in the period. These revelations were deeply shaming for the Portsmouth Synagogue, for their neglect in basic Jewish charity and their use of burial rights as a pawn in an inter-communal dispute against a section of the community that did not have their own burial ground.

When the case went to Jury trial, the Whites Row Synagogue won a Pyrric victory. They won the case - but the jury were evidently sympathetic to the plight of Mrs Feldman and only awarded them two pounds damages against their original claim for 30 pounds. They also had to bear all their own expenses.

The Chief Rabbi attempted to reunite the community, but the schism was only healed in 1897 when the Warden of White's Row offered the schismatics equable terms for resuming their membership. In the meantime the dissenters had been granted a burial ground at New Road Cemetery, which was later used by the main synagogue after 1897. It is interesting to note that the Portsmouth elders seemed to have maintained a high degree of authority over their congregation that had been relinquished elsewhere at a much earlier date. It appears that the control of burials, if the burial disputes are taken into account, was a key element of the continued authority of the synagogue.

The community, aside from its internal conflicts, suffered from financial decline in the last half of the 19th century. This meant that plans to rebuild the synagogue were shelved in the 1880s and 1890s and a long running series of renovations to continue.

One famous female member of the community was Lady Magnus, born in Portsea in 1844 (d. 1924), the daughter of Alderman E Emanuel J.P. She was noted for her numerous and substantial charitable works and was a reputed authoress in her day. Her charitable works included founding the Jewish East End Girls Club (1886), a club for working girls. She was the Honourary secretary of the Jews Deaf and Dumb Home. She was on the Ladies committee for the Jewish Home for Incurables. She also supported the work of the Jewish Association for the Protection of Girls and Women, helping to sponsor their lodging house, a "safe house" for girls and women. Her education concerns included being manager of the Gravel-Lane Board School, she was on the committee for the Jews' Infants School. She was also involved in her husband's work in educational reform and the introduction of modern teaching and curricula.

As a writer, Lady Magnus wrote extensively on Jewish subjects; history and religious topics. Her writing often had the younger reader in mind as well as adults. Her works included, Jewish Portraits; Outlines of Jewish History; Bible Stories; Holyday Stories: Sabbath Stories; About the Jews since Bible Times; Salvage; First Makers of England. One more unusual work was an anonymous book called Light on the Way, which was a religious work intended for the use of Jewish prisoners. She also wrote many articles, essays and poems for magazines and journals such as the National Review and the Westminster Gazette. While her style may not be to modern tastes she was very well thought of at her time.

Lady Magnus grew up a spirited, idealistic and imaginative child and youth who rode, danced, drew and wrote to her content. One of the biographers wrote of her that she was, "...full of brave schemes to help lame dogs over stiles, and spending money on their crutches ; sending away her lovers..." She married Sir Philip Magnus in 1870 at Grove House in Southsea. The marriage was to last to her death 54 years later.

Notably, while upper-class Jewish Women were highly prescribed in their outside activities by their traditional and religious family roles they were able to have a highly significant and approved outlet in social and charitable concerns. In these areas they were frequently very influential. Also literary careers were available. Other Jewish women were noted in the performing arts, such as singing and acting from an early period.