1736-40
The first official references to Jews in Portsmouth, cited in the records of the Borough Sessions. Ten Jews live in lodgings in the town, another three give London as their permanent address.
1742
The first synagogue is set up in Oyster Row.
1749
The burial ground is established and the synagogue is moved to White's Row.
1758
Eleven lives are lost in the great Drowning Disaster.
1766
The Portsmouth congregation affiliates with the Great Synagogue in London. Other congregants, followers of the rival Hambro' Synagogue and its leader Rabbi Meshullan Zalman, seceded from the Portsmouth synagogue and set up a new synagogue in Daniel's Row.
1766
There are 30 seat holders or members of the synagogue.
1770
The Ladies Benevolent Association is set up, now the oldest in the country and a notable communal institution.
1771
The congregation make an amicable agreement with the succeeded members at Daniel's Row.
1780
The synagogue is rebuilt to replace the converted house that served as a schule.
1781
Destitute Sephardi Jewish refugees from Gibraltar arrive in Portsmouth and are assisted on their way to London by the congregation.
1782
The Royal George sinks in Portsmouth Harbour with the loss of 900 lives; some Jews on board selling "slops and watches" perish in this number.
1789
The secession end and the Daniel's Row congregation rejoins the main synagogue.
1800
There are 62 members of the synagogue.
1805
John Edwards of Portsmouth fights in the Battle of Trafalgar as one of Nelson's boy sailors.
1808
An ageing Rabbi Lieb Aleph fails to perform the circumcision properly on his grandson, Naphtali Hirtz. To his humiliation, it has to be repeated by a London Mohel (with hopefully no harm to the boy?)
1812
This year is the peak of synagogue membership, with 85 members of the synagogue being recorded in 1810, until the revival of the communities after 1850.
1825
Three Jews die (among some 18 victims) when a bridge collapses during the launch of the Princess Charlotte.
1828
George Lewis Lyon, Journalist, founder and editor of Jewish World, is born and educated in Portsea.
1830
There are 35 members of the synagogue.
1834
The synagogue elders decree that absolute decorum must be kept at all times in the synagogue.
1834
Reuben Hart becomes a burgess of Portsmouth.
1837
David Levy is invited to become a City Councilor but is then refused.
1840
There are 30 members of the synagogue.
1841
Emanuel Emanuel is elected a City councilor.
1842
The synagogue is rebuilt again.
1844
Lady Katie Magnus is born in Portsea, she is a noted authoress and communal worker.
1851
The congregation build Alms-houses.
1855
Lewis Aria leaves money to establish a Jewish college for Hampshire Jewish boys.
1855-60
Another split occurs in the community over the election of representatives to the Board of Deputies and a dispute over the burial of a child. The "Hebrew New Congregation" is set up.
1858
A new burial Ground, with ohel, is established in the local authority burial ground of Kingston cemetery by the "Hebrew New Congregation".
1874
Aria College is finally established 20 years after Lewis Aria's bequest.
1880s
Immigrants from Eastern Europe double the Jewish population in Portsmouth, many are recruited in Whitechapel. Tailoring increasingly becomes one of the most important Jewish occupations until 1946.
1900
There are some 200 Jewish families in Portsmouth.
1909
During extensions to the synagogue foundation stones from 1780 are rediscovered.
1914
There are 800 Jews in the town, the population of Portsmouth is 237,300.
1924
Aria College set up their own synagogue after a dispute with the congregation.
1936
A new synagogue is built in Southsea based on the original.
1946 -
By this date a Jewish professional class becomes very important to the Jewish commerce of the town and tailoring greatly declines.
1957
Aria College closes.
1963
Harry Sotnick becomes Mayor and twins Portsmouth and Haifa towns.
1978
Richard Sotnick becomes Mayor of Portsmouth.
1985
The synagogue board of management call a special meeting to note concerns about declining Jewish involvement and life in the town. Greater co-ordination of Jewish activities in town is agreed.
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