Our History

In 2023, the Coventry Jewish Reform Community celebrated its 30th anniversary. As we hold the torch for Judaism in the area, it is timely to remember the history of the Jewish community in Coventry and Warwick.

Jewish merchants may have accompanied the Romans, or might have come in Saxon times, but we know nothing of them. The earliest specific information about Jewish communities in the area shows references to individuals in the Norman period. In 1194, in Coventry, there was Elias, a tax gatherer living amongst a tiny Jewish community. Before that, there were Solomon and Leo living in Warwick in 1184, and by 1194 there were six families there. Warwick was one of 27 centres at the time that had archae for the registration of Jewish debts. By the middle of the 13th century, the Warwick community had given its name to “Le Luerie”, which is now known as Jury Street (Spelt, however, J U R Y, but was this a corruption of J E W R Y), and there was a Jew’s house in Castle Street. The community disappeared in 1282, eight years prior to the total expulsion of Jews from England in 1290.

Jumping forward in time to Coventry in 1775, there is reference to Isaac Cohen, although there may have been Jewish families 25 years previously. Certainly by 1800 there was quite a nucleus of Jewish families there. Isaac Cohen founded a congregation that met in his house in Trinity passage to hold religious services.

The Jews of Coventry were represented at the opening of the new Birmingham synagogue in Severn Street in 1809. In 1860, however, the decision was made to split the communities and in 1864 the Coventry Hebrew congregation had come into being. Its Synagogue, in Barras Lane, was dedicated by the Chief Rabbi in 1870.

In 1960, a local area group of the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue was founded and its then minister, Rabbi Bernard Hooker, addressed its first meeting, in the Bimbo restaurant in Coventry, by courtesy of its owner, Alan Blank. However, as most of those who were interested came from the Warwick/Leamington Spa area, the group transferred its centre to Leamington Spa where it became the Leamington and District Progressive Jewish group. 

After some years meeting in members’ homes, it received an invitation from the Warwick Quakers to use their hall at the Friends’ Meeting House in Warwick in High Street, an extension of Jury Street and backing on to Castle Lane. A reminder of Norman times.

The members of the Progressive Group in Leamington/Warwick were gradually dying or moving away, and a few years ago the group had become untenable, so was formally wound up. Some of those still surviving were made very welcome in the Coventry Reform Community and helped swell their numbers.

The Coventry Jewish Reform Community was established in 1993 by our lifetime President Dr Martin Been who remains an active and committed member of our small community. The origin of the idea of creating a Reform Community goes back to 1989 when Martin, who was then living in Newcastle on Tyne had applied for a job at Coventry’s Walsgrave Hospital.

He was already an active member of the Reform Community in Newcastle and one of their members knew someone in Coventry whom Martin subsequently contacted to enquire about Jewish life in the city. The response was, to say the least, surprising. In fact the exact words were “do not come here, no one else is, people only leave!” Somewhat taken aback by this, Martin then went to speak to his much respected community leader, Rabbi Willie Wolf, whose response was totally different. Essentially he said that there would be Jews living in Coventry, all it needed was someone to go there and start a community.

Of course it was not that easy and Martin never came to Coventry with that as his main priority, he came because he was offered a job at a time when there were very few consultant cardiology posts with cardiac catheter labs.

At the time he had two children Jonathan and Emily, and it wasn’t long before they had two more, Sam and Sophie. Initially they explored what was available in terms of Jewish Life in the area. They joined the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and Martin also joined the orthodox Coventry Hebrew Congregation. 

After some time he discovered that Willie Wolf was right – there were indeed Jews living in the area, many of whom had no affiliation with any organisation.

Starting a new organisation was a somewhat daunting task, but at this point he was greatly inspired by the late Mick Berger – whom many of you will remember. Mick’s advice, encouragement and enthusiasm allowed them to take the project forward.

Over the years the group has faced many challenges. Trying to attract new members, keeping the existing ones, and to keep everyone happy, was and still is a difficult and sometimes impossible task. Many people had come and gone in this time, lots of them have put a huge amount of time and effort into our activities and helped to sustain the group.

One of our biggest challenges has been lack of a permanent home, although we did share the facilities of Barras Lane Synagogue with the Coventry Hebrew Congregation for several years. Unfortunately this arrangement ceased with synagogue sadly falling into a state of disrepair.

Despite the setbacks, we are here to celebrate our 30th anniversary and it is fitting that we recognise and thank Martin and a small group of loyal members for their huge contribution to the community and it is a testament to this commitment that the Coventry Jewish Reform Community has thrived and flourished and continues to actively promote support and encourage Jewish Life in our City.

It is also thanks indeed to a small group of dedicated committee members that we are able to hold regular Friday night Shabbat services at the Friends Meeting House in Coventry and in Members’ homes and also continue to observe the Rites and Practices of our religious festivals throughout the calendar year.

Much support has been given to us by the Movement for Reform Judaism and David Jacobs in his role of Director of Synagogue Partnerships. The Movement continues to provide invaluable advice and guidance with our various activities.

(This page is based on research performed by Mr. Bill Heilbronn and a speech delivered by him during festivities marking the 20th anniversary of the Coventry Jewish Reform Community)