Comments on: Jeremy Freedman, photographer

By: sheila butt

sheila butt — Sat, 04 Jan 2014 16:23:53 +0000

Hi love the site I lived in spitalfields all my lifejust off brick lane my parents we I now live in Surrey re married in Sandys row synagogue I worked in wentworth st my mother worked for Trumans brewery and my father worked for Barnets in Frying Pan Alley I really enjoyed my childhood ,taking my granddad his tea struggling through the packed lane where he had a market stall ,my children all grown up now but growing up used to love the stories I told sometimes in disbelief but always ended in laughter I now live in Surrey I will always treasure the very colourful memories I have of growing up in a very close knit community.

By: sue forward

sue forward — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 00:21:38 +0000

The picture of lilly and ray is beautiful, they are my aunts and i would love to have a copy.

By: Rosemary Hoffman

Rosemary Hoffman — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:10:18 +0000

love the photos of Sandy’s Row In thw late 50s I went there every Friday night as my parents used to manage the Kings Stores pub a few yards away in Widegate Street.
My husbands aunt and uncle Stella and Jimmy Wilder were stalwarts for many years.

By: Janice Howard

Janice Howard — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:33:51 +0000

I have just logged on to your website and looked at your fantastic photos. I was deeply moved by everything that was said about the problems with Shul not have enough people to fill it up each week and all the problems they have had with the broken tank that caused a flood etc. My grandparents got married there in 1916 and so to me I feel it has a special place in my heart. My grandmother often spoke about it to me and through her eyes I feel as though I know it very well. I will definitely make time in the future to come and visit the Shul. It is a beautiful place and should be looked after. With G-D’s help let’s hope he will make it so. All the best, Janice Howard. PS My Grandparents names were Janet Nunes Ribeiro and Abraham Joseph.

By: Kris

Kris — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:29:54 +0000

Jeremy – we met at Blenheim last week as part of the behind the scenes team and I Googled you (because your own website seems to have been hacked) and found you here on this gem of a site. My great grandfather lived in Wilkes Street and my grandparents in Columbia Road before moving further afield; the next generation now Middlesex, Oxfordshire and New Zealand. However my daughter (you also met) now just a short distance away again (Hackney/Islington border). Enjoying your photographs as well as all the information – thank you and nice to meet you!

By: Jeremy Freedman - Sandys Row Synagogue

Jeremy Freedman - Sandys Row Synagogue — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:46:44 +0000

Reverend Malcolm Gingold, is a highly esteemed and respected figure in the East End. He is not an ordained Rabbi but a learned gentleman who has made his life encouraging (even pushing forward) the Jewish community in this part of London. He has been addressed as Reverend all of my life and believe we address him so because ‘we’ respect and recognise his contributions to the Jewish life in E1.

The temple is still Orthodox, but we are an open traditional community quickly adapting to modern day life. We welcome people from all sections of the community and run a variety of services from traditional saturday morning services to social friday night dinners, specifically for people who don’t want to come to shul at 9am on Saturday morning – who just want to get a taste of jewish life and meet some new people once a month.

Many of new members are newcomers to area, and some are looking to honour their family membership. But we as a community understand that our future will not be cemented by new membership – We must become more than just a house of prayer if we are to serve this community for another 150 years.

By: michaele

michaele — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:02:39 +0000

Ran into this website while visiting Denis Severs House. My son lives in Westminster and is reform, so this wouldn’t be a place he’d belong, but we love to see the revival of a Jewish community wherever it takes place, and especially the preservation of historic synagogues. I am visiting from the US and was amazed to see the term reverend used to describe the leader of the service. In the US we use the term reverend only for Protestant ministers. If he or she is ordained, the only acceptable term is Rabbi. If not ordained, but conducting the services or otherwise managing the spiritual side of temple life, they would be described as lay leaders. Is the use of the term reverend traditional for Jewish religious figures in the UK? Also, are the new members of the temple coming from an in-migration of younger couples to Spitalfields? And is the temple still Orthodox?

By: Hels

Hels — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:29:31 +0000

Great article.

“In the nineteenth century, when there were over one hundred and fifty synagogues in the East End, Sandys Row had one of the largest congregations. Now it is one of only four that remain active”. It is hard to believe, isn’t it, that over 150 shules could be squeezed into just one, fairly small part of London. I am guessing that some of them must have been smallish minyanim, tucked away in modest buildings.

I can understand why only 4 remain active, but I would love to see them before they too close forever. Or become carpet shops and laundromats.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:53:41 +0000

The portraits speak volumes for the breadth and depth of the subjects’ life experiences; but the study of Sandys Row with its contrast of light and shade is particularly stunning.
I really enjoyed talking with you about your work etc when we met today.
Alan

By: S.L. / Jerusalem

S.L. / Jerusalem — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:31:08 +0000

The photo of the sunrise is so good – both symbolically and artistically!

After Jeremy explained to me about Spitalfields and the history of this area, I understand and appreciate the importance of these portraits.

Next time I am in London I hope I can go and visit this area!
🙂

I am proud to be a friend of this photographer – when his work is known around the world I can show the photos that he took with my camera – portraits of me! 😀