Golders Green Jewish Cemetery

Golders Green Jewish Cemetery, usually known as Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery, is a Jewish cemetery in Golders Green, London NW11. It is maintained by a joint burial committee representing members of the West London Synagogue and the S&P Sephardi Community (the Spanish and Portuguese Jews Congregation).

Location

The cemetery is located on Hoop Lane, in Golders Green in the London Borough of Barnet, across the street from the Golders Green Crematorium. Just inside the gates is a small building, with two halls for burial services, and a drinking fountain. North Western Reform Synagogue is located in Alyth Gardens, on the boundary of the cemetery.

History

The cemetery, which was opened in 1895, is divided into two parts. On the West Side, used by West London Synagogue, the graves are marked with upright stones. The East Side, used by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, is organised in the form of traditional Sephardi cemetery (one of the few left in London); the gravestones are laid horizontally, as traditionally the burial ground was too unstable for an upright stone.

Notable burials

East Side

Hakham Moses Gaster (1856–1939), Romanian, later British, scholar, the Hakham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish congregation in London, and a Hebrew and Romanian linguist

Philip Guedalla (1889–1944), English barrister, popular historical and travel writer, and biographer

Nathan Saatchi (1907–2000), Iraqi-born British businessman, a textile merchant who moved from Baghdad to London

West Side

Musicians

Jacqueline du Pré (1945–1987), internationally acclaimed cellist, who converted to Judaism in 1967 and died from multiple sclerosis, aged 42

Maurice Jacobson (1896–1976), pianist, composer and music publisher

Paul Kossoff (1950–1976), rock guitarist best known as a member of Free

Philanthropists

Sir Basil Henriques (1890–1961), philanthropist who wrote reforms to religious Jewish ceremonies and set up boys' clubs for deprived Jewish children

Sir Sigmund Sternberg (1921–2016), philanthropist, interfaith campaigner, businessman and Labour Party donor

Politicians

Leslie Hore-Belisha, 1st Baron Hore-Belisha (1893–1957), British Liberal politician

Gerald Isaacs, 2nd Marquess of Reading (1889–1960), British Conservative politician and barrister

Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading (1860–1935), British Liberal politician and barrister, buried at this cemetery after cremation

Sir Philip Magnus (1842–1933), educational reformer and Liberal Unionist MP

Sir Harry Samuel (1853–1934), Conservative Member of Parliament who campaigned against free trade during his political career

Sir John Simon (1873–1854), British Liberal politician and barrister

Rabbis and teachers

Rabbi Dr Leo Baeck (1873–1956), rabbi, scholar and theologian, who led the Reform Judaism movement in Germany and, after settling in London, chaired the World Union for Progressive Judaism

Rabbi Charles Berg (1911–1979), the first non-Orthodox rabbi to be ordained in England

Rabbi Curtis Cassell (1912–1998), rabbi in Germany, Britain and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Rabbi Albert Friedlander (1927–2004), German-born rabbi in the United States and in Britain, who also taught at Leo Baeck College, London and became Vice President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism

Rabbi Hugo Gryn (1930–1996), rabbi, broadcaster and Auschwitz survivor

Professor Hans Liebeschuetz (1893–1978), medieval historian best known for his study of John of Salisbury

Rabbi Dr Arthur Löwenstamm (1882–1965), theologian, writer and rabbi in Berlin and in London

Rabbi Ignaz Maybaum (1897–1976), rabbi and theologian

Rabbi Dr Harold Reinhart (1891–1969), American-born rabbi who was senior minister at West London Synagogue and the founding rabbi of Westminster Synagogue

Professor Ben Segal (1912–2003), Professor of Semitic Languages at SOAS University of London

Rabbi Dr Werner van der Zyl (1902–1984), rabbi in Berlin and London. Van der Zyl was a founder and President of Leo Baeck College, London, and also President of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain (now known as the Movement for Reform Judaism); he was also Life Vice President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.