JEWISH EAST END OF LONDON PHOTO GALLERY & COMMENTARY

London's East End Synagogues, cemeteries and more......

My personal journey through the Jewish East End of London

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Novo Sephardic Cemetery, Mile End - some oddities and things that have interested me

Novo Sephardic Cemetery, Mile End

Some of you may have read of the splendid efforts of Queen Mary's College, Mile End, to tidy up the Sephardic cemetery at Westover Way, Mile End.  I visited the site in April 2012 and was impressed at the tidiness but also a little saddened that the cemetery had lost its rural feel.  One of the plus points of the new arrangements is that it is possible to actually enter the cemetery rather that stare at it through a fence....so I did!  Lots of interesting graves, including a selection of Sassoons and Montefiores.  One grave in particular caught my eye, that of a Henry Naphtali Hart who took his leave 3rd July 1891.  His inscription reads:
 
Many years of his life were passed in Buenos Ayres where he was esteemed and respected by all classes of the mercantile and financial community. He promoted the first synagogue in the Argentine Congregation. 
 
This is his grave:

Henry Naphtali Hart who took his leave 3rd July 1891

It just so happens that in November 2011 I visited Buenos Ayres and attended a Friday night service in that very same synagogue.  A photo of it's exterior is below, and below that is a photo of its interior.  This synagogue was founded in 1852 by Henry Naphtali Hart, whose grave is above.

Buenos Aries oldest synagogue, founded in 1852 by Henry Naphtali Hart, permanent resident of the Novo Cemetery, Mile End

Buenos Aires synagogue, interior

Another grave that caught my eye was that of Isaac Cohen Belifante, late of 67 Brick Lane (as it says on his grave) who departed this life in 1904.  I had to take a look in Brick Lane to see where Mr Belifante had been so proud to live and can tell you that his address is now a collection of small offices and a derelict former Bangladeshi restaurant.  What stories this building could tell!

saac Cohen Belifante, late of 67 Brick Lane

Below, 67 Brick Lane (the white building), former residence of Isaac Cohen Belifante - now a permanent resident of the Novo Sephardic cemetery, Mile End.

67 Brick Lane (the white building), former residence of Isaac Cohen Belifante - now a resident of the Novo Sephardic cemetery, Mile End

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