The War Memorial is now in Port Talbot Civic Centre.
3.15 Miles
LOCATION: Neath Port Talbot Council Civic Centre, Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ
The Aberavon and Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation's memorial to their members who served in the First World War.
This white marble Roll of Honour plaque bears the names of 14 members of the Aberavon and Port Talbot Synagogue who served in the First World War. Three of the young men mentioned on the Roll of Honour were killed in action; the rest returned home safely. It was originally in the vestibule of Port Talbot Synagogue in Ty Draw Place and was unveiled when the synagogue opened in 1921.
Roll of Honour of the Aberavon and Port Talbot Hebrew Congregation, 1914-1919.
Image: JHASW/CHIDC, 2023.
The following names are inscribed:
Private B. Aronovitch
Private J. Aronovitch
Private M. Cohen
Sergeant H. Freeman
Staff Sergeant I. Goldberg
Private J. Goldberg (killed in action)
Private A. Lewis (killed in action)
Private J. Lewis (killed in action)
Corporal P. Newman
Corporal R. Norvick
Private J. Richman
Private M. Rosenberg
Private L. Tenebaum
Private S. Tenebaum
![A newspaper article which is an extract from the Jewish Chronicle of the 8th of April 1921. It reads; “Aberavon. The new synagogue in Tydraw Place was consecrated yesterday week. Mr L. L .Fine, J.P., of Cardiff, who was presented with a silver key, performed the opening cer-emony. In returning, thanks, Mr Fine said his pleasure that day was immense, for he re-membered that 50 years ago his father had performed the opening ceremony of the Mer-thyr synagogue. He hoped the complication would live in concord and peace among them-selves and with their non-Jewish neighbours. The Rev. H. Jerevitch, of Cardiff, delivered an address, in the course of which he said that the synagogue was a power for good, more so than anything else they can think of. It was the synagogue that maintained and kept Judaism alive. Mr Jerevitch concluded with the consecration prayer. They [word in Jewish text] was kindled by Mr Rosenberg, Treasurer of the congregation. The service was conducted by the Rev. M. Lubner, of Swansea. At the conclusion of the service, Mrs L. L.. Fine unveiled the Roll of Honour in the vestibule of the synagogue bearing fourteen names of members of the congregation who served in the war, three of whom had made the supreme sacrifice. The congregation then adjourned to Constitution Hall, where a reception was held. Mr. and Mrs. Fine, and the Rev. H. Jerevitch were thanked for their services.”](uploads/Port_Talbot_combined.jpg)
Extract from The Jewish Chronicle, 8 April 1921.
Image: The Jewish Chronicle.
The plaque was put into storage when Port Talbot Synagogue was sold and in 1980 it was re-erected in the vestibule of Ffynone Road Synagogue in Swansea.
When Ffynone Road Synagogue was sold to the LifePoint Church in 2009, most of the plaques were installed on a special wall in the Jewish section of Oystermouth Cemetery. However, this plaque was installed in the council offices in Port Talbot Civic Centre.
Roll of Honour in Port Talbot Civic Centre - on a wall in a corridor running off the main reception area.
Image: JHASW/CHIDC, 2023.