Jewish Letchworth A Microcosm of the Jewish Communal Experience

Here, Letchworth-born Yanky Fachler explores a short-lived (1939– 1971) provincial Jewish congregation that boasted a communal infrastructure typical of much larger communities. Based during the war years around an estate built by Abba Bornstein, most of the community returned to London after the Second World War. The centre of gravity shifted to what former Talmud Torah headmaster Harry Leitner describes as the ‘ two pyramid houses on Sollershott East – the Sassoon/Feuchtwanger and Fachler homes.’ Letchworth was home to the world-famous private Judaica library assembled by David Sassoon. His son, Rabbi Solomon Sassoon, made sure that Jewish children from across the religious spectrum attended the Talmud Torah educational programme after regular school hours. Several rabbinical luminaries were associated with Letchworth, including the communal rabbi, Asher Feuchtwanger, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, and Rabbi Eliyahu Lapian. Fachler describes a unique community where the orthodox coexisted harmoniously with the non-orthodox, Ashkenazi Jews lived side-by-side with Baghdadi Jews, and wealthy families rubbed shoulders with working class families.

Writer, broadcaster and public speaker Yanky Fachler, MA, was born and raised in Letchworth. He is the founder/chair of the Jewish Historical Society of Ireland, and has delivered history talks around the world. During the 2020– 2022 covid pandemic, Yanky delivered over 200 zoom talks to international audiences.

2. Ebenezer, The Garden City Geezer 3. The Bornstein Brotherhood And Cousinhood 4. “ Vaccies” - Compulsory And Voluntary Evacuation 5. Letchworth At War 6. Letchworth Hebrew Congregation 7. Adass Yeshurun Congregation 8. VE Day And Jews Starting To Leave Letchworth 9. David Sassoon’ s Library 10. Rabbi Solomon (Suliman) And Alice Sassoon 11. Rabbi Asher (Reb Oosher) And Flora Feuchtwanger 12. Brochs, Winegartens And Schischas 13. Hallmead And Mullway 14. Schooldays In Letchworth 15. Families Kirsch, Pollock, Roth, Ward And Vanger 16. Noddy And James Bond, Abductions And Ultimatums 17. Letchworth Pen Portraits 18. Letchworth Talmd Torah And Letchworth Yeshiva 19. The Fachlers Of 37 Sollershott East 20. The Letchworth Branch Of Cambridge University 21. “ No Minyan In Letchworth”