More Than Riots: Tredegar’s History of Hope and Interfaith Unity

Tredegar’s Jewish history is often overshadowed by the anti-Jewish riot of August 1911. But the town’s true legacy is richer—rooted in resilience, interfaith collaboration, and shared contributions that shaped the community long before and after that dark moment.

Tredegar’s Jewish community had roots extending back decades. By 1874, efforts to build a local synagogue were already underway. Support came from Jewish residents, local Christians, and the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company, which donated land. Henry Somerset, the 9th Duke of Beaufort, also gifted land for a Jewish cemetery. Fundraising events for the new synagogue included a raffle with Torah scrolls and other prizes. These efforts, though slowed by internal disagreements, eventually led to the completion of the Morgan Street Synagogue in the late 1880s. The synagogue became a center of Jewish life in Tredegar and also drew worshippers from surrounding villages like Ebbw Vale and Rhymney.

This spirit of collaboration extended beyond this place of worship. In 1889, Rabbi Jacob Phillips delivered a lecture at the Tredegar Town Hall, attended by both Jews and non-Jews and presided over by Peter Williams, a local Baptist minister. His speech on the Talmud, met with applause, demonstrated how shared intellectual and spiritual engagement could unite the community. Rabbi Phillips, like many Jewish community leaders of his time, embodied the interconnectedness among Jews and non-Jews in Tredegar. When Rabbi Phillips left for Swansea in 1891, he was praised by the Cambria Daily Leader for fostering goodwill among Jews and Christians.

The 1911 riots, fueled by economic hardship and antisemitic scapegoating, saw hundreds loot Jewish stores. Though part of wider labor unrest in South Wales, the targeting of Jewish businesses was deliberate and devastating. Yet stories of solidarity emerged, such as Aneurin Bevan’s family sheltering six Jewish children. Local papers condemned the violence as “wanton wreckage,” and courts imposed harsh sentences, reaffirming Tredegar’s values.

Despite the riots, the Jewish community in Tredegar rebuilt and continued to contribute to the town’s cultural and civic life. In 1915, the Jewish congregation in Tredegar renovated its site to accommodate more children in its religious school. Lewis Fine, a civic leader and Justice of the Peace, also exemplified this resilience. A native of Rhymney, Fine held numerous leadership roles, including serving as president of the Tredegar synagogue, the Tredegar Branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association, and the Rhymney and Pontlottyn Chamber of Trade. His civic involvement, which also included aiding the poor as a member of the Bedwellty Board of Guardians, demonstrated how deeply Jewish residents were woven into the fabric of local society. His election to the Rhymney Urban District Council in 1894 with overwhelming support also reflected the respect he commanded across the community.

Other individuals further illustrate the breadth of Jewish contributions. Michael Davidson, an immigrant from Poland, was an entrepreneur who later became treasurer of the Central Ward Liberal Association. His obituary, printed in 1926, reports that he attended both the Tredegar synagogue and a nonconformist church, highlighting another instance of local engagement across faith communities. Similarly, S. Lewis Harris donated books to both the Tredegar Workmen’s Library and the synagogue’s library, while also supporting the local hospital. His leadership in the Tredegar Literary and Scientific Society and the Jewish Literary Society was remarked on in his obituary from 1920.

The outbreak of World War I also inspired interfaith collaboration. Twenty-two Jewish men from Tredegar served in the British Armed Forces, including individuals like Albert Harris, who rose to the rank of sergeant-major and survived injuries sustained at the Battle of Messines. Laurence Rosenbaum, a lieutenant who volunteered in 1914, made the ultimate sacrifice four years later in France. The Tredegar Weekly Argus published a moving tribute to him, describing him as “one of the best boys in Tredegar.” His memorial service at the local synagogue brought together Jews and non-Jews alike in a shared moment of grief and respect for his sacrifice.

Even as economic and demographic shifts led to the decline of Tredegar’s Jewish community in the mid-20th century, their legacy endures. Acts of solidarity, such as Christians contributing to synagogue construction and sheltering Jewish children during the riots, reflect a history of mutual care that transcends moments of division. Tredegar’s Jewish residents enriched the town through philanthropy, education, and civic leadership, leaving a lasting imprint on its history.

In today’s often polarized world, Tredegar’s history offers valuable lessons. It reminds us that communities are not defined by a single moment. The stories of tolerance and collaboration in Tredegar deserve to be remembered just as much as the 1911 riots. By remembering the complexities of Tredegar’s past—its challenges and triumphs—we honor a legacy that reminds us: even in the face of adversity, communities can build bridges that endure.

Historical memory must capture not only moments of conflict but also the quieter, profound stories of cooperation and resilience—stories that continue to shape Tredegar, Wales, and beyond.