Page:The Dalston Synagogue-an historical sketch.djvu/18

 Mrs. Hyamson remained President of the Dorcas till her resignation in January, 1898, when her place was taken by Mrs. J. Rosenthal, who still occupies the position. Mrs. P. C. Jacobs is Vice-President and Treasurer. Mrs. J. Suskind was Hon. Secretary till her departure from the district, when she was succeeded by Mrs. K. Tumpowsky.

Ladies Society.—The direct association of the ladies with the interests and well-being of the Synagogue has not been exhausted by their work on the Dorcas. On September 28th, 1905, the Secretary of the Synagogue, Mr. Isaac Goldston, on his own initiative sent a circular to the ladies of the Congregation, inviting them to form a Ladies Committee, whose tasks, among others, should be the care and proper keeping of the Holy Vestments and the provision of the floral decorations of the Synagogue and Succah. Subsequently, this Committee, at the request of the Board of Management, formed themselves into a permanent institution under the style and title of "The Ladies Society in connection with the Dalston Synagogue." Mrs. Oscar Selinger was elected President, and Mrs. I. Goldston, Hon. Secretary. A little later, Mrs. A. Lewis was appointed Treasurer. On the resignation in July, 1907, of Mrs. Selinger and Mrs. Goldston from their respective offices, Mrs. A. Lewis became President, Mrs. B. S. Ellis, Treasurer, and the late Miss M. Moses, Hon. Secretary of the Society. Members of the Committee attend in rotation to superintend 'the keeping of the Synagogue in a seemly and becoming condition.' As a result of their conscientious ministrations, the outward appearance of the Dalston Synagogue has for years past been beyond reproach.

Coming back now to history, we have to note, at the general election of 1893, the falling out of the ranks of one of the most familiar figures connected with the Congregation. On his departure from the neighbourhood, Mr. Moses A. Rozelaar deemed it incumbent upon him to sever his connection with a Synagogue which he had served with such conspicuous ardour and devotion for a period of fifteen years. In the address which was presented to him on his retirement from office, it was justly said, that the religious influence which the Dalston Synagogue had attained to, and the prosperity and success which had attended its career, had been due in no small measure to his unremitting zeal and self-denying labour. Mr. S. Hess, who had served several years previously on the Board of Management, succeeded him as Warden.

Hardly more than two years passed when a similar public expression of regret was evoked on the retirement from office of Mr. S. Simons and Mr. J. Berg, the former owing to his increasing age, and the latter through his removal from the district. Mr. Simons had held the position of Financial Representative and Warden during a period of ten years, and had furthermore represented it on the Board of Deputies. He had been largely instrumental, with Mr. Freeman Cohen, Mr. Rozelaar, Mr. Kruszinski, and Mr. S. F. Cohen, in procuring the erection, in 1885, of the Synagogue in Poet's Road, and had watched over its fortunes with zealous care and solicitude. His public activities had extended beyond the borders of the Congregation to the community at large. He had served as Treasurer of the Burial Society of the United Synagogue, and Chairman of the Loan Committee of the Board of Guardians. Mr. Joseph Berg had discharged the onerous and important duties of Financial Representative for a term of four years. As a proof of the earnest and thorough-going