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Famed British Cricket Club Turned into Temporary Synagogue

December 16, 1940
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Bombing of churches has resulted in many instances of mutual help among rival denominations, but yesterday for the first time the famous Lords Cricket Ground was turned into a synagogue.

When the Liberal synagogue nearby was recently seriously damaged, the Middlesex Cricket Club, through its chairman, the famous cricketer Sir Pelham Warner, immediately offered Rabbi Israel Mattuck the use of the Oak Room in the Lords Hotel, which is a semi-public tavern where players and spectators are able to get drinks at all hours during cricket matches.

The Ark and Holy Scroll, rescued from the damaged synagogue, were carried to the Oak Room, where Jewish religious services were held while portraits of famous cricketers looked down from the walls.

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