Sharing highlights of the Merthyr community open day - one year on

We're delighted to share this video of the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre community open day - looking back at the event one year on! Huge progress has been made since then as the project team works tirelessly behind the scenes to secure the future of the Victorian synagogue.

Last February, around 500 people attended a special Open Day in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. The event was set up to engage with people from Merthyr and beyond in the planned Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre we are developing with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Wales, the Welsh Government and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Visitors flocked in from across Wales and beyond throughout the day to see inside the synagogue for the first time since the building was closed in 2006. They were also able to visit the nearby Soar community centre where they could meet the professional team driving the synagogue project, view the architect’s plans, and examine artefacts associated with the former Jewish community.

Many of those who attended brought their own memories and memorabilia associated with Jewish life in Wales, and these were recorded by members of the team, as were general comments and feedback on the project itself.

Watch the full three-minute version of the film

Local historian Chris Clifford gave two talks on the history of the synagogue. Welsh klezmer band the Klezmanouts brought a lively, fun tone to the day, and their closing performance during the end-of-event reception led to dancing.

Special visitors included local MP Gerald Jones, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Leader Geraint Thomas, National Lottery Heritage Fund Wales Director Andrew White, Rabbi Rose from the Cardiff Orthodox community, and various representatives of local Merthyr organisations.

A number of guests represented families who had once been members of Merthyr synagogue and this video is a reminder of the atmosphere and vibrancy of the event which showed a huge level of interest and support for the initiative.

The project gained many more contacts, many more friends, and many more offers of help that day and this has continued to benefit us as we continue with our plans for opening in 2028.

Here is a shorter one-minute version of the film if you're pressed for time