Merton will host the first Any Questions to be broadcast from a synagogue on July 16th.
By Sam Smith
Merton will host the first Any Questions to be broadcast from a synagogue on July 16th.
The Wimbledon and District Reform Synagogue in Queensmere Road will play host to the BBC Radio 4 live political debate chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby.
Synagogue council member David Zell took inspiration from the show being broadcast from the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Morden in January – the first time it had been held in a mosque.
This means Merton now boasts the accolade of hosting both the first show to be held in a mosque and a synagogue.
“After Merton had the first mosque to hold Any Questions, it is also going to have the first synagogue to host it so that’s a nice thing to have,” said Mr Zell.
“We have had a lot of applications for it after we advertised it locally so we are looking forward to a full house.”
The show, which was first broadcast in 1948, is broadcast live on Fridays from eight o’clock for one hour.
This normally prevents synagogues from hosting it as the Sabbath begins as soon as the sun sets.
“On July 16th the sun sets after nine o’clock, so technically we’re doing it before the Sabbath starts and that is how we were able to get the clearance to do it,” explained Mr Zell.
The show also coincides with the 200th anniversary of the first Jewish Reform Movement service held in Germany.
A spokesman for the BBC said: “Any Questions was invited by the Wimbledon Synagogue to record the programme there and we were delighted to accept.
“It’s not uncommon for the programme to visit venues when a particular anniversary, festival or special event, is being celebrated.
“We believe this is the first time the programme will be broadcast from a synagogue but as Any Questions goes back 60 years it is difficult to be certain.”
The synagogue has a reformed community of over 900 members and was formed in 1949.
To apply for tickets email [email protected] or telephone 077689 50737.
