Fourteen questions, and the answers we keep on file.

An endowment charity, registered in England and Wales under charity number 220011, whose deed of 13 October 1963 directs it to fund the necessary works on the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation's buildings and to support religious education.

The deed of 1963 does not define the letters, and we are not in a position to invent a meaning. The Trust's name has been "BASH TRUST" since registration and is recorded as such on the Charity Commission's public register.

No. The congregation is a separate organisation, governed by its elected wardens. BASH TRUST is an endowment whose income is given, by grant, to fund specified work on the congregation's buildings and on its religious education. The two work closely together but are legally distinct.

Two trustees. David Gerard Goldberg (Chair) and Roderick Richman, both publicly listed on the Charity Commission register. Their short biographies are on the about page.

The Trust holds an endowment settled in 1963 and is funded year-on-year primarily by the income from that endowment, plus a small flow of donations from friends of the congregation.

Because the cost of administering the Gift Aid scheme (record-keeping, declarations, returns) is not warranted by the small volume of donations we receive. The trustees review the question annually; for the moment, the position is unchanged.

Only if you are involved with the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation. The deed names a single beneficiary and we are not able to vary it. We do not make grants to other charities, individuals, projects or causes, however worthy.

Online via the support page, by bank transfer (write to [email protected] for the account details), or by cheque to "BASH TRUST" posted to the registered office. We acknowledge every gift personally.

Yes. The synagogue at Catherine Street opens to the public on the two Heritage Open Days each September and on the spring open weekend each April. Other visits can be arranged by writing in advance to the wardens via [email protected].

The synagogue was consecrated on 26 August 1762. It is one of the oldest still-functioning Ashkenazi synagogues anywhere in the English-speaking world, and is listed at Grade II*.

The Chair of the trustees practises as a barrister at Gray's Inn Tax Chambers, and the Trust's correspondence is held at chambers for administrative convenience. The synagogue itself, of course, is in Plymouth — and is where all of the Trust's work is done.

It varies. In some years (such as 2024–25) the figure is zero — no grants fell due. In a busier year (such as 2018–19) we made eight awards totalling £7,820. The full record sits on the annual reports page.

You are looking at it. To subscribe to our short dispatch, use the form at the foot of any page. We send three or four short letters a year and never share your email address.

The fastest route is to write to [email protected]. We answer ourselves and we ask for up to three working days. Full contact details are on the contact page.