North Western Reform Synagogue

North Western Reform Synagogue
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Golan Ben-Chorin
  • Rabbi Hannah Kingston
  • Rabbi Elliott Karstadt
  • Rabbi Colin Eimer
  • Rabbi Josh Levy (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
LocationAlyth Gardens, Temple Fortune, Golders Green, Borough of Barnet, London, England NW11 7EN
CountryUnited Kingdom
North Western Reform Synagogue is located in Greater London
North Western Reform Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Greater London
Geographic coordinates51°34′46″N 0°11′47″W / 51.5794°N 0.1964°W / 51.5794; -0.1964
Architecture
Architect(s)Fritz Landauer
Date established1933 (as a congregation)
Completed1936
Website
alyth.org.uk

The North Western Reform Synagogue, commonly known as Alyth,[a] is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at Temple Fortune, Golders Green, in the Borough of Barnet, north-west London, England, in the United Kingdom.

Overview

Logo of the congregation

The congregation was founded in 1933. Its building, designed by the architect Fritz Landauer,[2] was built in Alyth Gardens in 1936, on land carved out from the West London Synagogue’s cemetery in Hoop Lane.[3] In 1942, the congregation became a founding member of Associated British Synagogue, now known as the Movement for Reform Judaism.[4] With approximately 2,500 adult and 1,000 child members, the congregation is one of the largest Reform synagogues in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]

In 2021 its members approved a £6 million upgrade to the synagogue building,[5] which is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Clergy

The following individuals have served as rabbi of the congregation:[3]

No. Rabbi Term start Term end Notes
1 Solomon Starrels 1933 1938
2 Maurice Perlzweig 1938 1942 Also chair of the World Union of Jewish Students in 1933 and had helped to create the World Jewish Congress
− Vivian Simmons 1942 1943 Acting, on secondment from West London Synagogue
3 Dr Werner van der Zyl 1943 1958 Also founder and president of Leo Baeck College[3]
4 Philip Cohen 1958 1972
5 Dow Marmur 1972 1983
6 Charles Emanuel 1983 2003
7 Laura Janner-Klausner 2003 2011 Became Senior Rabbi at the Movement for Reform Judaism in 2011[6]
8 Mark Goldsmith 2006 2019 Became Senior Rabbi at Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue in 2019
9 Josh Levy 2008 2023 Emeritus; became Chief Executive of the Movement for Reform Judaism in 2023
10 Colin Eimer 2015 incumbent
11 Hannah Kingston 2017 incumbent
12 Elliott Karstadt 2020 incumbent
13 Golan Ben-Chorin 2024 incumbent

Notable members

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Alyth is a name derived from the road on which the synagogue is located since 1936.[1]

References

  1. ^ "About: Find us". Alyth website.[self-published source?]
  2. ^ Herselle Krinsky, Carol (1996). Synagogues of Europe – Architecture, History, Meaning. Appendix I, p. 430.
  3. ^ a b c "Our history". Alyth website. Retrieved 9 January 2016.[self-published source?]
  4. ^ "North Western Reform Synagogue". Jewish Communities and Records – UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ Toberman, Barry (3 March 2021). "Members approve £6 million upgrade for Golders Green shul". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  6. ^ Rocker, Simon (21 July 2011). "Meet the media-savvy voice of Reform Judaism". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  7. ^ Harpin, Lee (6 July 2024). "Starmer appoints lawyer who opposed Gove's anti-BDS bill as Attorney General". Jewish News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.