North Western Reform Synagogue
51°34′46″N 0°11′47″W / 51.5794°N 0.1964°W / 51.5794; -0.1964
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
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
- Leo Baeck, a German rabbi, scholar and theologian who served as president of the congregation from 1947 to 1956
- Norman Bentwich, a barrister and legal academic, who served as president of the congregation from 1958 to 1971
- Richard Hermer, Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland since July 2024[7]
See also
London portal
Judaism portal
- History of the Jews in England
- List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
- List of synagogues in the United Kingdom
Notes
- ^ Alyth is a name derived from the road on which the synagogue is located since 1936.[1]
References
- ^ "About: Find us". Alyth website.[self-published source?]
- ^ Herselle Krinsky, Carol (1996). Synagogues of Europe – Architecture, History, Meaning. Appendix I, p. 430.
- ^ a b c "Our history". Alyth website. Retrieved 9 January 2016.[self-published source?]
- ^ "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.
- ^ Toberman, Barry (3 March 2021). "Members approve £6 million upgrade for Golders Green shul". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Rocker, Simon (21 July 2011). "Meet the media-savvy voice of Reform Judaism". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ Harpin, Lee (6 July 2024). "Starmer appoints lawyer who opposed Gove's anti-BDS bill as Attorney General". Jewish News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
External links
- Official website
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Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom 
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