Belsize Square Synagogue is a continental Liberal

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

congregation and

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

, located in

Belsize Park Belsize Park is a residential area of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden, in the Inner London, inner North West London, north-west of London, England. The residential streets are lined with Georgian and Victorian villas and mews houses. ...

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

, in the Borough of Camden,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, in the United Kingdom. The congregation is independent of the two Progressive (Reform) Jewish movements in the United Kingdom, drawing from the worship tradition of German Liberal Judaism.

Affiliation

Belsize Square Synagogue was founded in 1939 by refugees mainly from Germany. While today the membership of Belsize Square Synagogue comprises people who have joined from other strands of Judaism alongside the families of its founders, this history is reflected especially in the dignity of its religious services, mainly conducted in Hebrew, and its music. This was mainly composed by Louis Lewandowski (b.1821), who was based in Berlin and influenced by

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

, and by Salomon Sulzer (b.1804), a Viennese cantor and contemporary and friend of

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

Services

Religious services are held every Friday evening and Saturday morning and on Jewish festivals and Belsize Square Synagogue is known by its music led by Cantor, Choir and organ following the German Liberale tradition and composers Louis Lewandowski (Berlin) and Salomon Sulzer (Vienna) between others. A Sunday tefilin ''

minyan In Judaism, a ''minyan'' ( ''mīnyān'' , Literal translation, lit. (noun) ''count, number''; pl. ''mīnyānīm'' ) is the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain Mitzvah, religious obligations. In more traditional streams of Judaism ...

'' (congregation) meets occasionally with the future bnei Mitzvah kids and adults before Cheder's Assembly. Men and women sit together and both may be called up to read from the

Torah The Torah ( , "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch () ...

. Children's services (known as Kikar Kids) are held on the first Saturday morning of the month. Belsize Square Synagogue services are

live-streamed Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming media, streaming of video or Digital audio, audio in real-time communication, real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature ...

via its website, with the support of grant funding from the Six Point Foundation, and by a donation from the Ann Hirschfield Trust. They have been especially vital to its own and the larger community during the COVID-19 restrictions, even weddings have been livestreamed.

Education

Belsize Square has a ''cheder'' (religion school) for children and a regular adult discussion group, both meeting in term on Sunday mornings. An "Introduction to Judaism" class meets on Monday evenings, and forms part of Belsize Square Synagogue's programme of activities for people converting to Judaism. This regular education programme is supplemented by ad hoc lectures, events, film presentations and short courses.

Other activities

Belsize Square Synagogue has a programme of youth activities including weekend camps. In conjunction with volunteers, the synagogue's community care co-ordinator provides support and assistance to older members of the congregation and others in need including those experiencing bereavement or ill-health. Part of the Belsize Square Synagogue building is used by Kerens Day Nursery during the week.

References

External links

* * * * {{Authority control 1939 establishments in England 20th-century synagogues in the United Kingdom Ashkenazi Jewish culture in London Ashkenazi synagogues in the United Kingdom Belsize Park German-Jewish culture in the United Kingdom Jewish German history Jewish organizations established in 1939 Synagogues completed in 1951 Synagogues in London Unaffiliated synagogues