Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue is a

Reform Jewish Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its ethical aspects to its ceremonial ones, and belief in a continuous rev ...

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 at 118 Stonegrove,

Edgware Edgware () is a suburban town in northwest London. It was an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex east of the ancient Watling Street in what is now the London Borough of Barnet but it is now informally considered to cover a wider area, inc ...

, in the Borough of Barnet, London, England, in the United Kingdom. The congregation is a member of the

Movement for Reform Judaism Reform Judaism, formally the Movement for Reform Judaism (MRJ) and known as Reform Synagogues of Great Britain until 2005, is one of the two World Union for Progressive Judaism–affiliated denominations in the United Kingdom. Reform is relat ...

and was formed in 2017 as a result of the merger between the Edgware and District Reform Synagogue and the Hendon Reform Synagogue communities. The merged community is located on the site of the former Edgware and District Reform Synagogue. In 2019 Mark Goldsmith became senior

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

History

Edgware and District Reform Synagogue

Edgware and District Reform Synagogue originated as "Edgware and District Progressive Jewish Fellowship" and in February 1935 became "Edgware and District Reform Synagogue". In late 1934, a temporary committee was formed to discuss the establishment of a new Reform congregation in London and in on 12 February 1935 it was formally decided to form a synagogue to be called "Edgware and District Reform Synagogue".

Hendon Reform Synagogue

Hendon Reform Synagogue was founded in 1949 and its first building, in 1955, was at 1 Danescroft Avenue,

Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the London Borough of Barnet, northwest London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient Manorialism, manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has ...

. 1 Danescroft Avenue The congregation of Hendon Reform Synagogue began to meet in 1949, though meetings were held in the homes of the founder members until the first synagogue, now the Kingsley Fisher Hall amed after founders Sidney Kingsley and Ben Fisher was built several years later. Services were held in the Methodist Meeting Hall in the Burroughs and as the congregation grew, in other local halls whilst they dreamt of having their own building. In 1950 a disused tennis club became available and was purchased for the sum of £2,600 with funds raised from donations and social events, and at last HRS had a plot on which to place a building. Work was completed in 1955 and a consecration service for the new synagogue building was held on 6 March by the late Rabbi Dr Arthur Katz who had been Minister from the "dream's" beginning. The congregation soon outgrew the original building and so after a further programme for fundraising, construction of the annexe which became the synagogue began in 1965. Two inspiring walls of stained glass windows were commissioned and then offered to congregants to donate in memory of their late loved ones. These magnificent windows depicting both Judaica and biblical scenes together with the marble walls surrounding the handmade ark provides the warm and serene backdrop of the synagogue. A consecration service, attended by 500 people, took place on 14 January 1968. Up until its merger, the congregation's senior rabbi was Steven Katz, who succeeded his father, Arthur Katz. The synagogue building was closed after its 2017 merger.

The merger

In 2016, after a series of meetings in both HRS and EDRS, members overwhelmingly voted to merge. A new entity, Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue, was formed on EDRS's former ground, and the inaugural service on Saturday (Shabbat) 15 July 2017 was attended by a huge congregation and also by civic leaders of the local community. The new community is named Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue in English and ''LeDor Vador'' in Hebrew (the latter also being the name of its monthly magazine).

Notable members

* Sam Little, a professional golfer

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Edgware and District Reform Synagogue 2017 establishments in England 20th-century synagogues in the United Kingdom Edgware Hendon Jewish organizations established in 2017 Reform synagogues in the United Kingdom Synagogues completed in the 1950s Synagogues in the London Borough of Barnet