Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue

Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue, a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism, is a Reform Judaism congregation at 118 Stonegrove, Edgware in the London Borough of Barnet. It originated in 1934^[1] as "Edgware and District Progressive Jewish Fellowship" and in February 1935 became “Edgware and District Reform Synagogue”.^[2] Since 2017 it has incorporated the former Hendon Reform Synagogue.^[3] It is now the largest synagogue in Europe; its membership includes 2500 families.

The senior rabbis are Danny Smith,^[4] previously rabbi at Wimbledon and District Synagogue,^[5] and Steven Katz.

A temporary committee was formed and the next three months saw a furious rate of activity. Committee meetings were held every few days, a variety of problems being addressed. At an early stage it was agreed that the new body would be called “Edgware and District Progressive Jewish Fellowship”. At that time the only Reform congregations in London were the West London Synagogue in Upper Berkeley Street and the North Western Reform Synagogue in Golders Green. The West London Synagogue and its minister, Rabbi Reinhart, had been very helpful in advising the Edgware committee about setting up an independent synagogue, and in December 1934 Rabbi Reinhart had addressed. a public meeting in Edgware on “The Problems of Judaism Today”. In January 1935 the West London Synagogue offered practical help by way of taking the Edgware children into its religion classes, without charge, provided that the children could be delivered and collected. Matters approached a climax during the first week of February 1935. Discussions had been held with officials at West London Synagogue on the practices of Reform, and the new body in Edgware decided to become a part of the Reform movement.

On February 12th 1935 it was formally decided to form a synagogue to be called “Edgware and District Reform Synagogue”

The congregation soon outgrew the original building and so after a further programme for fundraising, construction of the annexe which became the synagogue [as known today] begain 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 magnificant windows depicting both Judicia and biblical scenes together with the marble walls surrounding the hand made Ark provides the warm and serene backdrop of the synagogue. 

A consecration service took place on 14 January 1968 attended by 500 people. 

See also

• List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
• List of synagogues in the United Kingdom
• Movement for Reform Judaism

References

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 51°37′08″N 0°17′19″W / 51.6189°N 0.2887°W / 51.6189; -0.2887