Radlett Reform Synagogue

Radlett, Hertsmere, Hertfordshire

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Town of Radlett

The town of Radlett is in the county of Hertfordshire, just to the north of the administrative boundary of Greater London. It is in the borough of Hertsmere, a local government district formed in 1974 and granted borough status in 1977

Radlett Jewish Community

Although Radlett already had a number of Jewish families by at least the 1960s, it was some time before organised Jewish congregations emerged. However, in the 1980s, one saw the relocation to Radlett (from Bushey) of a reform congregation (see below) and the beginnings of an orthodox congregation (see Radlett United Synagogue). These were joined in recent years with the establishment of Chabad Lubavitch of Radlett.

Congregation Data⁽ⁱ⁾
Name:	Radlett Reform Synagogue (Hebrew Name: Kehillah Kedoshah Mevakshei Emet)
Former Names:	Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue (about 1990 to 2014)⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾ Radlett, Bushey & District Reform Synagogue (1984 to about 1990)^(iv) Bushey & District Reform Jewish Community (about 1972 to 1984)^(v) Bushey Heath Reform Community (in 1971)^(vi)
Address:	118 Watling Street, Radlett, Herts. WD7 7AA, which is a converted redundant church, acquired in 1978.
Previous Addresses:	Until 1979, the congregation held services at members' homes and a number of hired venues in Bushey, including Bushey United Reform Church Hall, Bushey Heath Scout Hut and Bushey Hall School.
Current Status:	Active. In January 2026, members of the congregation approved plans to merge the congregation with the The Liberal Synagogue, Elstree to create one of the largest progressive Jewish communities in the United Kingdom. Initially, at least, both congregations are to retain separate premises, but will pool leadership and resources. It is envisaged that the merger will be formally completed by January 2027.^(vii)
Date Founded:	November 1971
Ritual:	Reform
Affiliation:	A constituent synagogue of the Movement for Reform Judaism (formerly the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain).
Website:	https://www.radlettreform.org.uk/
Ministers: (To view a short profile of a minister or cantor - hold the cursor over his or her name.)	Rabbi Colin Eimer (part time) - from 1974 until 1977^(viii) Rabbi Samuel Rodrigues-Pereira - from 1978 until about 1984^(ix) Rabbi Barbara Marcy Borts - from 1984 until about 1989^(x) Rabbi Alexandra Wright - from 1990 to 2003^(xi) Rabbi Paul Freedman - from 2004 to present (February 2026)^(xii)
Associate Rabbis:	Rabbi David Mitchell - from 2009 to 2011^(xiv) Rabbi Celia Surget - from October 2011 to May 2021^(xv) Rabbi David-Yehuda Stern - from July 2022 to present (February 2026)^(xvi)
Cantor:	Cantor Sarah Grabiner - from 2019 to 2022^(xvii)
Membership Data:	Congregation's website 1971 - 16 families 1974 - about 100 families 1984 - over 300 families 2017 - over 800 families 2020 - over 850 families National Reports & Surveys^(xx) 1977 - 99 male (or household) members and 11 female members 1983 - 135 male (or household) members and an estimated 135 female members 1990 - 235 members (households) 1996 - 352 members (households) 2010 - listed as having 500 to 749 members (by household) 2016 - listed as having 750 to 999 members (by household)
Legal & Charitable Status:	On 20 October 2014, Radlett Reform Synagogue was incorporated as a private company, limited by guarantee without share capital and with use of 'Limited' exemption (company number: 09271770).^(xxi) It is also a registered charity, its current registration dating from 25 March 2015 (registered charity number: 1161059). The governing documents are the Company's Memorandum & Articles Association.^(xxii) The congregation's previous registration as an unincorporated charity was from 27 August 1998 until 20 February 2018 (registered charity number: 1071255). The governing document was the Congregation's Laws adopted 14 March 1972, as subsequently amended.^(xxiii) On 31 December 2015, all the assets, liabilities and funds of this charity were transferred to the new entity, which commenced activities on 1 January 2016.^(xxiv)
Registration District:	Hertfordshire ^(xxv)- Register Office website.
Cemetery Information:	Membership includes burial rights through the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS) at the Western Cemetery, Cheshunt or cremation at Golders Green Crematorium.
Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above) (i) Unless otherwise stated, all congregational data is based upon information appearing in a History of the congregation on the congregation's website, last accessed 28 November 2018. ↵ (ii) Reserved. (iii) This was the congregation's name as listed in Jewish Year Books from 1991 through 2014. The present name was adopted at the 2014 AGM. ↵ (iv) This was the congregation's name as listed in Jewish Year Books from 1984 through 1990. It does not appear in the History on the congregation's website . ↵ (v) According to the History on the congregation website, this name (and congregation's Hebrew name) was adopted "soon" after its founding. It is also the name under which the congregation was listed in Jewish Year Books from 1977 (the first time the congregation was listed) through 1983. ↵ (vi) This was the name adopted at the initial meeting to form the congregation in November 1971, it being soon thereafter renamed. ↵ (vii) Jewish News report of 30 January 2026, entitled "Radlett and Elstree synagogues approve landmark merger". ↵ (viii) Rabbi' Eimer's "Who's Who" entries in Jewish Year Books (latest 2015). ↵ (ix) Rabbi Rodrigues-Pereira's year of appointment appears in "Our History" on the congregation's website. His date of leaving is based upon his last listing as minister of the congregation in the Jewish Year Book 1984. ↵ (x) Rabbi Barbara's year of appointment appears in the History on the congregation's website where it states that she served for five years. Her last listing as minister of the congregation was in the Jewish Year Book 1988. ↵ (xi) Rabbi Alexandra's profile on the website of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, St. John's Wood. ↵ (xii) Congregation's website, last accessed February 2026. In 2014, his title was changed to "Senior Rabbi. ↵ (xiii) Reserved. (xiv) Rabbi Mitchell's term of office appears in "Our History" on the congregation's website. ↵ (xv) Congregation's website, accessed 7 January 2020 and Jewish Chronicle report of 19 March 2021. ↵ (xvi) Congregation's website, accessed 22 June 2021. ↵ (xvii) Congregation's website, accessed 25 March 2021 and 22 June 2023. ↵ (xviii) and (xix) Reserved. (xx) Reports on synagogue membership in the United Kingdom, published by or on behalf of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and which can be viewed on the website of the Institute of Jewish Policy Research. Click HERE for links to the various reports. ↵ (xxi) Companies House website accessed February 2026. Clicking on the company number of this will take you to the registration on the Companies House website. ↵ (xxii) Charities Commission website, accessed February 2026. Clicking on the charity number of this will take you to the charity's registration on the Charities Commission website. ↵ (xxiii) Charities Commission's website (in beta trial stage) and Open Charities website, both accessed November 2018. ↵ (xxiv) Congregation's Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2016, filed with the Charities Commission. ↵ (xxv) The former Registration District was Watford, from the formation of Congregation until 1 April 2008. All registers would now be held by the current register office which is situated in Hatfield. ↵

On-line Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

Annual Reports filed with the Charities Commission and or Companies House (pdf):
- For period to 31 October 2015 (abbreviated);
- For period or year to 31 December 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Hertsmere Jewish Communities home page

List of Reform Judaism Congregations

Jewish Congregations in Hertfordshire

Jewish Congregations in Greater London and its Outskirts

List of Member Synagogues of the Jewish Joint Burial Society

Jewish Communities of England home page

Page created: 19 May 2006
Data significantly expanded: 29 January 2017; Notes first added: 27 November 2018
Page most recently amended: 10 February 2026

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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