Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community

 
Congregation Data

Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community (EBMC)

Services and meetings were held at The Cannon, Thirsk Rd, Borehamwood WD6 5AY, Hertfordshire (from October 2018).⁽ⁱ⁾

From at least 2013 until 2018, the congregation generally held Sabbath and Festival morning services in the Borehamwood and Elstree Children's Centre (BECC), Shakespeare Drive, off Furzehill Road, Borehamwood, WD6 2FD. Friday evening services are generally held at Allum Hall, 2 Allum Lane, Elstree, WD6 3PJ.⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Previously services were held in private homes.

In October 2021, the congregation approved a merger with Edgware Masorti Synagogue, which became effective in December 2021, the merged congregation adopting the name South Herts and Edgware Masorti (SHEMA).⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

2006^(iv)

Masorti / Conservative

The congregation was a constituent synagogue of Masorti Judaism (known as the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues until 2012), having previously been an associate member until 2012 or 2013.^(v)

Rabbi Oliver Joseph (part-time) - from 2015 until 2018^(vi)

Rabbi Danny Newman - from late January 2019 until the December 2021 merger, when he became rabbi of the merged congregation^(vii)

National Reports & Surveys^(viii)

2016 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

Annual Reports of Masorti Judaism^(ix) - number of members as of 1 January:

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
40	40	60	75	100	102	93	99

2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
103	113	126	134	138	161	160

The Borough of Hertsmere, in the county of Hertfordshire, formed in 1974. For details and history, see Hertsmere Jewish Communities home page.

Hertfordshire^(xii) - Link to Register Office website

Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above)

• (i) Congregation's website, accessed 5 December 2018. ↵

• (ii) Congregation's website, accessed 18 May 2018 and Jewish Year Books 2014 and 2015. ↵

• (iii) Jewish Chronicle press report of 5 October 2021, entitled "Elstree and Edgware Masorti congregations vote to merge" The congregations already share a rabbi. Jewish Chronicle press report of 4 March 2022 entitled "Shema says it all for merged Borehamwood and Edgware congregation". ↵

• (iv) Press Report, Borehamwood & Elstree Times, 16 November 2016, entitled "Elstree and Borehamwood Masorti Synagogue welcomes new Rabbi Oliver Joseph". ↵

• (v) From its first appearance in Jewish Year Books in 2009, the congregation was listed under the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues (AMS). Until AMS's annual report for the year ended 30 April 2012, it was described as an associate member, but with effect from the report for the next year (for the period 1 May 2012 to 31 August 2013), it was described as a constituent synagogue (see note (ix) below). ↵

• (vi) Press Report in Note (ii). ↵

• (vii) Based on an announcement dated 31 October 2018 by the congregation entitled "Introducing Rabbi Danny Newman" relating to Rabbi Newman's appointment and to reports on the congregation's former website, accessed 7 October 2021. ↵

• (viii) 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. The congregation does not appear to be listed in the 2010 report. Click HERE for links to the various reports. Link to reports. ↵

• (ix) See links to Masorti Judaism's annual reports. These figures appear higher than the figures for the above reports and presumably include more than one member per household. ↵

• (x) Companies House website accessed January 2025. Clicking on the company number of this will take you to the former registration on the Companies House website. ↵

• (xi) Charities Commission website, accessed January 2025. Clicking on the charity number of this will take you to the charity's former registration on the Charities Commission website. ↵

• (xii) The former Registration District was Watford, until 1 April 2008. Any registers would now be held by current register office, which is situated in Hatfield. ↵