The Liberal Synagogue Elstree

 
Congregation Data

The Liberal Synagogue Elstree ("TLSE")

Hebrew name: Ateret Zvi - "the Crown of Glory" (adopted 1993)⁽ⁱ⁾

Stanmore Liberal Jewish Congregation (until 1977)

Hertsmere Progressive Jewish Congregation (from about 1977 to about 1978)

Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue (from about 1978 to September 2004)

High Street, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3EY (from 1977)

Formerly Old St.Nicholas Church of England School, built 1882, the synagogue is a Grade II Listed Building (number 1346915), designated on 13 April 1974 (most recent amendment 12 August 1985). View description on Historic England website.

Active.
In January 2026, members of the congregation approved plans to merge the congregation with the Radlett Reform Synagogue 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.^(iv)

1969^(v)

Liberal Progressive

A constituent synagogue of Liberal Judaism (formerly the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues)

https://www.tlse.org.uk/

In 2024, the synagogue twinned with the Reform Synagogue of Shoham in central Israel, following the formal twinning between the town of Shoham with Elstree and Borehamwood in 2023.^(vi)

Rabbi Alan Mann - from about 1972 until about 1975^(vii)

Rabbi Dr. D. Goldstein - from about 1975 until about 1977^(viii)

Rabbi Thomas Salamon - from about 1980 until about 1988^(ix)

Rabbi J. Black - from about 1988 until about 2002^(x)

Rabbi Pete Tobias - from 2003 until 2020^(xi)

Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovich - from about 2021 until 2022^(xii)

Rabbi Cantor Gershon Silins - interim rabbi from December 2022, then permanent rabbi until present (February 2026)^(xiii)

Rabbi Anna Wolfson - director of Community Development from November 2024 until present (February 2026)^(xiv)

National Reports and Surveys^(xvii)

1977 - 65 male (or household) members and 5 female members

1983 - 135 male (or household) members and 17 female members

1990 - 220 members (households)

1996 - 228 members (households)

2010 & 2016 - listed as having 300 to 399 members (by household)

Congregation's Annual Reports (Number full adult members):^(xviii)

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

Hertfordshire^(xx) - Link to Register Office website

Notes & Sources (↵ returns to text above)

• (i) Congregation's website, accessed 2 September 2018. ↵

• (ii) The former names were confirmed by the congregation's website, accessed September 2018, and were listed, respectively, in following Jewish Year Books:
  (a) 1971 through 1977; (b) solely 1978; and (c) 1979 through 2015 (last edition). ↵

• (iii) Reserved.

• (iv) Jewish News report of 30 January 2026, entitled "Radlett and Elstree synagogues approve landmark merger". ↵

• (v) The Congregation's website. ↵

• (vi) Jewish News report 7 January 2025. ↵

• (vii) Based upon Rabbi Mann's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1973 through 1975. ↵

• (viii) Based upon Rabbi Dr. Goldstein's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1976 and 1977. There was no minister listed in the editions for 1978 through 1980. ↵

• (ix) Based upon Rabbi Salamon's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1981 through 1988. ↵

• (x) Based upon Rabbi Black's listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1989 through 2002. The edition for 2003 lists the minister as "Leo Baeck College Student". ↵

• (xi) Congregation's website, last accessed 3 January 2020. Rabbi Tobias was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 2004. ↵

• (xii) Jewish Chronicle reports of 19 February 2021 entitled "Nottingham rabbi takes on Elstree challenge" and 9 August 2022 entitled "Elstree rabbi to move to Edgware congregation - Currently at The Liberal Synagogue Elstree, Tanya Sakhnovich will join Edgware and Hendon Reform in November". ↵

• (xiii) Congregation's website, accessed May 2023 and February 2026. ↵

• (xiv) Congregation's website, accessed February 2026. ↵

• (xv) and (xvi) Reserved.

• (xvii) 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. ↵

• (xviii) Membership figures extracted from the congregation's annual reports for the years 2013 to 2017, available on the Charity Commissioners website. Figures stated exclude affiliate members, friends and children. ↵

• (xix) 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. ↵

• (xx) The former Registration Districts were Barnet (from the formation of Congregation until 1 April 1995); Elstree & Potters Bar (1 April 1995 until 1 March 1996) and Watford (1 March 1996 until 1 April 2008). All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵