JCR-UK

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Masorti Judaism
(formerly the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues)

Masorti Judaism is an umbrella body for all Masorti (Conservative) congregations in the United Kingdom. Masorti is the newest of the various Synagogue movements in Britain and its total membership, though low, constituting only 3.3% of synagogue membership in the United Kingdom in 2016, had more than doubled over the previous six years.⁽¹⁾

Basic Data
Name:	Masorti Judaism
Former Name:	Assembly of Masorti Synagogues (until 20 September 2012)
Head Office:	Alexander House, 3 Shakespeare Road, London W3 1XE.
Date Founded:	1985.
Ritual:	Masorti / Conservative Judaism
Affiliation:	Masort Olami (The World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues)
Website:	http://www.masorti.org.uk
Burial Society:	Jewish Joint Burial Board of 1 Victory Road, Wanstead E11 1UL (serving Masorti, Reform, Liberal and Independent Communities in England), established 1968
Legal & Charitable Status:	On 28 July 2006, 'The Assembly of Masorti Synagogues" was incorporated as a registered company (company no: 05890261), a private company limited by guarantee without a share capital (and with an exemption from use of the word 'Limited'). It had previously been a charitable trust. On 20 September 2012, it changed its name to 'Masorti Judaism'. It is also a registered charity (No: 1117590), registered on 16 January 2007

History

The Masorti movement in Britain was founded by Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs in the mid 1960s. Rabbi Jacobs had been minister of the New West End Synagogue, a United Synagogue congregation. However, as a result of a controversy (that became known as the Jacobs Affair), Rabbi Jacobs was denied the opportunity to continue as minister of the New West End Synagogue. This caused a number of members to defect from the New West End in 1964 and to establish the New London Synagogue in London's St. John's Wood, at which Rabbi Jacobs was installed as rabbi and minister. Rabbi Jacobs was made a CBE in 1990. The New London Synagogue became the "parent" synagogue of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues, formed in 1985, which changed its name in 2012 to Masorti Judaism.

Congregations

There are currently 13 active Masorti communities:⁽²⁾

Constituent Synagogues (existing):

Edgware Masorti Synagogue*
Elstree & Borehamwood Masorti Community*
Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue* - Edgware
Mosaic Masorti Synagogue* (Hatch End Masorti Synagogue)
New Essex Masorti Synagogue* (formerly Buckhurst Hill Masorti Synagogue)
New London Synagogue* - St John's Wood
New North London Synagogue* - Finchley
New Stoke Newington Shul* (including former Haringey / Stoke Newington Masorti Group)
New Whetstone Synagogue*
St Albans Masorti Synagogue*

Associate Members (existing):

Associate Members (defunct):

Bournemouth Masorti Community
Masorti Jews in Bristol (later Bristol Jewish Community)
Glasgow Masorti Synagogue - Glasgow
Hendon Masorti Minyan
South-West London Masorti Synagogue

*A congregation that is still active.

Bibliography, On-line Articles and Other Material relating to the Masorti Movement

Annual Reports & Accounts filed with Companies House and/or the Charities Commission (pdf)⁽³⁾
- For period 28 July 2006 to 31 January 2007;
- For period or years ended 30 April 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012;
- For period or years ended 31 August 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Selective Bibliography:
- The Synagogues of London. Paul Lindsay, 1993 (Valentine Mitchell, London)

Cemeteries of Masorti Judaism in the Greater London Area

Generally, burials are carried at the following cemetery through the Western Burial Society (at the Cheshunt Western Cemetery) or the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS), which primarily serves Reform congregations, but also 7 Masorti congregations, as well as several Liberal congregations and certain Independent congregations in Southeast England.

Bulls Cross Ride Cemeteries (active), Cheshunt, Herts. EN7 5HT
The "Western Cemetery" at Bulls Cross Ride had originally been the cemetery of the Western (now Western Marble Arch) Synagogue, as well as the independent West End Great Synagogue. This together the newer Woodland Cemetery, is now also the principal cemetery of JJBS. (For additional information, see IAJGS Cemetery Project - Cheshunt)

In addition, many municipal cemeteries throughout Britain have sections
reserved for non-Orthdox Jewish burials.

References and Notes (↵ returns to main text)

"Jewish News", Issue No. 1010, 6 July 2017, pp. 1, 4, quoting report by Board of Deputies Policy Reseach, carried out between April and September 2016. ↵

Masorti Judaism website, accessed 2 July 2017. ↵

From the websites of Companies House and the Charities Commission. ↵

Synagogal Organisation in the United Kingdom

London Jewish Community home page

Page created: 27 June 2017
Page most recently amended: 20 November 2023

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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Masorti Judaism(formerly the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues)

Masorti Judaism
(formerly the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues)