Saatchi Synagogue

Name:

The Saatchi Synagogue
generally known as the Saatchi Shul

Current Address:

Since 2006, the congregation has met in the Beth Hamedrash of the St John's Wood Synagogue, 37/41 Grove End Road, St John's Wood, London NW8 9NG and its administrative office is now with St John's Wood Synagogue.⁽ⁱⁱ⁾

Previous  Address:

Until 2006, the congregation met at 21 Andover Place, Maida Vale, London NW6 5ED, in part of the building that once formed the Bayswater Synagogue.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾

Date Formed:

The congregation was formed in 1998, by Charles Saatchi and Maurice Saatchi, aimed at young and disaffected Jews who may have been turned off by tradition.^(iv)

Current Status:

Active. However, in 2018, the congregation and St John's Wood Synagogue announced plans to merge the two congregations, with each congregation maintaining its distinctive services. Under the unity plans, the congregation's rabbi and rebbetzen became part of St John's Wood Synagogue rabbinic team.^(v)

Ritual:

"Modern" Ashkenazi Orthodox. The congregation described itself as a non-conventional community, whose services and events attract an international crowd of singles, young couples and families of all backgrounds who are seeking a relaxed yet engaging environment, which is informal and inclusive.

Affiliation:

Although the congregation was independent, under the merger plans with St. John's Wood Synagogue (a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue) Saatchi congregants were invited to become full United Synagogue members with a transition period of at least two years.^(viii)

Websites:

https://www.saatchishul.org and https://www.shulinthewood.com

Rabbis: (To view a short profile of a rabbi - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rabbi Pinchas Eliezer "Pini" Dunner - from 1998 until 2004.^(ix)

Rabbi Hillel Simon - from 2005 until about 2006.^(x)

Rabbi Mendel Cohen - from 2010 until present (November 2025).^(xi)

Membership Data:

National Reports & Surveys^(xiv)

2010 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

2016 - listed as having 100 to 199 members (by household)

Legal and Charitable Status:

The congregation, under the name The London Carlbach Shul Trust, was incorporated on 9 January 2003 as a registered (non-profit) company (company no. 04632485), a private company limited by guarantee without a share capital.^(xv)

The congregation, under the same name, is also a registered charity (registered charity no. 1098107), registered on 19 June 2003.^(xvi)

Local Government Districts:

St John's Wood and Bayswater, districts to the north of central London, are in the City of Westminster, a London Borough with city status created on 1 April 1965, within the administrative area of Greater London.^(xvii)

Previously, St John's Wood was in the former Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone and Bayswater was in the former Metropolitan Borough of Paddington (both incorporated as boroughs in 1900) in the former County of London. Prior to 1900, both were in the former County of Middlesex.

Registration District (BMD):

Westminster from 1 January 1978 - Link to Register Office website

Among the records deposited with the Register Office are the Marriage Registers of the congregation (first entry 1 December 1998), other than register currently in use.