JCR-UK

Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue

London N2

 

 

 

  
 

 
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Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue
"Photo: Hampstead Garden Suburb United Synagogue"
© Martin Addison, via Wikimedia Commons, used under CC BY-SA 2.0.


Congregation Data

Name:

Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue(ii)

affectionately referred to as Norrice Lea synagogue.

Earlier Names:

The congregation was known as Hampstead Garden Suburb District Synagogue from 1937 and 1939.(iii)

In addition, upon its formation until June 1935, it was known as the Hampstead Garden Suburb Hebrew Congregation.(iv)

 Address:

Norrice Lea, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London N2 0RE.(v)

The lease for the Norrice Lea site was acquired in 1934 and the United Synagogue ultimately agreed to advance a loan of £1,800 for the construction of the synagogue, at a total cost of £2,700. The first synagogue, designed by architect Maurice DeMetz, was a modest building consisting of a small one-room structure.(viii) The foundation stone was laid in June 1935 by Sir Robert Waley Cohen at a service officiated by Dayan H. M. Lazarus, assisted by Rev. S. Blachman and Rev. Isaac Livingstone(ix) and the synagogue was officially opened on 22 September 1935.(x) 

The building was extended in 1937, four classrooms being added, which, by removal of folding partitions, would serve also for communal gatherings and form part of the main building on special occasions.(xi) On 1 September 1937, the synagogue was reconsecrated by the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz, assisted by Rev. I. Levy and Rev. Mayerowitsch, and opened by Mr. Oscar Deutsch.(xii)

By 1939, the synagogue was already far too small for the growing congregation, and it was decided to construct a new synagogue on the vacant land adjoining the existing premises. This would leave the existing building free for use as classrooms, communal hall and for overflow services. The new single storey synagogue would be able to seat over 500 congregants and be constructed so as to permit the addition of a ladies' gallery at a later date. It was estimated that the cost would be £6,300, of which the congregation would provide £1,440 and the balance would come from the United Synagogue by way of a loan.(xiii) The new works were completed by November 1939 and synagogue was consecrated on 23 December 1939, at which Rev. Harry Bornstein and Rev. G. Boyars officiated.(xiv)

On 22 September 1940 the synagogue's communal hall and classrooms were severely damaged in a German air raid, which, fortunately, only mildly affected the synagogue itself, with a large number of tiles being dislodged from the roof.(xvii)

In 1953 work commenced on the extension and rebuilding of the synagogue to incorporate a ladies' gallery, the new synagogue being consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Dr Israel Brodie on 16 February 1958 with Dayan Lew performing the opening ceremony.(xviii)

In 1961 additional work commenced, this time on the rebuilding of the communal hall, doubling its size with classrooms above. The foundation stone was laid on 17 September 1961 and the premises were consecrated on 31 March 1963, the hall being named the Max Weinbaum Hall.(xix)

Finally, in 2002 there was a minor extension to the synagogue.(xx)

Formation and Earlier Address:

By the early 1930s the number of Jewish families in Hampstead Garden Suburb, which had been founded only a quarter of a century earlier and was going through a period of expansion, was significantly increasing.This created the need for a synagogue and communal centre.

The needs were initially met in 1932 by provision of a space by the Institute at Central Square which enabled a small Sabbath services to take place there.(xxi) Subsequently regular Sabbath services were held in a room at the Henrietta Barnett School, part of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute.(xxiv)

Meanwhile the congregation was searching for a site for a permanent synagogue and raising funds for its acquisition and construction, although there was some pressure from the United Synagogue for the new congregation to amalgamate with one of the neighbouring synagogues.(xxv)

Initially the congregation wished to lease land between Church Mount and Winnington Road, but this was denied to them on the grounds that land there had been designated for a church, and it was deemed inappropriate to erect a synagogue there as well. Ultimately a plot was found at the northern end of Norrice Lea backing onto the Lyttleton Playing Fields.(xxvi)

Current Status:

Active

Ritual:

Ashkenazi Orthodox (although there are also Sephardi services at the Synagogue - see below).

Affiliation:

In 1934, the congregation became affiliated to the United Synagogue, which had approved the affiliation on 12 February 1934, but it was not until 8 October 1934, that the congregation executed the affiliation documents, as it was reluctant to sign before it was satisfied that the United Synagogue would agree to the acquisition of the Norrice Lea premises.(xxvii) The congregation subsequently became a district synagogue in 1937 and a constituent synagogue in 1939.(xxviii)

Website:

https://hgss.org.uk

Senior Ministers:
(To view a short profile of a minister or cantor - hold the cursor over his name.)

Rev. Isaac Levy - minister, reader, secretary and headmaster, from May 1936 until 1938.(xxxii)

Rev. Harry Bornstein - minister and secretary from 1938 until 1941.(xxxiii)

Rabbi Dr. Israel Weinstock - temporary minister from 1941 until December 1945.(xxxiv)

Rev. (later Dayan Dr.) Myer Lew - minister from 1946 until 1969.(xxxv)

Rabbi Isaac Joel Bernstein - minister from 1970 until 1977.(xxxvi)

Rabbi Edward Leo Jackson - minister from 1980 until 1998.(xxxix)

Rabbi Reuben Livingstone - minister from 1999 until 2010.(xl)

Rabbi Dov Kaplan and Rebbetzen Freda Kaplan - senior rabbinic couple from 2011 until 2018.(xli)

Rabbi Dr. Daniel Friedman and Rebbetzen Batya Friedman - senior rabbinic couple from 2018 until 2021.(xlii)

Rabbi Marc Doron Levene and Rebbetzen Lisa Levene - senior rabbinic couple from 2022 until present (September 2026),(xliii) (previously associate rabbinic couple 2012-2017 - see below).

Assistant Ministers:

Rev. Sidney Benzion Leperer - assistant minister from 1954 until 1956.(xlvii)

Rev. Sidney Silberg - assistant minister from 1957 until about 1962.(xlviii)

Rev. Jeffrey M. Cohen (primary term) - assistant minister from 1963 until 1967.(xlix)

Rev. (later Rabbi) Michael Newman - assistant minister from, possibly, about 1970, until 1972.(l)

Rabbi Alan Plancey - youth minister from 1970 until 1976.(li)

Rabbi Stephen Gaffin - youth/community director from about 2002 until about 2004.(liv)

Rabbi S. Sacks - community director in about 2005.(lv)

Rev. Jeffrey M. Cohen (secondary term) - consultant rabbi in 2010/11.(lvi)

Rabbi Marc Doron Levene and Rebbetzen Lisa Levene - associate rabbinic couple from 2012 until 2017,(lvii) (subsequently senior rabbinic couple from 2022 - see above).

Rabbi Ephraim Guttentag and Rebbetzen Malki Guttentag - community rabbinic couple from 2018 until 2021.(lviii)

Rabbi Luis Herszaft and Rebbetzen Jodie Herszaft - community rabbinic couple from 2022 until present (September 2026).(lix)

Cantors (Chazanim) / Readers:

Isaac Cohen - reader from 1932 until 1936.(lxiii)

Rev. Emil Nemeth - temporary reader and assisting minister from 1938 until 1939.(lxiv)

Rev. Moshe Pearlman - reader from 1940 until 1941.(lxv)

Rev. Nahum Wilkomirski - reader from 1941 until 1944.(lxvi)

Rev. Shlomo Shine - reader from 1944 until 1947.(lxvii)

Rev. Emanuel Meyer Freilich - reader from 1947 until 1984.(lxx)

Cantor Raphael Frieder - reader from 1984 until 1990.(lxxi)

Rev. Avromi Freilich - reader from 1994 until present (September 2026).(lxxii)

Sephardi Congregation:

The Hampstead Garden Suburb Sephardi Minyan was established in 1999 and initially held services in private homes. It subsequently moved to the synagogue in Norrice Lea, where it holds Shabbat services (in the Sephardi Yerushalmi tradition) in the Landy Gallery.(lxxvi) Rabbi Jonathan Tawil was the rabbi to the Minyan from its early years until at least 2015.(lxxvii)

Lay Officers:

All data on lay officers has been extracted from listings in Jewish Year Books, although in a number of instances the given name of an officer has come from other sources.(lxxix)

President

1935-1937 - Dr. Sydney Black

 

Wardens

1935-1936 - M. Cohen

1936-1937 - Barnet Birk

1937-1940 - Maurice Tanchan & Barnet Birk

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1946 - M. Weinbaum & J. Mazin

1946-1949 - J. Mazin & A. Weingarten

1949-1950 - L.L. Franks & M.W. Sefton

1950-1952 - M.W. Sefton & L. Rabinowicz

1952-1956 - A. Fishman & M. Fulder

from 1956 - no data

 

Chairman

1990-1994 - Dr. S. Arnon

Treasurers

1935-1937 - Maurice Tanchan

1937-1938 - Ellis Josephs

Financial Representatives

1938-1940 - Ellis Josephs

1940-1945 - no data

1945-1947 - J.S. Cohen

1947-1956 - H. Landy

from 1956 - no data

 

Secretaries & Hon Secretaries

1935-1936 - Ellis Josephs

1936-1941 - the Minister

1941-1945 - no data

1945-1946 - Capt. L.L. Franks

1946-1952 - H. Ginsberg

1952-1973 - H. Ginsbury

1973-1988 - G. Cohen

1988-1992 - Mrs M. Wolff

Membership Data:

Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum(lxxx)

1934

1935

1936

1937

33

70

81

140

United Synagogue (male seat-holders)(lxxxi)

1937

1950

1960

1970

199

652

791

821

National Reports & Surveys(lxxxii)

1977 - 822 male (or household) members and 227 female members

1983 - 765 male (or household) members and 283 female members

1990 - 1,067 members (comprising 1,042 households, 11 individual male and 14 individual female members)

1996 - 673 members (comprising 600 households, 40 individual male and 33 individual female members)

2010 and 2016 - listed as having 1,000 to 1,499 members (by household)

Charitable Status:

As a constituent of the United Synagogue, the congregation operates within that organisation's registered charity status (registered charity no. 242552).(lxxxv)

Local Government Districts:

Hampstead Garden Suburb, an affluent suburb in north/northwest London, is in the London Borough of Barnet (created on 1 April 1965), within the administrative area of Greater London.(lxxxvi) (Not to be confused with Hampstead itself, which is in the London Borough of Camden.)

Until 1965, Hampstead Garden Suburb was split between two local authorities. The eastern part (which included Norrice Lea where the synagogue is situated) was in the Municipal Borough of Finchley (incorporated as a borough in 1933 and was previously an urban district from 1894), whereas the western part was in the Municipal Borough of Hendon.

Registration District (BMD):

Barnet from 1 April 1999(lxxxvii) Link to Register Office website

Worship Registration:

The synagogue in Norrice Lea is registered as a Place of Worship - Worship Register Number 56188 - under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.(lxxxviii)

Cemetery
Information:

For United Synagogue cemeteries, see Cemeteries of the United Synagogue.

 

Bibliography, Online Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

on JCR-UK

on Third Party Websites

 

Other Organisations & Institutions
connected to this congregation

Educational

  • Hebrew & Religious Classes - founded in 1932/3.(c) In 2011, this was relaunched as the Aleph Learning Centre (ALC).(ci)

  • Kerem School - an independent Jewish primary school, founded in 1948 by Stanley Frankfurt, and housed directly on the Synagogue complex. The institution originally opened as the Hampstead Garden Suburb Jewish Kindergarten, catering to children aged 3 to 7. In 1955, the primary school division was officially extended to offer full primary education for boys and girls up to the age of 11. The kindergarten was subsequently renamed Kerem House and later the Kerem Early Years Unit (EYU), and this now operates from 18 Kingsley Way.(cii)

Other Selected Institutions

  • Ladies Guild - formed in about 1934.(ciii)

  • The congregation's Social Committee, established in 1934 alongside the building and finance groups. It oversaw communal events, dramatic productions by the pupils, and organized the Jewish Social Club by 1935.(civ)

  • Care Committee for Refugee Children. Formed in the late 1930s in cooperation with the Central British Fund and the Inte-Aid Committee to coordinate local housing, sponsorship, and welfare for European Jewish children fleeing Nazi persecution. In 1941, 42 children were being fully maintained by the Committee out of a total of 180 rescued from Germany through its agency.(cv)

 

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

  • (i) Reserved.

  • (ii) This is the name listed in Jewish Year Books until 1937 and from 1940 and is the name given on the congregation's website. ↵

  • (iii) The name listed in Jewish Year Books 1938 and 1939. ↵

  • (iv) Synagogue Early Years ("Early Years") on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website. ↵

  • (v) This was the address listed in all editions of Jewish Year Books and is the address given on the congregation's website, last accessed September 2026. ↵

  • (vi) and (vii) Reserved.

  • (viii) Early Years. To view a description of the Jewish architectural works by Maurice DeMetz, hold your cursor over his name. ↵

  • (ix) Jewish Chronicle of 28 June 1935, p.37. ↵

  • (x) Early Years. ↵

  • (xi) Early Years. ↵

  • (xii) Michael Jolles's Encyclopaedia of British Jewish Cantors, Chazanim, etc., 2024 ("Jolles's Encyclopaedia"), p.545. ↵

  • (xiii) Early Years. ↵

  • (xiv) Jolles's Encyclopaedia, p.545. ↵

  • (xv) and (xvi) Reserved.

  • (xvii) The War and Immediate Post-War Period ("War Years") on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website. ↵

  • (xviii) Post 1950 Period ("Post 1950 Period") on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website (The Synagogue home page on the Museum website has confused the date of this extenson with the rebuilding of the communal hall, which took place in the 1960s.) ↵

  • (xix) Post 1950 Period. (The Synagogue home page on the Museum website inaccurately gives 1958 as the date of this rebuilding, which was when the extension of the synagogue was completed.) ↵

  • (xx) Synagogue home page on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website. ↵

  • (xxi) Synagogue home page on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website. ↵

  • (xxii) and (xxiii)

  • (xxiv) Early Years. ↵

  • (xxv) Early Years. ↵

  • (xxvi) Synagogue home page on Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum website. ↵

  • (xxvii) Early Years and listing in Jewish Year Books (which listed the congregation as an affiliated synagogue in the editions 1936 and 1937. ↵

  • (xxviii) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), which omitted to make reference to the congregation having previously been an affiliated synagogue. ↵

  • (xxix) to (xxxi) Reserved.

  • (xxxii) Rev. I. Levy, BA was listed as minister and secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1939 and 1940 (thereafter publication was suspended until 1945/6.). Term of office confirmed in Early Years. ↵

  • (xxxiii) Rev. Bornstein's appointment is confirmed in Early Years and his death on active service, while still formally minister of the congregation, is confirmed in War Years. Rev. H. Bornstein was listed as minister and secretary of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1937 and 1938. ↵

  • (xxxiv) Rabbi Weinstock's appointment and resignation are confirmed in War Years. Rabbi Dr. I. Weinstock was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1945/6 and 1947. ↵

  • (xxxv) Rabbi (then Rev.) Lew's appointment in 1947 is confirmed in War Years and his departure in 1969 is confirmed in Post 1950 Period. He is listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books as Rev. Dr. Myer Lew (1947 through 1959); as Rabbi Dr. Myer Lew (1950 through 1953); and as Dayan Dr. Myer Lew (1954 through 1969). ↵

  • (xxxvo) Rabbi I.J. Bernstein was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1971 and 1977. ↵

  • (xxxvii) and (xxxviii) Reserved.

  • (xxxix) Rabbi E. Jackson was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1981 through 1998. ↵

  • (xl) Rabbi E. Livingstone was listed as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1999 through 2010, which would normally have indicated a starting date of 1998. However, the Jewish Chronicle of 12 March 1999 reported that the Ilford Federation Synagogue had lost Rabbi Reuben Livingstone to Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue the previous month. ↵

  • (xli) Jewish Chronicle report of 24 February 2011 and online research. ↵

  • (xlii) Jewish Chronicle report of 29 July 2021. ↵

  • (xliii) Congregation's website, accessed September 2026. ↵

  • (xliv) to (xlvi) Reserved.

  • (xlvii) Rev. S.B. Leperer was listed as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1955 and 1956. ↵

  • (xlviii) Rev. S. Silberg was listed as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1958 to 1962. ↵

  • (xlix) Rabbi Dr. Jefferey Cohen's website, accessed September 2026. Rev. J. Cohen, BA was listed as assistant minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1965 to 1968. ↵

  • (l) Jewish Chronicle on 10 November 1972 reported that Rabbi Michael Newman from Hampstead Garden Suburb had been appointed minister to the Luton Synagogue. He is not listed in Jewish Year Books with regard to the congregation. ↵

  • (li) The Jewish Chronicle reported on 6 February 1970 about a farewell reception held for Rabbi and Mrs. Plancey at the Luton Synagogue Hall, presumably to take up this appointment. On 24 September 1976 it reported: "Rabbi Alan Plancey, formerly youth minister at Hampstead Garden Suburb, takes up his duties on Rosh Hashana as the new minister of the Elstree and Boreham Wood Synagogue." Rabbi Dr. Jefferey Cohen's website, accessed September 2026. Rev. A. Plancey was listed as youth minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1972 to 1977. ↵

  • (lii) and (liii) Reserved.

  • (liv) Based upon the listing of Rabbi S. Gaffin as the congregation's youth director in the Jewish Year Book 2003 and as the congregation's community director in the 2004 edition. ↵

  • (lv) Based upon the listing of Rabbi S. Sacks as the congregation's community director in the Jewish Year Book 2006. ↵

  • (lvi) Rabbi Dr. Jefferey Cohen's website, accessed September 2026. ↵

  • (lvii) The Jewish News report of 21 December 2021, refers to the Levenes' earlier term at the congregation. Rabbi M. Levene is listed as the congregation's associate minister only in the last Jewish Year Book (2015). ↵

  • (lviii) Appointment reported by Jewish Small Communities Network on 3 August 2018. The Jewish Chronicle of 7 May 2021 reported the Guttentags' departure. ↵

  • (lix) Congregation's website, last accessed September 2026. ↵

  • (lx) to (lxii) Reserved.

  • (lxiii) Early Years. ↵

  • (lxiv) in Early Years it states that in 1938 Rev. Nemeth "was engaged as Temporary Assistant Minister (Reader) and Teacher' at a salary of £182 per year." ↵

  • (lxv) Jolles's Encyclopaedia of Chazanim, p.545. ↵

  • (lxvi) Jolles's Encyclopaedia of Chazanim, p.545. ↵

  • (lxvii) Jolles's Encyclopaedia of Chazanim, p.545. Rev. S. Shine was listed a reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1945/6 through 1948. ↵

  • (lxviii) and (lxix) Reserved.

  • (lxx) Rev. E. Freilich was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1988 through 1985. ↵

  • (lxxi) Cantor Frieder's Facebook page. Cantor Frieder was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books 1949 through 1990. ↵

  • (lxxii) The congregation's website, last accessed September 2026. Cantor A. Freilich was listed as reader of the congregation in Jewish Year Books from 1995 until the last edition (2015). ↵

  • (lxxiii) to (lxxv) Reserved.

  • (lxxvi) The congregation's website, last accessed September 2026. ↵

  • (lxxvii) Online research. Rabbi Tawil was still listed as rabbi of the Sephardi Minyan, on the HGSS's websitem when accessed in 2015. ↵

  • (lxxviii) Reserved.

  • (lxxix) Where a person is first listed in a year book as holding a particular office, it has been assumed that his term of office commenced in the year of publication of the relevant year book (which was generally towards the end of the year prior to the year appearing in the title of the year book) and that he continued in office until the commencement of office of his successor, unless the office was vacant (e.g. if he is listed in Jewish Year Books 1936 through 1938, it is assumed that he commenced office in 1935 and continued in office until 1938). However, it should be noted that this is only an assumption and accordingly his actual years of office may differ slightly from those shown here. Jewish Year Books were not published during WWII subsequent to 1940. There were no Jewish Year Book listings of officers (other than secretary) subsequent to 1956. ↵

  • (lxxx) Synagogue home page on the website. Figures extracted from the Synagogue Early Years ("Early Years") article. ↵

  • (lxxxi) The United Synagogue 1870-1970 by Aubrey Newman (1977), pages 218/9. ↵

  • (xlxxxii) 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. ↵

  • (lxxxiii) and (lxxxiv) Reserved.

  • (lxxxv) Clicking on the charity number of this will take you to the United Synagogue's registration on the Charity Commission website. ↵

  • (lxxxvi) The London Borough of Barnet, an Outer London Borough within the Greater London administrative area, was created on 1 April 1965 upon the merger of the the Municipal Boroughs of Hendon and Finchley and the Urban District of Friern Barnet (all of which had been in the former county of Middlesex) with the Urban Districts of Barnet and East Barnet (both of which had been part of the county of Hertfordshire). ↵

  • (lxxxvii) The former Registration District were: Barnet, from 1 July 1837 until 1 October 1939. Hendon, from 1 October 1939 until 1 April 1999. All registers would now be held by the current register office. ↵

  • (lxxxviii) Page 14 of the 2010 List of Places of Worship ↵

  • (lxxxix) to (xcix) Reserved.

  • (c) Early Years. ↵

  • (ci) Online research. ↵

  • (cii) Online research. ↵

  • (ciii) Early Years states that following an early planning meeting to acquire the Norrice Lea site in about 1934, the community records note that "the members and their friends were entertained to tea by the newly formed Ladies Guild ...". ↵

  • (civ) Early Years. The Junior Social Society was first listed in Jewish Year Book 1939. ↵

  • (cv) The Wiener Holocaust Library and Early Years. ↵


List of United Synagogue Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the London Borough of Barnet

List of Synagogues damaged or
destroyed by German air raids during World War II

Jewish Congregations in Greater London

Greater London home page

Page created: 16 November 2006
Notes first added: 5 November 2017
Data significantly expanded: 6 September 2026
Page most recently amended: 16 September 2026

Research and formatting by David Shulman

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