JCR-UK

Beit Klal Yisrael

North Kensington Liberal Synagogue

London, W8

 

 

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Congregation Data

Name:

Beit Klal Yisrael

(also previously known as Beit Klal Yisrael - Liberal Jewish Community from 2007 to 2025)

Former Name:

Beit Klal Yisrael - North Kensington Reform Synagogue (until 2007)(i)

Address:

P.O. Box 1828 London W10 5RT

According to the Congregation's Facebook page, all services and events are held at The Montagu Centre, 21 Maple Street, London W1T 4BE (unless otherwise advertised)

Until at least 2004, services were held in Notting Hill Gate.(ii)

Current Status:

Active

Date Formed:

March 1990(iii)

Ritual:

Liberal Progressive

Affiliation:

From at least 1995 until about 2004, the congregation was a constituent synagogue of the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain (later the Movement for Reform Judaism). From July, 2006, the congregation became affiliated to Liberal Judaism (formerly the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues), which on 1 January 2026 merged into the Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ), of which the congregation became a constituent community.(iv)

It is also affiliated to The World Congress: Keshet Ga'avah (World Congress of LGBT+ Jewish Organisations).(v)

Website:

http://www.bky.org.uk/

Rabbis: (To view a short profile of a minister whose name appears in blue - hold the cursor over her name.)

Rabbi Sheila Shulman (Founding Rabbi) - from 1990 until about 2007, and thereafter emeritus rabbi(ix)

Rabbi Judith Rosen-Berry - from about 2011 until about 2014(x)

Rabbi Anna Wolfson (then known as Posner) (part-time) - 2020 until 2021 (xi)

Membership Data:

National Reports & Surveys(xv)

2010 & 2016 - listed as having 50 to 99 members (by household)

Legal & Charitable Status:

On 20 March 1991, the congregation was incorporated as a registered company, Beit Klal Yisrael (company no. 02593458), limited by guarantee without a share capital (and with an exemption from use of the word 'Limited').(xvi) It is also a registered charity (no. 1034282), registered on 3 March 1994. The governing documents are the company's Memorandum & Articles Association dated 20 March 1991, as amended 10 October 1993.(xvii)

Local Government District:

The district of North Kensington in West Central London is in the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (an Inner London Borough, established on 1 April 1965) within the administrative area of Greater London.

Registration District (BMD):

Kensington  - Link to Register Office website.

Cemetery Information:

The congregation is a member of the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS). As a London Synagogue, this includes rights of burial at one of the Society's cemeteries, in particular the Western Cemetery, Bulls Cross Ride, Cheshunt. There is also generally the option (through the JJBS) of a Woodland Burial in Cheshunt or cremation at Golders Green Crematorium.

Notes & Sources ( returns to text above)

  • (i) The congregation was listed as Beit Klal Yisrael (North Kensington Reform Synagogue) in Jewish Year Books from 1996 through 2004. There were no listings for 2005 and 2006. In the congregation's annual reports, it states that, until joining the Liberal Movement, the congregation was also known as North Kensington Reform Synagogue.

  • (ii) Jewish Year Books from 1996 through 2004.

  • (iii) Congregation's website, accessed 25 March 2018.

  • (iv) Based upon the listing of the congregation within the Reform synagogues movement in the Jewish Year Books from 1996 through 2004. The congregation was not listed prior to 1996 nor in 2005 and 2006 editions, and commenced being listed within the Liberal synagogues movement from 2007. Listed on the MPJ website, accessed January 2026, as a constituent community.

  • (v) Keshet Ga'avah's website and the congregation's website, both last accessed April 2026.

  • (vi) to (viii) Reserved.

  • (ix) Based upon Rabbi Shulman listing as minister of the congregation in Jewish Year Books until 2007, and thereafter she is named as emeritus minister until the 2011 edition.

  • (x) Based upon Rabbi Rosen-Berry being listed as rabbi of the congregation in the Jewish Year Books 2012 through 2014.

  • (xi) Rabbi Anna's profiles on the websites of Norwich Liberal Jewish Community, accessed 6 January 2021, and the Mosaic Jewish Community, accessed 14 May 2023.

  • (xii) to (xiv) Reserved.

  • (xv) 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.

  • (xvi) Companies House website last accessed April 2026. Clicking on the company number of this will take you to the registration on the Companies House website.

  • (xvii) Charities Commission website, last accessed April 2026. Clicking on the charity number of this will take you to the charity's registration on the Charities Commission website.

 

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to this Congregation

 
List of Progressive Judaism Congregations

List of former Liberal Judaism Congregations

List of former Reform Judaism Congregations

Jewish Congregations in the Royal Borough of the Kensington and Chelsea

List of Member Synagogues of the Jewish Joint Burial Society

Jewish Congregations in Greater London (other than East End)

Greater London home page


Page created: 6 November 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 25 March 2018
Page most recently amended: 16 April 2026

Research and formatting by David Shulman


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