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Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue
(HGSS) is a young, thriving modern
orthodox community of more than 1200 families,
with over 1000 children under the age of 21.
The Community was founded in 1934 and is a flagship
of the UNITED SYNAGOGUE family. The Synagogue
was rebuilt in 1953 and is well maintained,
keeping to its original style and structure.
In 1968 the complex was extended to include
a large communal hall, kitchens, youth synagogue,
classrooms and a caretaker's flat. In 2001 the
complex was again extended to include a small
function hall to seat 180, with multi media
resources and a lift to the ladies Gallery with
a Halachic Shabbat mode.
The synagogue follows United Synagogue modern
orthodox practices. Women sit upstairs in the
Ladies gallery, while a few seats behind a Mechitzah
at the back of the Men's section can be used
for ladies unable to go upstairs.
The atmosphere in the synagogue is friendly.
The focus is on inclusiveness, offering a warm
welcome to everyone, whatever their level of
observance, and providing an opportunity for
each individual to develop spiritually and communally
at his or her pace. There is a kiddush every
week in the adjoining Community Hall, everyone
is welcome. Most weeks we celebrate a simcha
of a birth, Bar / Bat Mitzvah, future wedding
or a special birthday, if not several of these.
We have well attended weekday services; morning
service in the Shul and afternoon and / or evening
services in the Beit Hamedrash.
Friday night (Kabalat Shabbat) is well attended,
young boys lead the Yigdal and there is a short
D'var Torah after the service.. On Shabbat the
synagogue is usually full to capacity and we
run additional services: Hashkamah, Sephardi
and young families services. In the Summer we
have a regular Seuda Shlishit after Mincha with
guest speakers or a Shiur in Shul.
Under the spiritual leadership of our departing
Rabbi, Rabbi Reuven Livingstone (1999
- April 2010) and our Chazan Avromi Freilich
(since 1994- part time since 2002), Community
Director - Rabbi Anthony Knopf (since
2007 - ) and supported by 5 Honorary officers
and a strong and committed Board of Management,
we have gone from strength to strength. We have
a full staff in the office including full time
Chief Executive, Administrator, bookkeeper and
Facilities Manager.
There is a large and successful Youth Minyan
run by our full time Youth Director Tamar
Younger (now on Maternity leave) and husband
Rafi and 2 Temp Youth directors, , in which
over 50 youth participate on a regular Shabbat.
There are 4 full Children's services running
between 11 and 12 every Shabbat.
We have the biggest Chedar / Sunday School
in London on Sunday mornings.
A Youth club and activities run by our Youth
Directors for different ages on Mondays and
Wednesdays Evenings as well as timely and educational
activities and programmes in and outside the
community. The Religious youth group, Bnei Akiva
is highly successful on Shabbat afternoons.
We have a successful Young person and young
marrieds Group (Chaverim) that arranges social
and educational activities. The North West London
Jewish Singles group is run from our premises
and we have daytime outings and monthly tea's
for our senior members.
Kerem School with children of 5 - 11
year olds is an integral part of the community
and is housed in the Synagogue complex. Over
90% of Kerem's parents are HGSS members. Kerem
was highly acclaimed in a recent OFSTED report.
To achieve spiritual development of the congregation,
a wide range of social, educational and cultural
programmes to stimulate and challenge members
irrespective of their level of observance are
made available during the year. We collaborate
with JLE, Aish Hatorah, Seed and Spiro Ark to
provide programmes for the community, as well
as using a wealth of talented and knowledgeable
members of our own community.
Click here
to view our Membership statistics for 2010.
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