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.