The Rabbi
Rabbi Yuval Keren has served our community since 2012. He began his studies at Leo Baeck College in 2004 and obtained a first-class bachelor's degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies in 2007 and a master's degree with distinction in 2009. He received his Rabbinic ordination at the west London Synagogue in July 2009. Before joining our community Rabbi Keren was a student Rabbi at Hendon Reform Synagogue and remained there for three years before joining our community in 2012.
Rabbi Keren provides spiritual leadership and support for our community; he promotes Jewish wisdom, encourages learning and supports our community members through good and bad times. He has a strong commitment to studying and teaching Judaism. Since arriving in the UK, from Israel, in 1993 and during his Rabbinic years he has been actively involved in Jewish education, community leadership, interfaith dialogue and pastoral care.
His guiding principles as a Rabbi are the belief in God and the application of religion with reason.
Services
We hold weekly Friday night and Saturday morning Sabbath services which usually begin at 8:15pm and 11am respectively.
We hold festival services to mark the beginning of each festival throughout the year. There is typically an evening service on the evening of the start of the festival and a morning service for the first day of the festival. For some festivals we hold alternative services including; at Chanukah when we have a Chavurah (a bring and share meal). At Purim we celebrate with a Spiel which is great fun with lots of noise and laughter, fancy dress and refreshments. For Shavuot we join Finchley Progressive Synagogue and Sha'arei Tsedek where we have an evening Chavurah meal and study sessions. There are activities for children, youth and young adults.
We also like to hold alternative services throughout the year such as a Friday night rock service, guitar led music services, Chavurah's (bring and share meal), and informal circle services. We like to hold these services to appeal to everyone in our community and to enhance the Sabbath experience.
Religion School
Ruach is our Religion School for children aged 5 to 16 and many of the students continue on to become helpers once they have graduated the the Kabbalat Torah class. Ruach takes place on Saturday mornings at 9:30.
The aim of our syllabus is for the children to gain knowledge of what it means to be a Liberal Jew, the skills to follow a Liberal Jewish lifestyle and an appreciation of our Jewish values and heritage. The children also learn Hebrew and gain an understanding of our prayers and the Torah, this will allow them to follow and join in with the services.
The whole of Ruach come together in Tefillah (an assembly) where they discuss what they have learnt and have a discussion based on Jewish traditions.
The hall
The Schindler hall not only holds our High Holy Day services, but is the perfect place to hold celebrations and corporate events. The hall can seat 160 people for a sit down function or 130 people with a dance floor. It has a vegetarian or fish kitchen, a cloakroom and excellent washrooms. As a synagogue we hold several functions throughout the year including our most recent barn dance and rock service. It is perfect for all occasions including Bar/Bat Mitzvah's, wedding receptions, private parties and charity events.
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