Kingsbury Synagogue
Kingsbury
Synagogue
Kingsbury Green, London NW9 8XR
phone: 020 8204 8089
email:kinsyn@btconnect.com
In 1936 passengers on the
newly constructed Bakerloo Line making their way to Kingsbury Station from
Wembley Park, as the train crossed over Fryent Way, would have seen the spire of
Harrow School and to the right a development of affordable homes, priced between
£600 to £800, on the recently constructed Valley Drive Estate. The first
Jewish families to move in to the area were immediately concerned in
establishing Hebrew classes for their children and then, by a narrow majority,
to become affiliated members of the United Synagogue. Property values have, of
course, increased somewhat over the years, but it is considerably cheaper than
Hendon or Golders Green and only a 5/10 minute drive from those areas.
Kingsbury United Synagogue
has had five Rabbis
in its seventy years. The present incumbent, Rabbi Zvi Cohen, recently
succeeded Rabbi Maurice Hool, who was our
Rabbi for over half of the community's life.
We were the first community
to embrace Project Seed. The first United Synagogue Mikva for over a century was
built on our premises, in large part due to the work of Rabbi Hool, and we were
the first community of the United Synagogue to have its own voluntary Chevra
Kadisha (Burial Society). From the community have come a number of Rabbis,
leading Hebraic scholars, presidents of both the JNF and Bnei Brith and senior
civil servants of the United Synagogue. A large number of our girls and boys
have gone to Seminaries and Yeshivas both in this country and in Israel.
In
1996, to celebrate our sixtieth anniversary, virtually every member, both past
and present, subscribed to the writing of a new Sefer Torah, the necessary funds being
realised in slightly over six months.
We are a very friendly
community, and are always supportive and hospitable towards new members.
Over 100 of our members and
their families have made aliyah successfully, contributing to a large Kingsbury
contingent in the Holy Land.
We have opened a page
for reminiscences from those of you no longer living in the Community.
Click here to see who has spilt the beans
so far.
For further information about
membership e-mail the shul.
Site
developed by Dov Birnbaum and managed by
Stephen Phillips
