Finchley Reform Synagogue Explained

Building Name:	Finchley Reform Synagogue
Image Upright:	1.4
Map Type:	United Kingdom Greater London
Map Size:	250
Map Relief:	1
Location:	101 Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley, London, England N12 0BE
Country:	United Kingdom
Geo:	51.6078°N -0.181°W
Religious Affiliation:	Reform Judaism
Status:	Synagogue
Functional Status:	Active
Leadership:	Cantor Zoe Jacobs, Rabbi Howard Cooper, Rabbi Deborah Blausten, Rabbi Jeffrey Newman
Established:	1960
Year Completed:	1961; 1974; and 2022
Capacity:	220 worshipers

Finchley Reform Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 101 Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley, in the Borough of Barnet in London, England, in the United Kingdom.^[1]

The congregation is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism.

Clergy

Its clergy^[2] are Rabbi Eleanor Davis, Cantor Zöe Jacobs,^[3] Rabbi Deborah Blausten^[4], Rabbi Howard Cooper and Emeritus Rabbi Jeffrey Newman.^{[5] [6]}

Overview

Finchley Reform Synagogue's new building completed in May 2022, replaced the previous 1974 structure, which itself had been built over the original 1961 synagogue. The new facility, costing approximately £4.7 million, addresses the needs of a growing community of around 2,000 members.^{[7] [8]}

Notable members

• John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons^{[9] [10]}
• Dame Melinda Simmons, British diplomat, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Ukraine since 2019^[11]
• Isaac Reuben, Member of the Youth Parliament and one of the Barnet’s Youth Ambassadors.

See also

• List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
• List of synagogues in the United Kingdom
• Movement for Reform Judaism

Notes and References

1. Web site: Finchley Reform Synagogue . . Congregation data . 8 June 2021 . 15 March 2023.
2. Web site: Meet the FRS Clergy Team . Finchley Reform Synagogue . 15 March 2023.
3. News: Zoe Jacobs: Sharing music with the masses . 22 December 2017 . 24 March 2021 . Reuben, Susan . The Jewish Chronicle.
4. Web site: Judaism . Movement for Reform . 2023-11-10 . The Movement for Reform Judaism - Why we need our heart of many rooms . 2024-11-29 . The Movement for Reform Judaism . en-GB.
5. News: Rabbi: my struggle with mental health . . 29 January 2015 . 9 March 2015 . Doherty, Rosa .
6. Web site: Weich . Ben . Rabbi Jeffrey Newman arrested during Extinction Rebellion climate change protest . 2024-11-29 . www.thejc.com . en.
7. Web site: Tyldesley . Jordan . 2022-05-03 . 'Soft opening' for Finchley Reform's new £4.7million state-of-the-art home . 2024-11-11 . Jewish News . en-US.
8. Web site: Building Project - Finchley Reform Synagogue . 2024-11-11 . www.frs.org.uk.
9. News: 'Aggressive and defensive' – the JC's interview with John Bercow, 23, in 1986 . Frazer, Jenni . 9 September 2019 . . 9 September 2019.
10. Web site: John Bercow — Birkbeck, University of London . 2024-11-11 . www.bbk.ac.uk.
11. Web site: 4 April 2023 . Wishing You Chag Pesach kasher v'sameach . Melinda Simmons. 15 April 2023 . Movement for Reform Judaism.