Redbridge and Ilford shul merger approved by United Synagogue
Two Essex communities will combine resources for 2,000 members, as a competition is launched to decide the new shul's name
Joe Millis is a journalist
The merger between two of Essex’s largest shuls has been approved by the United Synagogue Council, after the communities overwhelmingly backed the move.
Redbridge and Ilford United Synagogues will now hold a competition to decide the name of the new community, in Beehive Lane, the current home of Ilford shul.
As part of this merger, a refurbishment programme will be undertaken in the new year to ensure that the new community has improved facilities for its more than 2,000 members.
Malcolm Nathan, the chair of Ilford United Synagogue, and Mike Callaghan, his Redbridge counterpoint, said: “The whole process started some two years ago, about the time of [the] Brexit [referendum] and we’ve managed to come up with an answer in that time – we’re open to offers to move in to Number 10.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
