Welcome to our shul! This week – The Saatchi Synagogue
The Saatchi Synagogue.
Rabbi
Rabbi Mendel Cohen.
When was it founded?
1998.
How large is your congregation?
260.
What does the synagogue offer young families?
Young families are the core of our community. Young people meet at our parties, come back to get married and then the babies arrive (usually in that order). This Shavuot we had 25 at our baby blessing, Kenahora! JBabies is a group for new mums to socialise and study. There are special pre-festival programmes for young families; children-led services are highlights.
Is there a cheder? How many attend?
Yes. We launched Saatchi’s Hebrew School last year. Drama, song, interactive workshops, exclusive Hebrew teaching methodology and of course the teachers, bring Hebrew School lessons to life. Our hands-on learning style encourages children to be active learners, with a focus of growing your child’s general Jewish knowledge, as well as ensure that they can read Hebrew. This year, we’ll launch a pre-barmitzvah discovery course. It will be on a Tuesday, so children will consider it an extra-curricular activity versus a Sunday morning ‘burden’, and it won’t be called cheder. We have 30 children.
Please share an interesting fact about the shul we may not know…
We are the fastest-growing young community in Central London and have members from more than 18 countries. Bernard Kops wrote a poem about our synagogue.
Tell us about upcoming events you have planned…
While everyone prepares for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are already planning our legendary Simchat Torah party, which is attended by more than 800 people.
What are the highlights of your Shabbat morning Kiddush?
Kiddush is the only part of religion we enforce. Tasty, friendly, a place to meet new people… the list of benefits goes on and on.
Shul website: www.SaatchiShul.org Contact number: 020 7289 2367
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