Welcome to our shul! This Week: Woodside
Synagogue: Woodside Park United Synagogue
Rabbis:
Senior rabbi: Pinchas Hackenbroch. Assistant and young families rabbi: Garry Wayland
When was it founded?
1937.
How big is the congregation?
1,400 plus about 600 children.
What do you offer families?
We are a warm, dynamic and welcoming shul, a tone set by Rabbi and Gila Hackenbroch, and is proud to offer something for everyone in the community. For children aged up to 18, there are mother and baby groups, toddler, intermediates, children’s, youth services on yom tovs and every Shabbat. There are squads for boys and girls, scouting and guiding, Kolot and Netivot Bnei Mitzvah programme, Bnei Akiva, learn to lead programme with Tribe and dedicated young families committee with year-round events. We have an oversubscribed purpose-built nursery rated by Ofsted as “outstanding”.
Adults enjoy an education programme with high-profile guest speakers, such as Louise Ellman MP and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, raise money for MyIsrael appeal through our active Israel committee, socially single adults group, Seed learning programme, day centre run by League of Jewish Women, JACS and our dedicated welfare organisation, Woodside Park Cares.
Is there a cheder?
There are 50 children in the cheder, plus 25 enrolled in the Kolot and Netivot Bnei Mitzvah programme for parents and children to attend together in their special year.
Share some interesting facts about your synagogue We are welcoming a large number of new members from the new Millbrook Estate next door and have satellite activities there. There are services for toddlers, intermediates, children, youth, boy squads, girl squads, adult learning, a service in the main shul, and Kiddush preparation – all during Shabbat morning!
What are the highlights of the Shabbat morning kiddush?
There are usually about 400 people and it is prepared, laid out and cleared by our “Ladies at WSP” committee. It has the traditional favourites, a “kids only” table and, of course, whisky. We have even been addressed by our MP! Shul
website/contact number: www.woodsideparksynagogue.org.uk Telephone: 020 8445 4236
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