Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue
Synagogue in England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue on Oaks Lane, Newbury Park in Ilford, in the Borough of Redbridge, London, England. The congregation is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism.
| Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Jordan Helfman |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Oaks Lane, Newbury Park Ilford, Borough of Redbridge, London, England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
  Location of the synagogue in Greater London | |
| Coordinates | 51°34′37″N 0°5′41″E |
| Architecture | |
| Established | 1956 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Website | |
| swesrs | |
History
The forebears of the congregation date from c. 1919 when the Oxford & St George's Settlement Synagogue was established in Stepney.[1] This congregation subsequently changed its name to St. George's Settlement Synagogue and then later to Settlement Synagogue. It was the only congregation that was concurrently affiliated with both the Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism.[2]
Founded in 1956 as S.W. Essex Synagogue, the congregation changed its name in c. 1966 to the South-West Essex Reform Synagogue (also known as SWERS), and later spelled as South West Essex Reform Synagogue. In 1961 - on the festival of Sukkot - the synagogue formed a mixed SATB choir to add music throughout services. The choir still survives to this day and frequently uses music either written or arranged 'in-house' by various former choristers, choirmasters and accompanists.
In 1997, the congregation merged with the Settlement Synagogue to form the South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue. In September 2023, the merged congregation adopted its current name[1] (although the change of name is to be a working name and not a formal change of the synagogue's name).[3]
A tag line of "Honouring our Past, Building our Future" was also adopted.[3]
Clergy
The following individuals have served as rabbi of the congregation:[1]
| Ordinal | Officeholder | Term start | Term end | Time in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alan W. Miller | c. 1958 | c. 1961 | 2–3 years | |
| 2 | Dow Marmur | c. 1963 | c. 1969 | 5–6 years | |
| 3 | Nicholas Ginsbury | c. 1970 | c. 1973 | 2–3 years | |
| 4 | Henry Goldstein | c. 1973 | 2001 | 27–28 years | All subsequently emeritus |
| 5 | Lawrence Rigál | 1997 | c. 2006 | 8–9 years | |
| 6 | Maurice Arnold Michaels | c. 2000 | c. 2011 | 10–11 years | |
| − | Stephen Howard | 2011 | 2012 | 0–1 years | Interim rabbi |
| 7 | Nancy Morris | 2012 | 2014 | 1–2 years | [4] |
| − | Dr. Jackie Tabick | 2015 | 2016 | 0–1 years | Interim rabbi |
| 8 | Lisa Barrett | 2016 | May 2021 | 4–5 years | [5][6] |
| 9 | Jordan Helfman | January 2022 | incumbent | 4 years, 122 days | Formerly of Holy Blossom Temple,[7] |
Additionally, the congregation has been served by the following, as associate rabbis, Rabbi G.C. Goldberg (c. 1978–c. 1980); Rabbi Howard Cooper (c. 1980–c. 1982); Rabbi Michael Pertz (c. 2004–c. 2011); and Rabbi Lev Taylor (since July 2022).[1][8] Lev Taylor vacated his position with effect from 10 July 2024.[9]
