Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue

The congregation became affiliated with United Synagogue in 1946, becoming a district synagogue in 1952 and subsequently a constituent (member) synagogue.[3]

Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue has previously been called "Stanmore and Canons Park District Synagogue" and "Canons Park & District Hebrew Congregation".[3]

• The current building (Main Shul) was consecrated on 18 March 1951 (Jewish Date: 10th Adar 5711) by Dayan Dr I. Grunfeld and Isaac Wolfson Esq.. The Synagogue was actually built facing north rather than east (towards Jerusalem).
• The community centre was consecrated on 8 September 1963. The Freeman Susman Hall (above the community centre) is actually bigger than the main synagogue itself.
• The corridor between the main synagogue and the community centre was widened in an extension in 2002. As part of the extension a garden was established at the front of the building.
• The synagogue added a lift in 2008 so that disabled members could access all parts of the building.
• In 2014 the main shul was refurbished as well as half of the classrooms.

The senior rabbi in charge is Rabbi Mendel Lew, who has been in post since 2006.[4]

Rabbi Avrom Chaitowitz (1921-1986) was minister from 1954 to 1986. He was educated at Etz Chaim Yeshiva and Jews College, London, where he obtained semicha in 1956. He served at St Albans Affiliated Synagogue (1949-1951) and Finsbury Park Synagogue (1951-1954) before coming to Stanmore. On his retirement he moved Jerusalem.[5]

Rabbi Chaitowitz was followed by Rabbi Dr Jeffrey Cohen, who served the Synagogue for twenty years. Rabbi Cohen has been described as a champion of Modern Orthodoxy and promoted that philosophy for some 40 years within the Anglo-Jewish rabbinate, in the pages of the Anglo-Jewish press, and in his own writings. In that capacity, he was invited, at its inception, to become the rabbinic adviser and a governor of Immanuel College.

Rabbi Cohen is an author of theological works as well as over two hundred articles in popular journals and newspapers. He has published more than 25 books in the past 30 years,[6] the most recent being The Psalms: Poetry in Poetry (2018) and 'Genesis in Poetry' (2019), both published by Wipf & Stock, Oregon, USA. He is in great demand, by schools, synagogues, and literary groups, to give poetry readings. During the Corona Pandemic (June 2020), the BBC's evening ITN News programme invited poets to video and submit one of their poems related to the situation. Six were to be chosen, with one to be televised each evening for one week at the end of the 6pm News. His poem, 'Do I believe in angels?' was one of those chosen.

Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue is well known for its youth activities. Stanmore provides a huge variety of programmes for the youth of the community. This includes trips, plays, youth clubs, Jewish Learning and external groups. Stanmore is also well known for its "Learn To Lead" programme, which is now also used in Bushey, Radlett, Edgware and many other communities following its enormous success in Stanmore.

• Stanmore and Cannons Park Synagogue has a weekly leaflet that is given out on Friday night and Saturday morning. The front cover contains details about the Parashah and a thought from the Rabbi. The middle pages list any celebrations and bereavements in the past week and a list of events happening in the following week. The back page shows which members of the community will be leading/ participating in various sections of the prayer. The leaflet was started in 1994.
• The Youth Service produce their own leaflet called Achlah (meaning 'Cool' in Hebrew). It was started in 2004 and the name was briefly changed to T-Weekly mid-2007.
• The synagogue produces a biannual magazine called the Habima.
• Stanmore has its own Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) book, which features a picture of the synagogue on the cover. The book includes Kiddush, Shabbat Zemirot (songs that are traditionally sung on Shabbat), songs for Seudah Shlishit (third meal) and finally Birkat Hamazon.
• The shul provide the Daf Hashevua, which is a leaflet distributed to all United Synagogue shuls.[12]
• The shuls' members compiled a series of essay and thoughts on each week's Parasha which was named 'The Friday Night Companion'.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue.

• Official website
• Stanmore Learning Centre
• Stanmore Youth Youtube Page
• Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records – UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).