Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Kezi Levin are at the heart of Brondesbury Park Synagogue. They are an energetic, creative and deeply committed rabbinic couple whose vision and determination have helped transform a struggling community into a thriving, inclusive one.
Rebbetzen Kezi Levin is an educator, graphic designer, inventor and Head of Cheder. Rabbi Levin combines his rabbinic calling with a background in accountancy. Together, they are widely regarded as an unstoppable partnership.
Rabbi Levin’s journey into communal life began early. His parents arrived as the rabbinic couple at South Hampstead Synagogue in 1985, the year before his Bar Mitzvah. Reflecting on those formative years, Rabbi Levin says, “We lived in Hampstead Garden Suburb, but every Friday we would travel to South Hampstead for Shabbat. Communal life was always central to our family; it helped shape who I am.”
After studying at yeshiva, he returned newly ordained to join South Hampstead as an associate Rabbi. Following a year of study in Australia, where he met Kezi they embarked on a transatlantic relationship that resulted in their marriage and their move to the UK.
Rebbetzen Kezi completed a four year degree course in graphic design at St Martin’s College of Art while raising their three young children. Rabbi Levin smiles when describing his wife, saying “Kezi is incredibly creative, always thinking out of the box, with a real can do energy. She even went to college taking the children with her!
A pivotal moment came during a Shabbat lunch conversation with a newly engaged couple who lived in Queen’s Park. Through this encounter, the Levins learned about a local Jewish community in significant decline, yet with enormous potential. “We heard about the housing, the green space and the proximity to central London,” Rabbi Levin recalls. “Our ears pricked up when we heard there was a Jewish primary school there. We liked the idea of a challenge and the opportunity to regenerate a once iconic Jewish community.”
They approached The United Synagogue with a bold three-year turnaround plan, believing the area could be revitalised by attracting younger families while respecting the existing community. Rabbi Levin attributes much of the Synagogue’s success to the collaborative effort embodied by the Synagogue’s lay leadership, saying,
“From the outset, the lay leadership were fully on board with our vision for the future of the community and we worked together to create it, turning the dream into a reality and bringing the older generation on the journey alongside the younger.”
When the Levin’s arrived, Shabbat services attracted just 15 to 20 people, with just a hand full of children. As the word began to spread and young families were attracted to the community, the atmosphere changed. “Suddenly, children were running around,” Rabbi Levin laughs. “The noise was audible as a sign of life.”
One of the first developments was the introduction of carpet to the prayer hall. “It added warmth, both literally and symbolically,” he explains. “It made the building feel more inviting.” This marked the beginning of a wider rebrand, with Willesden Synagogue becoming Brondesbury Park Synagogue.
Family life is central to their rabbinic role. With seven children, the Levin’s see themselves as a rabbinic family, with each child deeply connected to the community and forging their own independent relationships. “Our children are loved and valued and feel very much part of the community,” Rabbi Levin says. One son, Shua even left a detailed plan for a year’s worth of children’s services before heading to yeshiva, while their fourteen year old son Yossi manages the sound and lighting at communal social events and their nine-year-old daughter, Racheli, helps run children’s services and a Tehillim group. “Our children are an integral part of our story and our community.” Rabbi Levin notes that their oldest son Meir and his new wife Libi have just taken up an official position at Brondesbury and are running inspirational activities and events for the next generation of YJP’s (Young Jewish Professionals) under the name Spark, a play on Bpark.
Rabbi Levin describes Brondesbury Park as non-judgmental, inclusive and accessible. “By accessible, I mean that it provides multiple entry points,” he explains. “Shul is one element of the community, but there are educational, social and cultural access points too.” Initiatives such as the annual Art Exhibition reflect this approach, attracting many participants and visitors who may not normally attend Synagogue. Practical accessibility is also prioritised, with a Shabbat lift, hearing loop and an eruv.
“We are very much an entry-level community,” Rabbi Levin says. “We have lots of young families and a broad spectrum of religiosity. We aim to offer authentic Jewish life in a way that is relatable and contemporary whilst being fully aligned with Torah and halacha.” Inclusion is a key value, with conscious efforts made to ensure women feel valued and included in Synagogue life.
One area of particular pride is the children’s and young family offerings. “Our children’s services are one of our USP’s and serve as the pipeline to ensure that fresh blood continues to flow into the community,” Rabbi Levin explains. When the Levin’s arrived there were a sprinkling of children under 18, today there are close to 300. Engaging children in Shul services can be challenging particularly those who don’t attend Jewish day schools and are less familiar with the services. Rebbetzen Kezi has responded to this challenge by creating Family Yom Tov services and a special children led Shul service, which encourages peer participation and youth leadership.
These programmes offer inspirational games, props, prizes and accessible davening for parents and children alike and have proven a huge success.
At Brondesbury Park Synagogue, connection lies at the heart of everything. “To take people on a Jewish journey, they need to feel a sense of connection that is validating, uplifting and inspiring and one that positively reinforces Jewish identity and pride”, Rabbi Levin reflects. Under the leadership of Rabbi Baruch and Rebbetzen Kezi Levin, the community continues to flourish, rooted in tradition and confidently embracing the future.