Rabbi Mordechai and Rebbetzen Judy Ginsbury have been at the heart of Hendon United Synagogue since 1999, having arrived from Prestwich Hebrew Congregation in Manchester after 14 meaningful years, to hold the role as Senior Rabbinic couple. Reflecting on that journey, Rabbi Ginsbury shares with a smile, “I always say Judy is the real force behind everything good. Her empathy, care, and intuition have shaped so much of what we’ve built together.”
Together, they’ve nurtured the growth of a warm and vibrant community, launching impactful programmes like Hendon CARES, the Kashrut Assurance Programme, the Minyanim Forum, and creating initiatives for Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah children. Their leadership is based on a shared mission to support every member, from those who are advanced in Torah study to those who are at the beginning of their journey.
“What makes our community special is how warm, engaging and diverse it is” shares Rabbi Ginsbury. “On a Shabbat morning, we run three parallel adult services, each with its own unique feel, and each one finishes with a kiddush. Additionally, and no less significantly, we are blessed to have a Youth Minyan with professional Youth Directors and several children’s services from toddlers to pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah kids. But beyond that, we’re here to learn, grow, and look after each other.”
That sense of care runs very deeply. The Ginsburys along with Rabbi & Rebbetzen Portnoy and Rabbi Stern have helped build a culture where no one is left behind, whether through a simple Shabbat invitation or a quiet check-in via the community WhatsApp group. As Rabbi Ginsbury explains, “It’s about ensuring people feel they matter.”
A particular highlight for Rabbi Ginsbury was the launch of his recent book, “The Jigsaw Puzzle of Life (Mosaica Press) – a Rabbi’s perspective capturing, as described by the publisher, decades of communal wisdom with humour and humility
He is deeply aware of the delicate balance required of a rabbi: to be principled yet adaptable, consistent yet compassionate. “You have to listen closely to the energies of the community and respond with both care and dignity,” he explains. “Being a Rabbi is not about personal status it’s about service.”
Looking back on more than two and a half decades of communal leadership in Hendon, Rabbi and Rebbetzen Ginsbury feel grateful for what they describe as “a truly remarkable community.” As Rabbi Ginsbury says simply, “We’re incredibly lucky. This community is a blessing and we never take that for granted.”
