When Rabbi Moshe Chaim and Rebbetzen Miri Lister joined Barnet Synagogue, with their two young children, they stepped into a shul that was already a happy and positive place, filled with deeply invested members with a strong sense of belonging. With members of all ages who genuinely connect, the community’s warmth was immediately evident to them. They quickly settled into their first Senior Rabbinic role, following a time at Bushey United.
Their path in the rabbinate was not something either of them necessarily expected. “I grew up watching my father in the role,” Rabbi Lister reflects. “Seeing the ups and downs from the inside didn’t put me off, but I’m naturally introverted. I don’t think I ever imagined myself becoming a Rabbi. But by the time I reached my early twenties, I started seeing just how much good a Rabbi can do, how much a community leans on that presence. Something shifted for me then.”
Miri shares that she, too, is naturally introverted, and her journey into community life was equally unexpected. “Before we met, I had no idea I would one day be a Rebbetzen,” she says with a warm smile. “It wasn’t in my comfort zone, simply because I had never seen it up close. I didn’t grow up with the United Synagogue so even the culture of community life in this way was very new to me.”
While the couple lived in Jerusalem and Rabbi Moshe Chaim studied for his semicha, Miri began attending a weekly seminary programme for women. “For me it wasn’t about getting a title, I always say call me the Rabbi’s wife not Rebbetzen”, she modestly says “It is about understanding how to support, how to guide, how to be present for the community.”
The Listers describe their new synagogue with genuine affection. “It’s just an incredibly easy-going, relaxed place to be,” Rabbi Lister explains. “The Shuls’ Lay Leadership have been wonderful and supportive giving us room to grow in our own way.”
That sense of ease has helped the Listers settle in as a young family in a very public role. “Hosting is part of our role, but with kids, well, it’s never quiet,” Miri laughs. “We’ll be trying to talk to guests while our children are zooming around the table, but in truth that’s real life. That’s us. Our family is part of the community.”
Both speak candidly about the juggling act of raising young children, running a home, and serving the community full-time as Miri has recently returned to work as a schoolteacher. “It’s a balance we’re still working out,” Miri admits. “But the community has been so kind. They get it.”
One of the first things that struck them was how deeply members of all ages genuinely connect. “I noticed it immediately,” Miri says. “People here are like one big extended family.”
That warmth is the backbone of the synagogue’s strong volunteer culture. “There’s no shortage of ideas or enthusiasm,” Rabbi Lister explains. “People here are always ready to help.”
Though they have only recently begun their work, the Listers are already proud of the foundations they are building. “Education was one of our biggest priorities coming in,” Rabbi Lister says. “We’ve invested a lot into learning programmes, which has been really meaningful.”
They are also excited about the new youth programme beginning to take shape. “That’s something I’m personally passionate about,” Miri adds. “Kids need their own space in shul life, and we want to build something they’ll genuinely look forward to.”
Weekly and monthly gatherings like Tuesday’s Coffee and Context and the Health and Wellbeing programme regularly attract between 20 and 40 attendees. Larger events, including festival dinners, have drawn over a 100 people. “We haven’t even hit our stride yet,” they say. “But already, the response has been amazing.”
Adjusting to a new community can be daunting, and Miri is characteristically honest about her early nerves. “I was so worried people might be judging me,” she says. “But they weren’t. Everyone has been supportive from the start. They just want to know who we are, and we want to know them.”
As they settle into their roles, the Listers are focused on nurturing every layer of community life, from children to teens to retirees. “The beauty of this community is that no one is left behind,” Miri says. “People stay connected even as they get older. They still show up, still volunteer, still care.”
“There is huge potential here,” Rabbi Lister adds. “With fantastic Jewish schools on our doorstep and kosher shops. It is a fantastic area. And we want to do justice to what the community deserves. The truth is that we’re not doing this alone. There are so many volunteers and so many people ready to help steer things forward. We’re just helping everyone move in the same direction.”
Their warmth, humility and gentle confidence is helping them settle in and shape and grow, both as leaders and as a young family.
