Finsbury Park Synagogue is a hidden gem nestled in the grounds of a residential building. It is almost unidentifiable from the outside but is the small, vibrant and thriving United Synagogue community in North London on the Stamford Hill borders.
It wasn’t always like this explains Maytal, Chair of Finsbury Park Synagogue.
“I have been coming to Finsbury Park Synagogue for over 15 years. As a child, I remember the building was really nice. It was an old-style building with a gallery. Lots of people used to come. In truth, the building was too big for the number of people who belonged but there were always enough for a minyan. My brother and I were the only kids there when we were growing up but that didn’t matter to us, we enjoyed being there. Then in 2002 we made the news – but not in a good way. The Synagogue was desecrated by vandals who burned the scrolls, daubed the walls with vile graffiti and destroyed the already aging building. We were terrified. It was very sad.”
“The site was sold and a building was developed with purpose-built flats and a dedicated space for the Synagogue which opened its doors in 2016. It was not long after that when I became Chair. Our new synagogue is multifunctional with a children’s play area, Succah and adaptable prayer hall. We have adapted pews so that those who struggle to stand or hold their siddur can still join in.”
“Our community is diverse with members originating from Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, Scotland and India as well as those born and brought up in Stamford Hill. We are extremely inclusive and non-judgmental. You will find a range of people in shul on a Saturday morning, from people in traditional African dress, or shorts and t-shirts to Chassidim with payot wearing a striemel. We pride ourselves in ensuring there is no judgement. We welcome everyone who comes through our doors. We really do reflect the saying “The children of Israel all in one building.”
“Together, our community is a family. We celebrate together, we share sad times and come together in every aspect of family life. The beauty is that we argue like a family and care deeply for each other like a family, putting disagreements to bed quickly and easily. We have a wonderful communal Friday Night project where we appreciate the different cultures our members come from. These have included Indian, Moroccan and Scottish-themed meals, including Haggis !. Everyone loves these evenings. We try to incorporate everyone’s culture to some extent.”
“We are constantly looking at ways to incorporate new aspects to our services. We have a choice of Chumash to choose from. We have introduced singing the Hatikvah at the end of our service and women in the congregation say the prayers for the State of Israel and the Royal Family.”
“We are also happy to have helped a number of people seeking to seeking to convert to Judaism. It is a privilege to be part of their journey.”
“Our new Rabbi joined in May and really makes everyone feel comfortable. He has a great ability to engage with all ages. We have quite a few younger members now with children who enjoy our dedicated children’s area and we would love to start a children’s service for them. We run lots of social events through the year for all ages, including young professionals, games evenings, children’s art classes and a lunch club for our older members. We were the only shul in Stamford Hill to have a Purim party where we welcomed over 100 people! “
“We look forward to welcoming anyone visiting or who lives in the area.”
For more information or to visit Finsbury Park Synagogue click here.
