Parashat Devarim
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Our Story

The United Synagogue is a charity which serves the British Jewish community in the broadest possible way.

We power Jewish life through our many communities and the critical infrastructure and programmes we provide for the British Jewish community. Whether you’re a member or not, you will have benefited from what we do.

Our story formally begins in 1870, when we were created by an Act of Parliament. We remain the only Jewish charity to be born this way. On this page you’ll find more about who we are today and an insight into our fascinating history.

Who We Are Today

We’ve been serving the Jewish community for more than 150 years. Today we have some 36,000 adult members across our 56 communities. With more than 100 Rabbis and Rebbetzens, hundreds of committed staff and thousands of dedicated volunteers, we power Jewish life through our communities, our kashrut and eruv team, nurseries, marriages, Burial Society, educational materials, Tribe programmes and summer camps, Chesed team, the highly-respected London Beth Din, our support for the Office of the Chief Rabbi and much, much more.

Our mission is to engage Jews with mainstream Orthodox Jewish living, learning and caring. Put another way, we want more Jews doing more Jewish things more of the time. Our vision is creating a community of inspired Jews, with enriched lives, passing our heritage on to future generations.

Our spiritual head is Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Our History

Our roots go back even further than 1870 – nearly two centuries in fact – to about 1690 when the Great Synagogue was founded in Duke’s Place, the first Ashkenazi shul built in London after the return of Jews to England in the 17th century. For many years, the Rabbi of the Great Synagogue also served as the Chief Rabbi and the Office of the Chief Rabbi has developed alongside the United Synagogue. Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler became Chief Rabbi in 1845 and is credited with bringing together five London shuls to form the United Synagogue.

Follow the timeline below to explore some of the milestones of our charity:

Our Story Begins

1690
The Great Synagogue
The Great Synagogue

Foundation of The Great Synagogue – the first of five London synagogues which would later unite to form the United Synagogue.

1870
An Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament

The Great, Hambro, New, Central and Bayswater Synagogues join together, and the United Synagogue is established by an Act of Parliament.

1873
Willesden Jewish Cemetery
Willesden Jewish Cemetery

In the first joint US project, some sheep grazing land was purchased in a secluded north-west London village. Willesden Jewish Cemetery becomes our first and most prestigious burial ground.

1902
Love It Or Hate It
Love It Or Hate It

The Marmite Food Company is founded in Staffordshire and the “love it or hate it” spread becomes kosher certified thanks to our kashrut division. 120 years later, KLBD once again announces a kosher-supervised batch in 2022.

1914
The Great War
The Great War

The US comprises 21 communities. Britain joins World War I on 4 August 1914 (Tisha B’Av) and we provide Jewish soldiers with spiritual support, financial guidance, kosher food and burials.

1934
London Beth Din
London Beth Din

With the appointment of HaRav Yechezkel Abramsky as Rosh (Head) Beth Din, the London Beth Din (LBD) becomes a world ranking authority on Jewish law.

1939
Second World War
Second World War

In September, a few days after the outbreak of war, we announce curfews to our Rosh Hashanah services, and the cancellation of Kol Nidrei in shul. We have expanded to 52 communities (with 30 more joining in the ten years post World War II).

1941
Destruction of The Great Synagogue
Destruction of The Great Synagogue

The Great Synagogue on Dukes Place, our founding synagogue, is destroyed during one of the last major attacks of the Blitz. It is never rebuilt.

1947
Bushey Jewish Cemetery
Bushey Jewish Cemetery

As the 75-year-old Willesden Cemetery begins to limit its burials, a brand-new US cemetery opens in Bushey.

1948
This is the day
This is the day

The State of Israel is declared in May 1948. A Prayer for the State of Israel is introduced by Chief Rabbi Brodie and a Mizrachi (Religious Zionist) Service is held in Hendon Synagogue.

1954
BES is born
BES is born

The foundation of a new synagogue in Boreham Wood (as it was then known) – now our biggest community with nearly 1,500 families and over 4,000 members.

1965
Arise, Chief Rabbi
Arise, Chief Rabbi

War veteran Chief Rabbi Sir Israel Brodie becomes the first Chief Rabbi to receive a knighthood (each subsequent Chief Rabbi has received this honour).

1970
A Royal Guest
A Royal Guest

We are blessed with the presence of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at our 100th Anniversary celebratory dinner – the first time she attended a major Jewish event.

1984
Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu זצ״ל
Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu זצ״ל

Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu זצ״ל becomes Rosh Beth Din of the London Beth Din, where he serves until 2006.

1991
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ״ל
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ״ל

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks זצ״ל succeeds Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jakobovits זצ״ל as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.

2003
Tribe is launched
Tribe is launched

Launch of Tribe – the United Synagogue’s youth provision which aims to create a future for our communities through engaging, educating and inspiring the next generation.

2007
US Chesed
US Chesed

US Chesed department is born, providing vital welfare services to our members and the wider community including hospital and prison chaplains, financial aid and bursaries and social responsibility projects.

2013
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE is installed as our Chief Rabbi.

2015
Sheffield United Synagogue
Sheffield United Synagogue

Sheffield United Synagogue becomes the first community based outside London and the Home Counties to become a member of the organisation since it was founded.

2018
Is It Kosher?
Is It Kosher?

KLBD launches its product search app opening a world of thousands of kosher certified and approved products to the community.

2020
150th Anniversary
150th Anniversary

In the year the United Synagogue is supposed to celebrate its 150th Anniversary, the COVID-19 pandemic forces our shuls to close for the first time since the war. We offer religious services online, provide thousands of people with vital practical support and our burial team work around the clock.

2022
The passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II
The passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II

On 8 September, Queen Elizabeth II passes away and King Charles III becomes our new monarch. Over 1,000 people attend a memorial service at St John’s Wood Shul paying tribute to Her Late Majesty.

A Siddur for Everyone
A Siddur for Everyone

We launch Siddur Lakol – a ground-breaking Orthodox siddur for those with disabilities. Using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), the siddur features simplified translations and accessible transliteration of core prayers.

2023
Welcome Jo Grose
Welcome Jo Grose

Jo Grose becomes Chief Executive – the first female CEO in the organisation’s 150 year history. In the same year we present a new brand and visual identity celebrating the future and diversity of the work we do serving the British Jewish Community.

The Coronation of King Charles III
The Coronation of King Charles III

To mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in May, the United Synagogue Schools Coronation Choir recorded a special adaptation of Adon Olam. The Chief Rabbi and Lady Mirvis were honoured to spend Shabbat at St James’s Palace, enabling the Chief Rabbi to attend the Coronation. The Prayer for the Royal Family was also updated, including the word “King” for the first time since 1952.

Be part of the next chapter of our story! To find out more about becoming a United Synagogue member, click here.

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