The management committees of Edgware Masorti Synagogue (EMS) and Elstree and Borehamwood Masorti Community (EBMC) are delighted to announce that they have agreed to merge, forming a new Masorti synagogue.
The new community will cater for members and their families in both areas and seek, with its traditional but modern outlook, to attract new members from the surrounding areas.
The decision was overwhelmingly approved at General Meetings of each community on Monday 4th October, after several months of detailed discussions and a series of well-attended Zoom sessions at which members questioned their management committees on their proposals. The merger will be completed on 20th December, once the necessary legal formalities have been concluded. An inaugural Council, which will agree the name of the new community, will be elected prior to this date.
The merger follows increasing cooperation between the two communities over the past two years, culminating in the appointment of Rabbi Danny Newman as joint Rabbi earlier this year, which has been a great success.
One of the first tasks of the new Council will be to look for a suitable building nearer to Borehamwood, in order to cater for the increasing numbers of young Jewish families in the area.
In the meantime, EMS will be based at the existing synagogue and community centre in central Edgware and, subject to Covid restrictions, traditional and children’s services will continue to be offered in rented accommodation in Borehamwood. The agreement will ensure the continuation of services in Edgware for those EMS members who would not wish to travel to Borehamwood.
David Grossman, Co-Chair of EMS, said: “We have been in discussion with EBMC for some time following the realisation that our young people are tending to move away from the Edgware area. Since we have got to know EBMC better, and particularly since we have been lucky enough to share the services of Rabbi Danny, we have increasingly felt that the enthusiasm and drive of this youthful community, combined with our religious dedication
and administrative knowledge, will provide the Elstree/Borehamwood area with a meaningful Masorti experience. We look forward to the future with excitement and confidence.”
Peter Lurie, EBMC Co-Chair said: “We believe that the two communities complement each other, combining the wealth of experience at EMS with the energetic young community at EBMC.”
Rabbi Danny Newman said: “I am delighted that both of the communities I serve have decided to build their futures together and I am excited about what now becomes possible when we bring together the wisdom, experience and resources of EMS with the young families, children and growth potential of EBMC.”
