This web site introduces you to Staines & District Synagogue.

We hope you find it interesting and look forward to being able to welcome you at a service or social event in the near future.

  Our Synagogue serves a large catchment area around our centre in Staines Middlesex.

Our membership encompasses

Staines, Ashford, Feltham, Hounslow, Heathrow, Isleworth, Sunbury-on-Thames, Chertsey, Shepperton, Walton-upon-Thames, Weybridge, Woking, Ascot, Sunninghill, Datchet, Windsor, Eton, Slough, Camberley, Bracknell. 

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Membership of the Synagogue is open to all orthodox Jews. Our fees are amongst the lowest in the Greater London and Middlesex area. We welcome enquiries from prospective members. All our members are able to enjoy services within the main synagogue building.

The standard subscription is inclusive of the United Synagogue Funeral Expenses Scheme.

Please phone or e-mail for more information

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The Minister is Mr. David Kale.

Orthodox Judaism

This is an Orthodox Jewish congregation. Orthodox Judaism is the core of Judaism. It reveres Jewish tradition and seeks to preserve all that is good in the Judaism of the past. It desires that Judaism shall be an active force for good in the lives of Jewish individuals, families and communities today. 

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The history of the congregation.

Cissie Green, daughter of one of the founders of the Staines Jewish Community recollected that Jack Gilbert was probably the first Jewish shopkeeper in Staines, and lived here from 1937. Cissie's parents , Mr. & Mrs. L Goodman, moved here in 1939. At the beginning of hostilities during World War II, many families were bombed out of their homes during air attacks on the East End of London. Some of the Jewish families thought that Staines was far enough out of London to be clear of the bombs. Three separate Yeshivot relocated to Staines and we still have members living in the district who remember attending Cheder in two of these institutions. I am told that one Yeshiva housed a group of German refugee children. As time went on and the number of families increased, services were at first held in the homes of the congregation. Later, the late Sir Jack Cohen - founder of Tesco's, and brother of Cissie's mother - offered a first floor hall above his arcade store in Staines for use as the first Staines Synagogue. The late Rev. Lew Rosenberg with his wife Helen joined the Community in 1943 and acted as our religious and spiritual leader for the next 36 years. During the war, a butcher in Egham allowed part of his shop to be scrubbed down and used on Thursdays for the sale of Kosher meat. The late "Chick" Galinsky, son of the Kosher butcher, told me that he collected his nickname as he was often to be seen helping his father by fetching chickens into the shop. In June 1952 the community laid the foundation stone of our first purpose built Synagogue in Tothill Street. In July 1953 the Synagogue was consecrated by the Chief Rabbi, the Very Rev. Rabbi Israel Brodie. At that time only utility bricks were available and so the building was not beautiful from the outside. However, inside, the atmosphere was always warm and friendly. At the time this Synagogue was consecrated, A Rosner was Chairman, E Westbrook was Vice-Chairman, J Melzack and T Davis were Wardens and R S King was Financial Representative. The Board comprised: J Abrahams, P Bernstein, M Chodick, A Finlay, H Fox, J Gilbert, H Goodman, J Greenbaum, E Levine, H Michaels, W Moss, A Schaffer and C Speyer.

 In the 1970's the buildings in Tothill Street were compulsorily acquired for development of the Elmsleigh Shopping Centre, and we were offered a new site, still in the centre of the Staines, on which to build a replacement Shul. This was consecrated in October 1976 by Dr. Immanuel Jakobovitz, the Chief Rabbi. Our building consists of the Synagogue which contains much of the stained glass from the old Shul and opens into a large hall which is used for social functions or to expand the Shul when needed for large attendances. We have a well stocked library, three classrooms and a nice kitchen from which the Ladies Guild perform catering miracles. There is a large semi-permanent Succah in the grounds. When a new office building was built at the end of the cul-de-sac past the new Shul, the road was named Westbrook Road, a fitting tribute to Councillor E (Mannie) Westbrook who was Chairman of our Board of Management for many years as well as a local town councillor and Mayor. For the first 36 years we had just one Minister, Rev. Lew Rosenberg. Since then we have enjoyed the services of: Rev. Herschel Caplan , Rev. Alan Shaw (twice), Rev. ( now Rabbi and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland ) Gavin Broder, Rabbi Yehuda Black, Rev. ( now Rabbi ) Nir Menashe, Rev. Michael Binstock and Tony Brown. Our Community is small but extremely friendly and we love to welcome visitors. The Synagogue must be the closest to a major river in the United Kingdom, and the surrounding countryside includes the river Thames, Runnymede, and Windsor Great Park all within a few minutes drive. Hampton Court Palace, Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle are close by. There is boating, sailing, golf, most other sports and a host of leisure clubs in the near vicinity. If you would like to visit us one weekend, Thames Lodge Hotel on the riverside, is just two minutes walk from the Shul. If you have a boat on the Thames, overnight moorings are available, also within easy walking distance.

I would welcome recollections from anyone who can shed light on the early years of the Community. In particular I hope to hear from the families of anyone mentioned here and from people who attended the Yeshivot during their time in Staines.

by Newslink Editor

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Our regular services

 Shabbat services are held on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Services are also held for all of the Yom Tovim.

Services are usually conducted by Mr. David Kale.

In addition, afternoon or evening services are arranged for those wishing to say Kaddish.

Unless circumstances dictate, the times of services will be as shown above.

Should there be any queries we can be contacted by phone ( as listed above ) or by email

or to arrange a Yahrtzeit Service

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Ministerial Visitation and/or Consultation

A minister can visit, if requested via the United Synagogue ( hospital etc. )

A ministerial consultation may also be arranged via the United Synagogue

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Education Activities

Interesting and topical talks from prominent Jewish speakers are held

at various times during the year - see the diary for details.

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Social and Cultural Events

  The Synagogue holds a wide variety of events through its various active organisations, details of which can be found in our magazine "Newslink", and in the diary section below.

The Guild which now incorporates the Thames Side Club usually meets on the first Monday of the month with speakers and visits followed by tea and chat.

Adult Education meetings are held during the Autumn.

Film Club usually meets on a Tuesday in Winter.

SYMCA ( originally Staines "Young" Marrieds) You don't have to be young and you don't have to be married. Usually meet in members homes for a social evening.

Council of Christians and Jews have regular meetings with speakers followed by refreshments

For all the above meetings - see the diary for details

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 Newslink (Synagogue Magazine)

 The Synagogue magazine which is published three times a year is entitled Newslink. It is produced using modern desk top publishing techniques and is distributed to all members and prospective members of the Synagogue. Newslink contains regular features as stated below, plus member's letters and articles. Advertising for Synagogue events and other commercial advertising is also contained within the magazine.

 Regular features contained in Newslink include an article of current and religious interest from our Minister, an editorial and diary. The diary lists special days and social events.

Articles for publication are welcome and should either be submitted by e-mail or sent by post to the synagogue.

Congratulations to the editors of the magazine for being the Runner-up in the

'Best Smaller Congregation Magazine'

category in the Jewish Community Media Awards 2007

"...Our magazine is only possible due to the contributions made by the many special people who write articles from which I select the magazine's content."

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Management

 The Management of Staines & District Synagogue through its constitution is vested in the Board of Management of the Synagogue. The Board consists of four honorary officers, ( a vice-chairman, two wardens and the financial representative) and eight men and six women.

We are represented on the United Synagogue Council, the Board of Deputies and the Council of Christians and Jews.

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U.S. Community Cares - Staines

Members of the Jewish community resident in the Staines and District Synagogue area who are experiencing health or other problems, or who simply would like someone to talk to, are asked to contact us either by phone to Miss M. Strehlow ( Tel 01784 454 205 ) or email.

If you are aware of any member in this situation please let us know and we shall arrange for the person concerned to be contacted.

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Notable Jewish Dates for 2011/2012 - 5772/5773

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Synagogue Diary

For times and venues, please phone or e-mail for details

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Other Web Sites of Jewish Interest

    United Synagogue  

The Board of Deputies 

The Community Security Trust

  The Jewish News    

  The Jewish Chronicle      

The Jewish Museum

Jewish Information Website

Jewish Search and Information

Big Green Jewish Website

N.W. Jewish Singles

Jewish Care

South London Jewish Services

Jewish Association of Cultural Societies

    Click on any of the above to view their web pages    

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last updated on 11th May 2012