View source for Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue

{{Short description|Synagogue in Stanmore, London}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name                  = Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue
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| image                 = Synagogue in Snow2.jpg
| image_upright         = 1.4
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| caption               = The synagogue in winter 2009
| religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]]
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| rite                  = [[Nusach Ashkenaz]]
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| organisational_status = [[Synagogue]]<!-- or |organizational_status= -->
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| consecration_year     = 
| functional_status     = Active
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| location              = London Road, [[Stanmore]], [[London Borough of Harrow|Borough of Harrow]], [[London]], [[England]]
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| country               = United Kingdom
| map_type              = Greater London
| map_size              = 250
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| map_relief            = 1
| map_caption           = Location of the synagogue in [[Greater London]]
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| coordinates           = {{Coord|51|37|15|N|0|17|56|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=it}}
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| established           = 1946 {{small|(as a congregation)}}
| groundbreaking        = 
| year_completed        = 1951
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| facade_direction      = North
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| website               = {{URL|https://stanmoresynagogue.org}}
| module                = <!-- for embedding other infobox templates -->
| footnotes             = <ref name="JCR-UK">{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/JCR-UK/London/stanmore/index.htm |title=Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue |work=Jewish Communities and Records – UK |publisher=[[JewishGen]] and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=25 April 2024 }}</ref>
}}
'''Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue'''  is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation and [[synagogue]], located on London Road in [[Stanmore]], in the [[London Borough of Harrow|Borough of Harrow]], [[London]], [[England]], in the United Kingdom.

{{as of|2012}}, the congregation had the largest community of any single Orthodox congregation in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Israel/Partnerships/Regions/Kavimut/Britain+Communities/Stanmore+11.htm |title=Partnership2Gether |work=[[The Jewish Agency]] |date= |access-date= }}</ref> The congregation is a constituent of the [[United Synagogue]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theus.org.uk/local_communities/our_shuls/members/ |title=Members |work=United Synagogue<!-- Bot Generated Title --> |date= |access-date= }}</ref> and it worships in the [[Nusach Ashkenaz|Ashkenazi]] [[Nusach (Jewish custom)|rite]].

==History==
{| align="right" border="1"
|+ align="bottom" style="caption-side: top" |Seat Holders<ref name="JCR-UK"/>
|1946
|57 male seat holders
|-
|1950
|296 male seat holders
|-
|1960
|594 male seat holders
|-
|1970
|1,016 male seat holders
|}
The congregation became affiliated with the United Synagogue in 1946, becoming a district synagogue in 1952 and subsequently a constituent (member) synagogue. The congregation has previously been called the Stanmore and Canons Park District Synagogue and the Canons Park & District Hebrew Congregation.<ref name="JCR-UK"/>

The current building (Main Shul) was consecrated on 18 March 1951 by [[Dayan (rabbinic judge)|Dayan]] [[London Beth Din#Former dayonim of the London Beth Din|Dr I. Grunfeld]] and Isaac Wolfson [[Esquire|Esq.]] The synagogue was built facing north rather than east (towards [[Jerusalem]]). The community centre was consecrated on 8 September 1963. The Freeman Susman Hall (above the community centre) is bigger than the main synagogue. The corridor between the main synagogue and the community centre was widened in an extension in 2002. As part of the extension a garden was established at the front of the building. A lift was added to the building in 2008 to enhance accessibility; and in 2014 the main shul was refurbished as well as half of the classrooms to create a Beit Midrash known as Beit Mordechai.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

== Clergy ==
The following individuals have served as [[rabbi]] of the congregation:<ref name="JCR-UK"/>

{| class="wikitable"
! Ordinal !! Officeholder !! Term start !! Term end !! Time in office !! Notes
|-
|align="center"|{{nts|1}} || S. M. Warshaw ||align=center| {{circa|1950}} ||align=center| {{circa|1951}} ||align="right"|{{age in years|1950|1951}} years ||
|-
|align="center"|{{nts|2}} || Avrom Simon Chaitowitz ||align=center| 1954 ||align=center| 1986 ||align="right"|'''{{age in years|1954|1986}} years''' || <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Profiles/minister_profiles_orthodox_C.htm#Chaitowitz_A |title=Rabbinical Profiles of Orthodox Ministers whose Surnames begin with C  |work=Jewish Communities and Records – UK |publisher=[[JewishGen]] and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain |date= |access-date= }}</ref>
|-
|align="center"|{{nts|3}} || Dr. Jeffrey Cohen ||align=center| 1986 ||align=center| {{end date|2006|01}} ||align="right"|{{age in years|1986|2006}} years || Also an author<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rabbijeffrey.cv.uk/books.html |title=Rabbi Dr Jeffrey M Cohen |publisher=Rabbi Dr Jeffrey Cohen |date= |access-date= }}{{self-published inline|date=April 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|align="center"|{{nts|4}} || Mendel Lew ||align=center| 2006 ||align=center| February 2025 ||align="right"|{{age in years|2006|2025}} years || 
|}

==Youth activities==
Stanmore and Canons Park Synagogue is well known for its youth activities. Stanmore provides a huge variety of programmes for the youth of the community. This includes trips, plays, youth clubs, Jewish Learning and external groups. Stanmore is also well known for its "Learn To Lead" programme, which is now also used in Bushey, Radlett, Edgware and many other communities following its enormous success in Stanmore.

A range of clubs during the week that take place in the community centre or the "Youth Lounge".  As for Jewish learning, the synagogue runs a [[Beit Midrash]] programme where sixth formers can pair up with older ''[[Chavrusa|Chavrutahs]]'' to learn texts or discuss issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://staging.tribeuk.com/tribe_family/find_your_tribe/c-116/stanmore_tribe |title=Stanmore Tribe<!-- Bot Generated Title --> |publisher=Tribe |date= |access-date= }}</ref>

Learn to Lead is an extensive programme where young people are given the opportunity to run the activities for the younger children. This starts with weekly sessions then the ''Learn to Lead Israel Trip'' (February Half term year 9), the ''[[Prague]] Trip'' (February half-term, year 10), the ''Leadership Weekend'' and finally the ''Tribe [[Poland]] Trip''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://staging.tribeuk.com/about_tribe/latest_news/c-192/tribe-went-to-poland/ |title=Tribe Poland Trip<!-- Bot Generated Title --> |publisher=Tribe |date= |access-date= }}</ref> The programme is linked closely with Tribe and many of the leaders Stanmore produces go on to lead in other communities.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.theus.org.uk/the_united_synagogue/media_centre/press_releases/archive/c-551/chief-rabbi-pays-tribute-to-tribe-for-securing-the-future-of-british-jewry/ |title=Tribe Youth Awards<!-- Bot Generated Title --> |work= |publisher=United Synagogue |date= |access-date= }}</ref> Stanmore's various trips are usually connected with Tribe (Tribe Poland Trip). Year 9–13 participates in the ''Tribe Football Frenzy''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://staging.tribeuk.com/photo_gallery/set/?gallery_id=6&photo_set_id=45 |title=Stanmore A Team<!-- Bot Generated Title --> |publisher=Tribe |date= |access-date= }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|London|Judaism}}}}
* [[History of the Jews in England]]
* [[List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom]]
* [[List of synagogues in the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://stanmoresynagogue.org}}
*[http://www.stanmore-slc.org.uk/ Stanmore Learning Centre]
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/stanmoreyouth Stanmore Youth Youtube Page]

{{United Synagogue}}
{{Synagogues in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanmore And Canons Park Synagogue}}
[[Category:1946 establishments in England]]
[[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in England]]
[[Category:Ashkenazi synagogues]]
[[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1946]]
[[Category:Orthodox synagogues in England]]
[[Category:Religion in the London Borough of Harrow]]
[[Category:Stanmore]]
[[Category:Synagogues completed in 1951]]
[[Category:Synagogues in London]]