Edgware & Hendon Reform Synagogue – EHRS

Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue (EHRS) is an inclusive, progressive, vibrant and welcoming holy community. Our Judaism combines a love of Jewish tradition with love of community. One goal is to innovate so that Judaism enhances life in today’s world and they are committed to care for all generations.

EHRS is a community centre for all ages. It is a place of prayer, a place of learning and above all a place for meeting great people. A huge range of Synagogue services and activities to bring people together of all ages are offered. These include Nagila, the early years nursery; Orot, the religion school which includes an excellent programme for Bar and Bat Mitzvah; Youth Clubs and great activities for children during school holidays; Uniformed Groups; the Day Centre for the elderly, plus a wide range of adult education to build lifelong Jewish learning and social groups.

The synagogue is there to support people in different ways from online meetings for prayer, learning and socialising to community networks for support, mental well being and practical needs such as shopping.

EHRS is run by hundreds of eager volunteers together with an inspiring Rabbinic and staff team. What makes it a holy community is the friendly, caring, welcoming and purpose driven way members pray, learn, meet and work together.

EHRS’ vision is to be a community which

• offers a variety of activities aimed at meeting the diverse religious, cultural, social and educational needs of its members
• supports its own members and works for the good of the local community, Israel and the world as a whole
• is committed to Jewish learning, both for its own sake and that of the wider community around it
• celebrates what makes Judaism enriching and relevant to the lives of its members
• actively engages in interfaith dialogue and shows respect to others and their communities
• upholds the teachings of Torah and works for equality, truth, justice and peace

Some social actions :

• There is also an Environmental Action Team (EAT).
• Supporting child refugees who arrive in this country on their own by volunteering or donating to The Separated Child Foundation.
• Support 6th formers from The London Academy, around the corner from EHRS, through the national charity Career Ready. You can mentor a 6th former and/or offer them internship.
• Donating non-perishable foodstuff or toiletries to the homeless as well as men’s clothing by leaving them in the white baskets near the cloakroom at EHRS. =then delivering them to Homeless Action in Barnet for onward distribution.
• Supporting rough sleepers in emergency accommodation in Barnet with Together in Barnet by volunteering to befriend them, prepare one or more courses of an evening meal or breakfast for 16 people, deliver the meals to a hotel.
• Supporting people leaving ultra-orthodox communities with Gesher EU.
• Making regular donations to World Jewish Relief. 
• Volunteering to help others inside the EHRS community through the Community Care Department.

Mental health is also taken into account :

• A mental health trained volunteer available
• Eating disorders : The EHRS Let’s Talk Mental Health initiative in conjunction with Beat, the UK’s Eating Disorder Charity held an online talk on 2 February 2022. There is also an eating disorder support group.
• EHRS held an online forum with mental health experts discussing the impact of social media on mental health. Addressing a number of issues regarding the negative use of social media on mental health, the panel discussed how we can educate, support and protect ourselves and our young people with their online activity and suggested steps and tips that can be taken to do this. This zoom event was organised by the EHRS Let’s Talk mental health working group and received positive feedback with participants asking for more events like this, especially with a focus on a young person’s only event and how to achieve better male participation.

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