The Ark Synagogue (formerly Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue)

It is a Liberal Synagogue that thrives on its local members, delights in those who live further away, and welcomes anyone who wants to dip their toes into spiritual waters. The synagogue aims to offer a way to belong for everyone who is interested.

CARING

Care Team

Team of volunteers, who work alongside the care coordinator and the rabbis in caring for the members. From practical support with daily tasks to advice for carers, this team is here to address care needs in a holistic approach. By working with key partners such as Jewish Care and JAMI, the community is able to refer our members to receive specialist support.

Singing for the Soul

Established initially as a singing group to support those affected by memory loss and their carers, it quickly expanded to welcome all for whom singing improves their mental wellbeing. Singers of all ability and none are most welcome. The group currently meets weekly on Mondays at 11am online.

Gentle Yoga

Combining relaxation techniques and gentle yoga poses, the chair yoga class is suitable for everyone irrespective of their age or physical ability. The instructor Dyana will provide modifications to ensure that all can participate equally. The group currently meets weekly on Tuesdays at 11am online.

Shared Reading

The Shared Reading group meets weekly on Wednesdays at 3:15 pm online to share short stories or poetry with an opportunity to discuss the texts. This is not a book club and no preparatory reading is required. Just join and bring your love for literature along.

Bereavement Support Group

Our award-winning Bereavement Support Group supports members who have suffered the loss of a loved one. The specially trained team of volunteers is assisted by a professional psychotherapist and provides exceptional care and support.

PARTNERSHIPS

Local Community

The synagogue is a key contributor to the local community be it through its’ support for the Harrow Foodbank, the local homeless charity, New Hope, the membership in Harrow Citizens or through participation in local interfaith events to name just a few examples. Established by members of the Synagogue as Northwood Holocaust Memorial Events, the synagogue continues to support the work of Holocaust Learning UK, which provides thousands of local school pupils the opportunity to visit the synagogue and learn lessons from the Holocaust.

Wider Community

The rabbis and members take an active role in the wider Jewish community as well as in wider society. They are represented on the boards of Liberal Judaism, the Board of Deputies of British Jews as well as Leo Baeck College, London. The community is proud of its long history with The Bike Project, an award winning charity that refurbishes second-hand bikes and unites the bikes with refugees and asylum seekers around the UK.

Czech and Slovak Heritage

The synagogue enjoys a very special relationship with Jewish communities in the Czech and Slovak Republics as well as with towns that used to have a thriving Jewish community and whose history we seek to preserve. The Scrolls that they use in the services originate from towns across Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia.

Israel

The community is commited in supporting the State of Israel and its citizens to create a society true to the vision of its founders: to develop the Land for the benefit of all its inhabitants, and to implement the Prophetic ideals of liberty and justice. It encourages all of its members to be well-informed and provide opportunities to engage with its rabbis and guests on complex, contemporary issues relating to the State of Israel. There is ahave strategic partnerships with Arzenu and the Leo Baeck Education Centre, Haifa (Rabbi Aaron chairs the UK friends of LBEC).

Ukraine

The synagogue has a proud history of supporting developing Progressive Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to supporting Progressive Judaism in the Czech and Slovak Republics, it has built a strong relationship with the Progressive Jewish community in Lviv (Lvov), Ukraine. In addition to raising funds to support the community financially, members organise joint activities and regular visits to Lviv so they can nurture the partnership.

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