Our History

 History of Northwood US

In 1987 a number of members of Pinner Synagogue who lived in Northwood set up overflow services locally and the first proper Shabbat service was held in a church hall in Northwood on Chanukah, 19th December 1987.  It was attended by over 200 people.

For the next seven years, Shabbat services were held in Northwood on the first Shabbat of each month and this was then increased to two per month.In addition, Friday night services were held locally in members’ houses.
In 1990 recognising the potential for a Northwood Kehila, the United Synagogue bought three houses in Murray Road and these became the venue for regular Shabbat services. Later that year at an EGM it was agreed by Pinner and United Synagogue that Northwood should become an independent Synagogue.

In 1991 Rabbi Barry Marcus was appointed and Yomim Noraim services were held at the Bible College, Northwood College, as well as the Grange hotel and a marquee in a member’s garden. 

In 1993, Northwood Synagogue joined the United Synagogue community and soon after detailed planning started for the building of a brand new synagogue building in Murray Road which was officially opened by the Chief Rabbi on Friday 22nd September 1995 / 27 Ellul 5755.

Rabbi Marcus left Northwood in 1994 and in 1996 the members appointed Rabbi Naftali Brawer and his wife Dina and they served our community with great success for over eleven years until mid 2008. 

At Pesach 2009 Rabbi Moshe Freedman and his wife Ilana took over the position of Community Rabbi and helped us move forward spiritually and culturally. After six successful years, Rabbi Freedman took a new position at the New West London synagogue and we have a new Rabbi. Rabbi Aharon Zerbid was formerly the Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria, but grew up in both France and Israel and comes from a long line of Rabbis. He is joined by his delightful wife, Yehudit and their five young children and their friendly, open approach to Judaism in winning hearts and minds.

In 2016 the shul celebrated its 21st Birthday and we were by the presence of Emiritus Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks as well as all those Rabbi's who have served in Northwood on a full or interim basis: Rabbi's Freedman, Finn, Shisler, Plancey, Marcus and Koten.

As well as being a warm and welcoming community, we are especially of three major iniatives that we have launched:

Northwood Network - caring for those in need. From hot soup to a friendly chat

Northwood Holocaust Memoral Week - a comprehensive programme of talks and workshops for schoolchildren. Now extended to many other communities.

Northwood Hub - using the synagogue facilities for the wider community