A special dedication ceremony for the Aron ha-Kodesh, the Holy Ark, took place during the Shabbat morning service at Mosaic Reform Synagogue.
More than three years after Mosaic Reform moved into its Stanmore home and celebrated its dedication service in September 2024, the Ark remained the final element to be completed. As Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige Middleton noted in her sermon, it is perhaps the building’s most important feature.
The synagogue commissioned award-winning sculptor Robert Erskine and his son Liam, an engineer, to create a beautiful, spiritually uplifting, robust and uniquely movable home for the Torah scrolls.
Rabbi Kathleen thanked the Erskines for the Ark, installed during Rosh Hashanah 18 months ago, and for the matching reading desk and scroll-dressing stands, which arrived recently to complete the set. For the occasion, all five scrolls were taken from the Ark for the hakkafot (processions), and both Robert and Liam were honoured with aliyot (call ups).
Rabbi Kathleen also spoke about the newly commissioned window decorations, designed in-house and gifted by a generous friend.
Harry Grant, Chairman of Mosaic Reform, thanked everyone involved in the long and challenging process of finding and acquiring the site, and building the new synagogue.
The completion of the Ark and its accompanying furnishings brings to a successful conclusion a venture long envisioned by and for the community.