Cantor Zöe Jacobs, Senior Clergy of Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS):
FRS is a proud, progressive and welcoming space for all. We not only hold Jewish services and celebrations, but within our community we host a nursery, a homeless shelter and are a safe place for refugees to gather.
On Tuesday night, two people tried to attack our Synagogue and were unsuccessful.
This is clearly an attempt to intimidate the British Jewish community, but we will not be deterred by these cowardly acts. Instead, we will continue to prioritise building bridges across the wider Barnet community.
At this time, and as always, our community is being incredibly well supported by the police, the government, CST and all of our key partners.
Finchley Reform Synagogue message to members and friends:
Dear FRS community,
You may by now have seen the news about the attempt overnight to harm our synagogue building. Shul is our home in so many ways, it’s the place where we come to find comfort and community and to take action for good in the world. We are extremely grateful that nobody was hurt and that our building is also unharmed, but we know that the emotional and psychological impact of today’s events is significant.
We built our new building to be a platform to enable us to do all these things. When something threatens our physical space and our community, it also strengthens our resolve to invest our time and our love in positive expressions of our Judaism and our values. For generations, Jews have responded to hatred with an affirmation of our purpose, refusing to have our identity defined by those who would do us harm.
We are extremely grateful for the solidarity of our neighbours, local police and politicians. They help us remember that we are a community who would always choose to build bridges rather than walls. We are so grateful to those who are investing enormous energy in this moment to care for our physical security, which enables our community to focus on its spiritual and emotional wellbeing. In that spirit we will pray together this Shabbat, celebrating new young leaders in our community, a Bat Mitzvah, and continuing to care for the sick and the mourners amongst us.
Even as we respond to today’s events, we know daily life goes on and that means you may need us for completely unrelated but no less important conversations. Whether you or your family need support after today’s news, or with any other lifecycle moment, the clergy and professional teams are here as always and we encourage you to reach out. Please keep an eye on tomorrow’s FRS news for more information and updates.
The FRS Clergy Team
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, Co-Leads of The Movement for Progressive Judaism, message to our communities:
Dear friends,
The news from Finchley Reform Synagogue has been deeply unsettling. Like you, we felt both relief that no one was hurt and a real sense of concern.
No one should feel fear when walking into a place of prayer. A synagogue should be a space of safety, of gathering, of Jewish life in all its forms. When that sense is shaken, even for a moment, it affects us all.
Our tradition teaches that we are responsible for one another. What happens in one community is not distant, it is shared.
We want to acknowledge the way Finchley Reform Synagogue has responded, with calm, care and clarity. That kind of leadership matters and it strengthens all of us.
We are in close contact with CST and the police and remain grateful for the work they do every day to protect our communities.
As Shabbat approaches, we will gather as we always do. There is something powerful in that continuity, in choosing to show up, to pray, to be together.
We are thinking of Finchley Reform Synagogue and of each of you.
With warmth,
Charley and Josh