Maidenhead Synagogue originated during World War II when many Jewish families were evacuated to the area from London.[3] It was initially a community with no dedicated building, meeting for prayer in private houses and served by a volunteer rabbi and lay readers. At the war's end, some of the congregation stayed in the area and established a permanent Jewish community, acquiring a house for use as a dedicated synagogue building in 1953.[2]
The synagogue became part of the Reform Movement in 1960,[4] so receiving the services of student rabbis of the Leo Baeck College, among them Jonathan Romain who was appointed as the synagogue's first full-time rabbi in 1980[2] and contunued in the role until 2024.[1] The synagogue moved to larger premises in 2001[2] and the congregation had 1831 members in 2017.[5] An extension to the synagogue, including a new community centre, was opened in 2017.
Facilities
In addition to being a centre for worship, the synagogue's facilities include a library, a Judaica and kosher shop, a nursery school, a religion school, youth clubs, adult education classes, conversion classes, social activities for adults and children, a café, and a community care scheme.[2][6]
For members unable to travel to the synagogue, Shabbat evening and Shabbat morning services are streamed live via the internet.[2]
All members receive by post the synagogue's monthly community magazine, Hadashot (חדשות).[7]
^"Maidenhead Synagogue". Jewish Communities and Records – UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
