The rabbi of the only synagogue in Islington has already tried his hand on the London comedy circuit. But he is now forging a new career – as a tour guide of the north London borough’s Jewish history.

Rabbi Mendy Korer of Chabad Islington has just opened the Islington Jewish Heritage Trail, which tells the story of the Jews that have lived, worked, and thrived in the borough over the last 300 years. 

Once home to several synagogues – with the last one closing in 1967 –Islington has been seeing a revival in Jewish life since 2011, when Rabbi Mendy and his wife Hadasa started Chabad Islington.

Rabbi Mendy Korer will take you on a tour of Islington's rich Jewish history (Photo: Chabad Islington)

Launching the project at Islington Town Hall alongside Mayor of Islington Councillor Anjna Khurana, Rabbi Korer said that “especially as we are at such a delicate time in society, [this] is an opportune moment for Jews of Islington to feel welcome and know that this borough belongs to you. This is your home.”

The Islington Jewish Heritage Trail includes stories of people from all walks of life, from prime ministers to musicians, prisoners to refugees, teaching “how a migrant and religious minority community contributed to the borough and shaped the identity and heritage of the city and the nation as a whole”.

One of 12 street plaques from the Islington Jewish Heritage Trail (Photo: Chabad Islington)

Intriguingly, among the 40-plus stories are those of David Mocatta (1806-1882), George Elias Basevi (1794-1845) and Henry David Davis  (1839-1915), all of whom were well-known architects. 

The trail, which is marked out by 12 plaques, spans across the entire borough and can be completed as a self-guided tour or led by Rabbi Mendy.

Part of the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s Untold Stories initiative, the trail is the only one in the borough of Islington. Untold Stories aims to help communities to create and develop projects that share their stories with the capital.

For more information and to take a tour, click here