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North London Orthodox shul secures future with plans for smaller premises

Wembley Synagogue reveals 'exciting news' of site purchase with a move likely in 2022

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Wembley United Synagogue is to move to a smaller, purpose-built space more in keeping with the needs of the congregation.

In its Rosh Hashanah magazine, leaders put a range of options to the membership, which has declined over the past few decades with the migration of Jewish families to other parts of North-West London. But it remains several hundred-strong.

Now members have been informed of the “exciting news” that a suitable site has been purchased, nearer to where the bulk of congregants reside. Planning permission has been obtained from Brent Council and suggestions from architects will be put to the community. “Between the experts and ourselves, we should be able to create a new shul that we can worship in and love. If all goes well, we should be able to move into the new shul in 2022.”

Wembley’s financial representative Charles Vitez said this week that the new site would be developed “in our own good time”. When the moment was right, “we will sell the present site. However, we expect to be here at the next High Holy-Days and later. We are fortunate to have the time and resources to get this right. We are confident that Wembley Synagogue will be around for a very long time to come. As long as there remain Jews who wish to pray in Wembley, we will be there for them.”

US community development manager Rabbi Shlomo Odze said the organisation had been “delighted to support Wembley to explore possibilities for their new home and help them purchase a building which we know will be more comfortable and more suitable for their needs. We wish the community well and will be with them every step of the way.”

 

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