St John’s Wood (United) Synagogue is moving towards a merger with the Saatchi shul, which holds services in the beth hamedrash on the SJWS site.
Following discussions between the respective leaderships, a framework for the future has been put forward.
It proposes that separate SJWS and Saatchi services will continue. But to “foster a wider sense of community”, joint kiddushim will be held when service timings can be co-ordinated.
Saatchi’s Rabbi Mendel Cohen will join the SJWS rabbinic team while continuing to lead Saatchi services. In time, he and his wife Chai will take on wider responsibilities within the enlarged community.
