A ground-breaking North London community bringing together three strands of Judaism under the same roof has opened its new Stanmore building with a barmitzvah celebration.

Sam Landau’s ceremony was part of the Shabbat service at Mosaic Reform, the largest of the three congregations. Mosaic Liberal and Mosaic Masorti will begin services at a later date and the communities will come together for social and cultural activities.

Mosaic Reform chair Harry Grant said the opening was “a unique step for Anglo-Jewry. With our three synagogues and four rabbis, including a dedicated development rabbi, we believe no other arrangement of this sort exists in the world. It is our way of ensuring that Jewish life can adapt and grow in new directions demanded by new generations.”

Rabbi Kathleen de Magtige-Middleton, who conducted the Shabbat service before a congregation of over 150, said: “So many people have worked so hard to make this vision a reality. This is the beginning of a new era.”

The development rabbi, Anna Wolfson, added that Mosaic would “aim to offer options that don’t necessarily have to fit into the three existing strands. We are open to exploring other ways in which people can exercise their Jewish choices. As a result, we have also created Mosaic+.”

The new building will additionally house a religion school, also involving the nearby Kol Chai Reform congregation, a children’s soft play area and a café.