Name of Synagogue: Radlett Reform Synagogue
Address: 118 Watling Street, Radlett WD7 7AA
Denomination: Movement for Reform Judaism (Reform)
Rabbi: Rabbi Paul Freeman, Rabbi Celia Surget, Cantor Sarah Grabiner
Size of Community: 750-1000 member households
I’m fascinated by English street names that shed light on Jewish history. Old Jewry Street in the City of London, for example, reminds us of England’s medieval Jewish community; Jewry Street in Winchester and Jew Street in Brighton hint at two significant Jewish populations that have long since dwindled. I’m not sure what a Watling is, but I’d bet good money that in years to come urban archaeologists will assume it’s something vaguely Jewish.
Running through Radlett, Watling Street is home to two synagogues, two kosher delis, a kosher butchers and a Chabad house. (There’s also a fish and chips shop selling fish in matzo meal, which everyone knows is a kosher restaurant hiding in plain sight.) In fact, walking up Watling Street on my way to Radlett Reform Synagogue I did feel that our two favourite past-times are eating and praying. If we’re not doing one, we’re doing the other. On the morning of my visit, the congregation were doing both. I arrived just before 10.30 am to find a throng of people filing out of Costa Coffee and into the synagogue next door.
The synagogue building was originally a church and the exterior still looks unmistakably church-like. This isn’t helped by Radlett Reform’s logo, a modern design made up of two semi circles, a large one pointing upwards on top of a smaller one pointing down. I spent a good while trying to work out what it signifies. A tuning fork? A partially dismembered menorah? Honestly, the only thing that came to mind was a baptismal font. My confusion was compounded by the large porcelain bowl positioned right in front of the bimah, and I wondered if the font had been left behind during the transformation.
That aside, the building’s transition into a synagogue is cleverly done. The stained glass windows display a range of Jewish motifs and the domed ceiling is painted in a sublime shade of sky-blue that put me in mind of the Lurianic synagogues of Tsfat/Safed. The overall effect is airy and calming.
The service, led by Rabbi Paul Freedman and Cantor Sarah Grabiner, was easy to follow, with frequent page number announcements and lots of participatory reading. There was also a fair amount of singing, most of it accompanied by Cantor Sarah on her guitar. Some of the songs were clearly new to the congregation and Cantor Sarah guided us through the tunes with care and a palpable sense of joy. At times, there was a clash of form and content. The congregation attempted to sing Psalm 150, which includes the refrain “Praise the Lord with cymbals and drums” but, to be honest, our praise was less “harps and trumpets” and more ‘stiff upper lip and English reserve’. But Cantor Sarah remained patient and smiling and her solo singing was beautiful.
Unsurprisingly for the time of year, the rabbi’s sermon focused on the upcoming High Holy Days, and his main theme was the role of the shofar as a wake-up call to action. It was a thought-provoking speech, but I have to say I was more impressed by his reference to Skinny Lister. After all, any old rabbi can quote the Talmud or Maimonides, but it takes a special kind of flair to shoe-horn in an obscure folk-punk band.
After the Torah reading, the rabbi invited those who were commemorating the death of a loved one to place a stone on the bima. I’ve never seen this done before and so, intrigued, I watched carefully. Turns out, that bowl at the front of the synagogue holds Yizkor stones for this mini memorial ceremony. And I found it to be a very moving addition to the service.
After Adon Olam, the congregation filed into a side hall for kiddush, recited by one of the children. The rabbi, cantor and a good number of lay members all came over to speak to me; in fact, I was so busy chatting that I didn’t g et to eat any of the food. In another synagogue this might be disappointing, but on Watling Street it’s no problem at all. I simply popped next door for a quick post-service coffee. Half the congregation had the same idea, and I continued the conversations I’d started in kiddush. Now, I’m fairly certain the Radlett Reform logo is not a giant cup of caramel latte. But a service that ends with friendly café conversation is a pretty good advert for any community.
Warmth of Welcome 4*
Decorum 4*
Service 4*
Kiddush 3*
