Ilford Synagogue
Rabbi Hyman has been at Ilford for a year, having previously served communities including Sutton, Woodside Park and Belmont. The Belfast-born minister studied in yeshivot in London and Gateshead and gained a degree and semicha from Jews’ College. He recalls that as an eight-year-old in Belfast, “I pointed to the rabbi [Alexander Carlebach] and uttered: ‘I’m going to be a rabbi one day.’ Don’t ask me why.”
Tell us about your family life
I am married to Michelle, who is executive director of the British Friends of the Arts Museums of Israel. There are three daughters and three stepsons aged between 18 to 25 and a cavalier King Charles called Rafi.
Tell us about a typical week at the synagogue
It’s busy, being the largest community in the Redbridge area [1,200 members]. There are visits to members who are ill, dealing with bereavements, preparing for my weekly Thursday night Gemara shiur, answering numerous emails, meetings with organisations, shul committees and individuals — and attending our three daily services. Our Ma’ariv service is the main one for Redbridge, often attracting around 30 people. I work from my office, situated in the shul office block in Schaller House, which also houses my sizeable library.
What do you do in your time off?
I’ve had lots in the past. Gardening, which for 10 years I did professionally, combining it with being a part-time rabbi at Welwyn Garden City. I like fast cars. My last one was a Lotus Esprit which I did some renovations on. I previously owned a Lotus Excel and a Nissan 300ZX which I had fully modified and took to specialist car shows. I am also interested in photography and classical music. But in my present position I have little time to pursue time-consuming hobbies. Whatever free time I manage I like to spend with my wife and family and furthering my Torah knowledge.