Welcome

Welcome to the the largest and most inclusive shul in Hendon.

Within our community you will find a full range of activities for all ages and lifestages within a vibrant, modern orthodox framework. This pack highlights just a few of the activities that take place regularly on the Synagogue campus and I am sure that you will find something here for you.

Our synagogue has served the community for over 60 years and has seen many changes both within our membership and beyond. Throughout that time, Hendon United Synagogue has adapted to meet its members needs in a huge variety of ways.

News

Weekly Parsha

BAMIDBAR

SEDRAH REFLECTIONS BY RABBI J HUGHES

“Take a census of the entire assembly of B’nei Yisrael… every male according to their headcount” [l'gulgalotam] (Bamidbar 1:2)
This word, ‘l’gulgalotam’, is used exclusively in connection with the count of B’nei Yisrael, but not for the counting of the Tribe of Levi later in the Sedrah. Why?
The Chasam Sofer (1762-1838) answers that the Gemara in Menachot (37a) relates that the Sage, Pelimo, asked Rebbi Yehuda the Prince on which head a two-headed person should put his tefillin. (Incidentally, there was a recent BBC documentary about functioning adult conjoined twins in America!) Rabbi Yehuda considered the question to be obsolete and told him either to go to exile or to be excommunicated. Underpinning Rabbi Yehuda’s harsh reaction was the view that such a person is considered a ‘Treifa’ who would, at that time in medical history, be unlikely to live past 12 months, let alone 13 years, the age at which a boy is obligated to don tefillin.
Therefore, for the census of the B’nei Yisrael, who were counted from the ages of 20 to 60, this question could never apply. However, for the Levites, who were counted from the age of 30 days, the question is relevant. So, explains the Chasam Sofer, the Torah omitted the word l’gulgalotam to indicate that regardless of how many heads a Levi may have, he should only be counted once!
This goes to show that every word of Torah is packed with meaning. As we approach Shavuot – the time of the giving of the Torah – this message is particularly pertinent.

View previous parshiot

Our Rabbi

Rabbi Ginsbury

Rabbi Mordechai and Judy Ginsbury joined Hendon United Synagogue in February 1999. Prior to this they had spent nearly 14 years as Rabbi and Rebbetzen of the Prestwich Hebrew Congregation in Manchester.

During their tenure with us they have endeared themselves to the Community with their warm, intelligent and welcoming approach and have enhanced and furthered Hendon’s reputation as a dynamic and vibrant Kehilla.

Read more