Rabbi to leave St John’s Wood for growing Hendon shul
ST JOHN’S Wood Synagogue community rabbi Yoni Golker is to fill the vacancy at one of the newest and fastest-growing United Synagogue congregations, Magen Avot in Hendon.
Rabbi Golker and his wife Dina have served St John’s Wood for six years, having previously been directors of the Ezra youth movement.
The rabbi also taught for over a decade at JFS, where he was head of sixthform Jewish education, and in September, will take on the role of deputy head and director of Jewish life and learning at Immanuel College.
During the pandemic, he conducted close to 100 interviews with personalities across the Jewish world, garnering hundreds of thousands of views online.
The rebbetzen is currently a clinical manager at Noa Girls, a charity offering practical, emotional and therapeutic support to adolescents within the Orthodox community. This summer, she will graduate from the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan Programme for female educators.
The North-West London couple and their five children are expected to join Magen Avot around Succot time.
Rabbi Golker said they were “thrilled” at the appointment, approved overwhelmingly by Magen Avot members
at the weekend. “We can’t wait to get to know our new kehillah.”
They will succeed Rabbi Joel and Sarah Kenigsberg, who are returning to Israel, having served Magen Avot since September 2019.
Paying tribute to the “brilliant” leadership of the Kenigsbergs, shul chair Simon Bentley said the appointment
of the Golkers was “a milestone event for Magen Avot.
“We very much look forward to welcoming them and working together in the further expansion and development of our community.”
Established in 2015, Magen Avot joined the US in 2017 and has grown to a membership of 170.