St Albans' Mayor and MP welcome synagogue's 25th anniversary
St Albans Masorti Synagogue (SAMS) celebrated its first 25 years on Sunday 25 October in company with St Albans Mayor and Anne Main MP.
Cllr Salih Gaygusuz, Mayor of St Albans City and District, and Anne Main, MP for St Albans, addressed the gathering of around 80 people. The evening in The Dencora Centre, St Albans, was hosted by the Co-chairs of the synagogue, Simon Samuels and Moira Hart.
Different speakers described how the congregation has grown from three families in 1990 into a thriving community of over 450 adults and children. Thousands of pounds have been raised for charity and the community now runs a playgroup and hosts educational visits from local schools.
Other dignitaries present included Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, senior Rabbi of the Masorti movement, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, former Rabbi of SAMS, and Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth, SAMS’ current Rabbi.
The event was the culmination of months of commemorations that included the anniversary initiative, “25 Friday nights for 25 years”. 25 members of SAMS each hosted a Friday night meal on the eve of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. In celebration of community, every member of SAMS either hosted or was invited to dinner in a member’s home.
Cllr Salih Gaygusuz, Mayor of St Albans City and District, said: “It has been good to learn more about this thriving community that is making a very positive contribution to the life of our District. I wish SAMS and all its members every success over the next 25 years.”
Simon Samuels, SAMS’ Co-chair said: “This anniversary event was both a celebration of how far this community has come over the past quarter century and a look forward with optimism to the next 25 years. As demonstrated by our invited speakers, it highlighted both what SAMS has done for the Jewish community in the area but also how it has contributed to the wider society in St Albans too."
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Salih Gaygusuz
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544
Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the press:
Ruth Boyer, Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819316
E-mail: ruth.boyer@stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Pictures:
TOP: From left to right: SAMS’ Co-chairs, Simon Samuels and Moira Hart, with St Albans Mayor, Cllr Salih Gaygusuz, and Mayoress, Mrs Maureen Gaygusuz
ABOVE: From left to right: Co-chair Simon Samuels greets Anne Main MP
Notes:
More information about SAMS can be found on its website.
In a typical school year, SAMS receives around a dozen educational school visits from across Hertfordshire. Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth talks to the students about Judaism then explains and shows some of the artefacts in the synagogue. Rafi has also visited around five schools this year.
SAMS members raise money for charity and also get involved in voluntary work, particularly around Interfaith Week where they have contributed to the wider St Albans community. A few examples of such activities over the past few years include:
• Decorating community centres in St Albans (Pioneer Youth Club, Centre-33);
• Hedge planting in Verulamium Park;
• Clearing overgrowth in Fleetville cemetery;
• Cooking the evening meal for the homeless at Centre-33;
• Baking cakes for the St Albans Women's Refuge;
• Picking up litter along the Alban Way; and
• Knitting hats and scarves for the homeless.