Dayan Ivan Binstock is our Senior Rabbi.

Dayan Binstock was educated at Hackney Downs School and University College London, where he obtained a BSc degree in Chemistry. He remained at the college doing postgraduate research, before studying at the Etz Chaim Yeshiva in London, at Jews College and at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem.

Throughout his career, Dayan Binstock has served a number of London communities, beginning in 1972 with the South East London District Synagogue. In 1974 he joined Finsbury Park Synagogue (1974-78), and went on to lead the community at New Synagogue (1978-80) and Golders Green Synagogue (1980-1996). He became Senior Rabbi of St John’s Wood Synagogue in 1996 and recently celebrated 20 years in our community. He joined the London Beth Din in 1989.

Dayan Binstock is actively involved in adult education and pastoral counselling. He is the Principal of the North West London Jewish Day School and Rabbinic Advisor to the Governors of Immanuel College in Bushey.

Rebetzen Rachie is our Senior Rebetzen and is a highly sought after educator and teacher who lectures widely to audiences around the world. Within St John’s Wood, she has formulated highly acclaimed programmes such as “Bat Mitzvah Revisited” and hosts women’s learning events on Shabbat and before festivals.

The Dayan and Rebetzen Rachie’s warm and wise leadership has helped to build St John’s Wood into the vibrant, friendly and welcoming community it is today.

Dayan Binstock can be contacted by email at rabbi@shulinthewood.com

Rebetzen Rachie can be contacted by email at rachie@shulinthewood.com

Rabbi Mendel Cohen and his wife Rebetzen Chai joined the Rabbinic team as Rabbi at St John’s Wood Synagogue in 2018, after eight successful years as the Rabbi and Rebetzen of The Saatchi Synagogue, located on the SJW Synagogue site, together they oversaw its growth in membership and programmes.

Rabbi Mendel grew up in Leeds and received his Rabbinic ordination from the Machon Semicha Lerabanut. He has a Masters degree in Jewish Education and Leadership, and currently training as a Dayan with the Montefiore Endowment, under the auspices of Eretz Chemdah for advance Judaic Studies. Rabbi Mendel leads the Saatchi Minyan and is active throughout the many areas of communal and pastoral life, his office also organises the Saatchi Purim and Simchat Torah parties which take place annually as well as leading other events throughout the Jewish year.

Rebetzen Chai grew up in Seattle and is an active member of our Rabbinic, leading women’s classes and Young Families. Rebetzen Chai is also the Director of the St John’s Wood Kindergarten, and the Mimi Dwek Hebrew School, and amongst many other activities runs the Mummy and Me group on Wednesdays and our new Bar and Bat Mitzvah Programme.

Rabbi Mendel can be contacted by email at rmc@shulinthewood.com

Rabbi Yoni Golker has been our Community Rabbi together with his wife Rebetzen Dina since August 2016.

Rabbi Yoni grew up in Golders Green and spent three years at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel. Rabbi Golker is an experienced educator and seasoned public speaker.  Rabbi Golker is known for his remarkable educational programming and especially his creative virtual programming during the pandemic, where he conducted over 100 interviews with renowned people across the Jewish world, with hundreds of thousands of online views.

Prior to joining St John’s Wood Synagogue, Rabbi Golker taught for over a decade at JFS, where he was head of Upper School Jewish Education.

Rebbetzen Dina studied psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate level, specialising in counselling psychology and is also a qualified secondary school teacher.  Rebetzen Dina leads the Babes in the Wood group for mothers and babies which meets on a Friday morning, as well as other mum support groups within the community.  Rebetzen Dina also delivers ladies shiurim as part of the Taste of Torah series on selected Shabbat Mornings.  Dina is part of the Chief Rabbi’s Maayan Programme for high-level educators for the Jewish community, as well as advisors in the area of Taharat Hamishpacha (laws of family purity) and women’s health issues.

The Golkers are responsible for education and programming within the community and work with our Young Professionals/Young Jewish Network, engaged and newly marrieds and with our Professional plus groups, as well as many other demographics within the shul.  Rabbi Yoni has also organised many of the successful educational programmes for various groupings in the community including our Judaism Alive course, Minimoons and Parenting Courses.  The Golkers play an active and leading role in local Young United Synagogue events with other US Shuls.  Rabbi Yoni also plays a full role in lifecycle roles for members of all ages within our community as well as delivering shiurim and classes.

Rabbi Yoni can be contacted by email at rabbiyoni@shulinthewood.com

Rebetzen Dina can be contacted by email dina@shulinthewood.com

Michael Beagelman, Gillian Burr, Malcolm Carter, Irene Goodman, Philip Green, Simone Klass, David Marks, Belinda Oakland, Sidney Symons, and Philip Vecht.

Roger Gewolb, Simone Klass & Anne Godfrey

To contact the Honorary Officers, please email hos@shulinthewood.com