THE RABBINIC TEAM

Dayan Ivan & Rebbetzen Rachie Binstock

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 & Rebetzen Chai Cohen

 

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

 

Cantor Avraham Kirshenbaum

Cantor Avraham Kirshenbaum studied at the Central Cantorial School in Tel Aviv and in Petach-Tikva. He brings a wealth of experience with him having served as Chazan in numerous synagogues including Palm Beach – Florida, The Great Synagogue of Zichron Yaakov, Heichal Shlomo, The Great Synagogue of Tel-Aviv and performed in renowned concerts in Israel and worldwide. He has served  as Cantor of the prestigious Jerusalem Great Synagogue and for the last three years has led choral festival and shabbat services at St John’s Wood.

Rabbi Yossi Binstock

Rabbi Yossi Binstock is our Chazan. Having grown up in our community he went on to study at Yeshivas Bais Yisroel for four years and Received Rabbinic Ordination. Rabbi Yossi Has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hult International Business School and has formally been a part of the team since 2014.

He leads highly acclaimed participatory Shabbat and Festival services and is involved with a wide range of teaching within the community.

Rabbi Yossi can be contacted by email at yossi@shulinthewood.com

Rabbi Toby & Bracha Weiniger

Rabbi Toby & Bracha Weiniger serve on the Rabbinic Team at St. John’s Wood Synagogue with particular responsibility for children & youth, families and education. Since their appointment in July 2021, they have driven a variety of popular programmes and events to inspire and engage the community.
Rabbi Weiniger received his Rabbinic Ordination (‘Semicha’) in 2024 from Rabbi S. F. Zimmerman, Rov & Av Beis Din of the Federation. Since 2022, he has been a regular lecturer at the JLE (‘Jewish Learning Exchange’) in Golders Green, where he teaches Gemara & Halacha to young adults. He is a well-received guest teacher at schools and offices for lunch & learn sessions. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel for several years. He graduated with a first-class law degree from LSE (‘London School of Economics and Political Science’) in 2022 and is actively pursuing a career in law alongside his Rabbinic remit.
Bracha studied at MMY Seminary in Jerusalem after completing her A-Levels. Alongside her role, she is pursuing a PhD in Chemical Biology as part of the EPSRC CDT Programme at Imperial College London. She holds a Msci in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry from Imperial and has been awarded a grant from the Royal Society of Chemistry for research.
The Weinigers live in St. John’s Wood with their daughter Meira.

Shifra & Nadav Hacham

Nadav and Shifra Hacham, originally from Jerusalem, have joined St John’s Wood Shul as Community engagement and outreach directors, working with Young Professionals and Young Families. Nadav is a strategic consultant, Shifra is a pediatric Occupational Therapist. In their spare time, they enjoy traveling, exploring new cuisines, hosting and spending time with friends, watching shows and movies, or speaking passionately about Jewish philosophy or public policy issues.

Honorary Officers, Warden & Council

Michael AbrahamChairman
Rosanna BurrVice-Chair
Michel SznajerFinancial Representative
Michael MagdovitzWarden
Jourdan RajwanHonorary Officer
Aliza Weinstein PineHonorary Officer
Harlan ZimmermanHonorary Officer
Pamela CrystalHonorary Officer

Council

James Barnett, Michael Beagelman, Richard Braham, Gillian Burr, Lucy Collins, Raphael Kain, Simone Klass, David Marks, Andrew Mainz, Belinda Oakland, Michael Ostro, Susan Philips, Josef Sucharewicz and Philip Vecht

Board of Deputies Representatives

Simone Klass & Eli Pine

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

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