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 or contacted on 07980 741 583

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.comor on 07772 612 661.

Rabbi Yoni Golker has been our Associate 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. He currently oversees sixth-form Jewish Studies at JFS, where he teaches on a part-time basis.

Rebbetzen Dina studied psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate level, specialising in counselling psychology. Rebetzen Dina leads the Babes in the Wood group for mothers and babies which meets on a Friday morning. Rebetzen Dina also delivers ladies shiurim as part of the Taste of Torah series on selected Shabbat Mornings.

The Golkers are responsible for working with our Young Professionals/Young Jewish Network, to be and newly marrieds and with our professional plus groups within the community as part of the Rabbinic Team.  Rabbi Yoni has also organised many of the 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 and on 07930 305 335.

Rebetzen Dina can be contacted by email dina@shulinthewood.com and on 07547 059 112.

Sylvia Abraham, Michael Beagelman, Gillian Burr, Irving Carter, Simone Class, Catherine Elmalem, Grant Fox, Irene Goodman, David Marks, Belinda Oakland, Susan Philips, Sidney Symons, Michel Sznajer, and Philip Vecht

Roger Gewolb, Simone Klass & Anne Godfrey

To contact the Honorary Officers, please contact the Synagogue office by email office@shulinthewood.com or by phone 020 7286 3838