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 Rebbetzen 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

James Barnett, Gillian Burr, Lucy Collins, Simone Klass, Andrew Mainz, Sacha Nasan, Janet Weisz

Janet Weisz

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