Multiple rabbis, two local mayors, numerous interfaith leaders and the whole congregation of Kingston Liberal Synagogue (KLS) came together to celebrate the community’s newly refurbished sanctuary at a special Shabbat civic service.

Kingston’s Rabbi Lev Taylor led the joyful service, joined by his predecessors Rabbi Dr René Pfertzel, Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Danny Rich (pictured), as well as Rabbi Adrian Schell of The Wimbledon Synagogue.

Each had previously served the KLS community for many years before moving on to senior positions in the Progressive world: Rabbi Charley is now Co-Lead of Progressive Judaism; Rabbi Danny, a former Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, is currently Mayor of Barnet; and Rabbi René now leads Maidenhead Synagogue.

The service was also attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Kingston upon Thames and the Mayor and Mayoress of Elmbridge.

The beautiful new sanctuary was designed by Romain Dujon-Préaux and part-funded by a grant from the NLPS Trust for Progressive Judaism. Nearly 100 people attended, filling the sanctuary almost to capacity. The service was enriched by the KLS choir, under new leader Jo Cohen-Humphreys, and included heartfelt readings from the community’s children.