Unique, fascinating, inspiring, Belsize Square is an independent synagogue - neither orthodox nor reform - occupying its own place in British Jewry.  Traditional yet modern, our story after 70 remarkable years is still unfolding. To get a flavour of who we are, have a browse.

We’ve always known that Belsize Square is alive with creativity, writes Vivienne Becker, but now we’re showing just how artistic we truly are, with the first exhibition of art, paintings, sculpture, glass and more by artist-members of the synagogue community. “Art for Belsize” opens at Burgh House, 1 New End Square, Hampstead NW3, from 5 to 9 May, at the start of the spring art and antiques season and while admission is free, a percentage of sales will go towards the Synagogue building fund.  Aside from its fund-raising aspect, the exhibition showcases the depth and breadth of artistic talent amongst our members and taps into the rich European cultural heritage that underpinned the original foundations of Belsize Square. We hope that the exhibition will bring a sense of continuity to our milestone regeneration project, a celebration of the indomitable spirit of ingenuity and creativity that has flourished at Belsize Square for 70 years.

This year Belsize Square Synagogue celebrated Purim with a cast of characters that could have been in “Avenue Q”, writes Jeanie Horowitz, head of Cheder.  The puppets I am referring to were generously donated by a member of our community and transformed Purim on the Saturday evening 28 February, as well as at Cheder on Sunday morning 1 March.

On Monday 15th February, the Israel Committee co-hosted an Israel Question Time with NIF - New Israel Fund - the international philanthropic group that supports social change in Israel and promotes democracy, freedom, justice, and equality for all of Israel’s citizens, writes Michael Brod.

The panel comprised Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon from an Israel Reform Synagogue, Miriam Shaviv who is the Jewish Chronicle’s foreign editor, Bedouin activist Jamal AlKirnawi, and Nicholas Saphir who chairs New Israel Fund.

It is just over six months since Belsize Square’s Rabbinic Search Committee met for the first time to begin the journey of finding Rabbi Mariner’s successor, writes Rob Nothman. So far, it has been time-consuming and occasionally challenging, but relentlessly fascinating and engrossing.