SUZANNE GOLDSTEIN – CO-CHAIR

"My family have been members of Belsize since it began. My grandmother, uncle and father all were members of the Board and so I grew up with an emphasis placed on the importance of our community. Clive and I married at Belsize, and shortly after, I was asked to come on to the Board. From there I was involved with the Parent's Association, Belsize Members Group and lastly Chair of Education.

Our children Heather and Nicholas, were involved in the Teaching assistants programme and Heather is now the Lower School Co-Ordinator at cheder. This continuity is something I feel is so important, as it passes on our Min Hag to the next generation. We have a unique heritage in our music, which our professional, community and children's choir sing at our various services.

The synagogue provides services for the children, visits for the elderly, and value all who give time in whichever way they can. I am proud to be Co-Chair of Belsize Square Synagogue and welcome visitors to our Shabbat and Festival Services."

JOHN ABRAMSON – CO-CHAIR

"I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa - three grandparents originated in Lithuania, and my father’s father came from Riga in Latvia. In the mid 1980s, I decided to become a lawyer and I came to London to study at the London School of Economics.

When I first moved to London, lived in Swiss Cottage and found that Belsize Square was the closest synagogue. I was completely blown away by the music that I heard here - complex, beautiful and intensely spiritual. I joined the community in 1992. My sons Joel and Theo have grown up in the community, and my wife Paula and I were married here at Belsize Square.

I have been on the Board for about 14 years. I have taught at cheder. I was involved in the startup of Kikar Kids. For nine years I was the Community’s representative on the Board of Deputies, I have been on the Liturgical committee, the Israel Committee, and ad hoc committees organising various things. Still loving the music, I am one of the lay leaders of our services, and I sing regularly in the Community Choir.

I am greatly honoured to be one of the Co-Chairs of the community."

VERA POLLINS – HONORARY SECRETARY

"I have been involved in Belsize Square Synagogue all my life. My parents were active members and even as a child the Shul felt as if it was my second home!

I attended Cheder as a child and later became a young teacher. I was involved in the various youth groups throughout my teenage years and later married in the Shul. When my three children were attending cheder, I returned and using my professional skills started the training programme for our teaching assistants. I am proud that all of my children have followed in the family tradition and are all passionate Belsize members and actively involved in the Shul.

I supported my husband when he co chaired the Parent's Association and after the Women's Society, of which I was the Treasurer was disbanded, I became the Chairman of the new BMG (Belsize Members Group) which still today organises many social and fund raising functions for everyone's enjoyment.

I have been a member of the Board and Executive for many years and am honoured to be the Honorary Secretary."

STEVE ABBOTT – HONORARY TREASURER

"I think I am among the few Yorkshire-born members of Belsize Square but, despite living in exile in the South, I have enjoyed being a member since the late 1990s and feel passionately that Belsize is my spiritual home. I am a very regular congregant at all Belsize services.

I work as a Film and Television Producer but my professional training as a Charted Accountant will prove helpful now that I have the honour of being elected Hon Treasurer. I was delighted to join the Synagogue Board last year and have been serving on the membership committee.

My Stepchildren have been Bnei Mitzvah at Belsize and teaching assistants at Cheder; they feel very much at home in our community. Their late maternal Grandparents were both refugees from Nazi Germany and thus exact contemporaries of our community's founders.

I am a regular at our services throughout the year, lead Kabbalat Shabbat services at Clara Nehab House, leyn occasionally and was Chatan Torah in 2009."