About HWPS

Founded in 1948, what was then known as the Wembley and District Liberal Synagogue reflected a desire amongst a group of pioneers of Progressive Judaism in North West London, to bring a modernised form of Jewish worship to the northern suburbs of London. In 1946, Max Salter, the community's founder and first President was approached by the ULPS (now Liberal Judaism), and as a result of an open meeting at the Wembley Town Hall, the "Wembley & District Liberal and Progressive Group" was formed. Services were initially held at a variety of locations and then, following rapid growth in membership, these pioneers transformed the tranquil Preston Lawn Tennis Club on Preston Road, Harrow,  into a warm and welcoming progressive Jewish community - a place of worship, a centre of learning and a meeting place for members of all ages. A bid of £1,700 was sufficient to secure five hard courts, a putting green and a small wooden pavilion. At a cost of £1,600, a brick built hall with a seating capacity of 200 was erected. In 1965, a permanent Synagogue was built with a major extension in 1978. In 2003 the Synagogue embarked on a further phase of development, selling 2/3s of its existing site and investing in a new building on the remaining 1/3rd of the site. It was a modern 2 floor building and was completed in September 2004. In June 2011 the Preston Road site was sold, and HWPS moved to Bessborough Road to share premises with Middlesex New Synagogue, pictured above. Here we have a dedicated sanctuary on the first floor as well as offices on the ground floor.

The Synagogue's layout and fittings comprise many of the characteristics of its former building. As well as the same chairs, reading desks and flooring, many of the former fittings remain. These include the ark, which, although re-constructed to fit into the new room, uses the gates and fascia from the old ark, and from the outside looks exactly like its Preston Road predecessor. On the walls of the sanctuary are a number of items of particular note. Next to the ark are two wooden tablets comprising the Ten Commandments, recently carefully restored. There is also an Etz Chayyim comprising a series of diamond shaped metal engravings, memorials donated by members to recall both those who have passed away and past Simchas. There is a large Holocaust Memorial Tablet, originally crafted by one of HWPS's former members, as well as a number of other wall decorations. HWPS's new sanctuary provides a warm and friendly atmosphere for all those who attend, and members from both HWPS and MNS, and non-members, are always welcome

Services are held each Shabbat (erev on Fridays at 7.00pm and morning services each Saturday at 11.00am), and for all the Festivals. We hold a Communal Seder each Pesach. We use a modern liturgy and have a professional choir, both of which enable all congregants to pray with sincerity and warmth.

Our old Synagogue at Preston Road (2004-2011)

Our first Rabbi was Vivian Simmons, followed by Bernard Hooker, Fred Pomerantz, Albert Friedlander, David Goldberg, Harry Jacobi, Charles Middleburgh and now, of course, our present minister, Frank Dabba Smith. To all of them and to past Chairmen and to all the members who have served on Council and Committees over the years, we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.

Our original Synagogue at Preston Road (1948-2004)

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