Sinai Synagogue (Reform)

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Reform-heritage synagogue in Leeds, belonging to the Movement for Progressive Judaism

Sinai Synagogue, Leeds

Logo Sinai-synagogue-(reform)-logo.png
Type Synagogue; registered charity; company limited by guarantee
Founded 1944
Registration ID 1149738 (Charity Commission); company 08248096
Headquarters Sinai Synagogue, Roman Avenue, Leeds LS8 2AN
Location Leeds
Registration England and Wales
Key people Lucy Nuttgens (chair listed on the charity register)
Website https://www.sinaileeds.uk/


Sinai Synagogue, Leeds is a Reform-heritage synagogue in Leeds, listed as a community of The Movement for Progressive Judaism.[1] Founded in January 1944, it operates through company 08248096, registered as charity 1149738. Its 2025 report describes services provided by Rabbi Danny Smith and continuing discussions about long-term rabbinical cover.[2][3][4][5]


History

JCR-UK describes the founders in January 1944 as a small group composed largely of refugees from Nazism. After using hired premises, the congregation occupied 21 Leopold Street from about 1951 until moving to a purpose-built synagogue in Roman Avenue in 1960.[2]

Michael Leigh included Leeds among the Reform congregations established during the movement's expansion in the 1940s.[6]

Selected clergy recorded by JCR-UK
Clergy member Recorded service Source
Louis Gerhard Graf About 1948–1949; previously acting minister [2]
Gustav Pfingst 1952–1956 [2]
Walter Rothschild 1984–1995 [2]
Ian Morris 1996–2017 [2]
Paul Moses Strasko July 2019–April 2021 [2]
Esther Hugenholtz Assistant rabbi, 2013–2017 [2]


Affiliation and governance

JCR-UK dates affiliation to the Reform movement's predecessor body to 1944 and lists membership of The Movement for Reform Judaism, the European Union for Progressive Judaism and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The synagogue is now listed in The Movement for Progressive Judaism's directory. It participates in Jewish Joint Burial Society arrangements and uses a section of Harehills Cemetery.[2][1]

The 2025 annual report says Rabbi Danny Smith had served during the preceding year and was due to return for the 2026 High Holy Days, while long-term rabbinical arrangements remained under discussion.[5]


Charity, officers and accounts

The Charity Commission records registration on 13 November 2012. Its full register contact address is Sinai Synagogue, Roman Avenue, Leeds LS8 2AN.[4][7]

Its governing document is the memorandum and articles incorporated on 10 October 2012 and subsequently amended, most recently in the register on 18 May 2023. Its objects concern Jewish public worship and religious, educational and charitable purposes.[8]

The register records receipt of funds from predecessor charity 1022750, Sinai Synagogue, on 23 October 2013.[4]

Companies House records incorporation on 10 October 2012 and gives the full registered office as Sinai Synagogue, Roman Avenue, Leeds LS8 2AN.[3]


Trustees

Trustees listed on the live charity register, 6 November 2026
Trustee Role Appointment recorded End of trusteeship Source
Lucy Nuttgens Chair 21 July 2022 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Andrew Ward Trustee 14 July 2026 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Lucy Ellen Brooks Trustee 24 June 2026 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Natalie Sokol Trustee 11 July 2025 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Lynn Gale Trustee 18 June 2025 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Judith Chapman Trustee 18 June 2025 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Susan Bartfield Trustee 18 June 2025 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Mark Harris Trustee 18 June 2025 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]
Bernard Nelson Trustee 02 December 2020 Listed as current on 6 November 2026 [9]


Company officers

The following current and former appointments are recorded by Companies House. These are company-office dates and do not necessarily match charity-register trustee dates.[10]

Current and former company officers
Officer Office Appointment Resignation Status on 6 November 2026 Source
Matthew Adam Thornfield Secretary 10 May 2017 — Active [10]
Susan Bartfield Director 18 June 2025 — Active [10]
Lucy Ellen Brooks Director 24 June 2026 — Active [10]
Judith Mara Chapman Director 18 June 2025 — Active [10]
Lynn Gale Director 18 June 2025 — Active [10]
Mark Harris Director 18 June 2025 — Active [10]
Bernard Simon Nelson Director 2 December 2020 — Active [10]
Lucy Kathleen Nuttgens Director 20 July 2020 — Active [10]
Natalie Rachel Sokol Director 11 July 2025 — Active [10]
Andrew Lewis Ward Director 14 July 2026 — Active [10]
Pippa Peta Brook Secretary 10 October 2012 30 April 2014 Resigned [10]
Carol Anne Adams Director 12 May 2021 18 May 2023 Resigned [10]
Michael Graham Baim Director 18 May 2023 22 May 2024 Resigned [10]
Michael Martin Barrie Director 10 October 2012 25 April 2013 Resigned [10]
Robert Bartfield Director 12 May 2021 18 May 2023 Resigned [10]
Susan Bartfield Director 12 May 2021 18 May 2023 Resigned [10]
Ruth Elizabeth Baumberg Director 25 April 2013 8 May 2016 Resigned [10]
Brian Patrick Berry Director 20 June 2024 19 June 2025 Resigned [10]
Jeremy Lawrence Bloom Director 12 May 2021 26 May 2022 Resigned [10]
Pippa Peta Brook Director 15 May 2019 18 May 2023 Resigned [10]
Pippa Peta Brook Director 10 October 2012 9 May 2018 Resigned [10]
Sally Jane Brown Director 10 October 2012 25 April 2013 Resigned [10]
Antony Bryant Director 12 May 2021 22 May 2024 Resigned [10]
Peter Carson Director 2 December 2020 1 August 2021 Resigned [10]
Nicholas William Chapler-Smyth Director 10 October 2012 30 April 2014 Resigned [10]
Judith Mara Chapman Director 9 May 2018 12 May 2021 Resigned [10]
Emma Adelaide Cohen Director 6 October 2014 10 May 2017 Resigned [10]
Jonathan Brook Cohen Director 15 May 2019 12 May 2021 Resigned [10]
Robert Cohen Director 18 May 2023 22 May 2024 Resigned [10]
Tomas Ian Cohen Director 15 May 2019 26 May 2022 Resigned [10]
Anna Ruth Dyson Director 9 May 2018 19 October 2018 Resigned [10]
Anna Ruth Dyson Director 10 October 2012 8 May 2016 Resigned [10]
Nicholas Mark Dyson Director 9 May 2018 12 May 2021 Resigned [10]
Nicholas Mark Dyson Director 10 October 2012 29 April 2015 Resigned [10]
Samantha Harvey Director 31 May 2018 12 May 2021 Resigned [10]
Ivan Leon Herscovitz Director 9 May 2018 3 October 2021 Resigned [11]
Megan Hydes Director 18 August 2021 22 May 2024 Resigned [11]
David Jonathan Israel Director 10 October 2012 26 May 2022 Resigned [11]
Jeremy Jacob Director 30 May 2023 18 June 2025 Resigned [11]
Gillian Elaine Kempner Director 9 May 2018 12 May 2021 Resigned [11]
Suzanne Korn Director 22 May 2024 18 June 2025 Resigned [11]
Barbara Maralyn Levy Director 29 April 2015 2 December 2018 Resigned [11]
Gwynneth Anne Lewis Director 12 May 2021 21 July 2022 Resigned [11]
Jonathan Clive Lewis Director 12 May 2021 18 May 2023 Resigned [11]
Jonathan Clive Lewis Director 27 July 2016 3 September 2019 Resigned [11]
Jonathan Clive Lewis Director 10 October 2012 30 April 2014 Resigned [11]
Simon Paul Marcus Director 26 June 2013 9 May 2018 Resigned [11]
Helen Margaret Faith Michael Director 22 May 2024 18 June 2025 Resigned [11]
Helen Michael Director 15 May 2019 12 May 2021 Resigned [11]
Ronald Frank Millet Director 12 May 2021 22 May 2024 Resigned [11]
Dolf Andries Mogendorff Director 31 August 2016 18 October 2018 Resigned [11]
Valerie Joan Mogendorff Director 12 May 2021 18 May 2023 Resigned [11]
Valerie Joan Mogendorff Director 10 October 2012 8 May 2016 Resigned [11]
Elizabeth Mary Monaghan Director 29 April 2015 26 October 2016 Resigned [11]
Julie-Anne Moody-Webster Director 18 May 2023 22 May 2024 Resigned [11]
Petra Mullen Director 30 April 2014 6 October 2014 Resigned [11]
Janet Kathleen Narodetsky Director 29 April 2015 2 December 2018 Resigned [11]
Stuart Jeffrey Nelson Director 5 October 2016 15 May 2019 Resigned [11]
Elisabeth Yvonne Prins Director 10 October 2012 10 May 2017 Resigned [11]
Elsje Prins Director 25 June 2018 2 December 2018 Resigned [11]
Daniel Raanan Director 20 July 2022 18 June 2025 Resigned [11]
Naomi Raanan Director 20 July 2022 18 June 2025 Resigned [11]
Rachelle Sanderson Director 10 October 2012 30 April 2014 Resigned [11]
Darren Ashley Stone Director 10 October 2012 25 April 2013 Resigned [11]
Rebecca Teiger Director 20 October 2020 12 May 2021 Resigned [11]
Rebecca Teiger Director 30 April 2014 8 May 2016 Resigned [11]
Matthew Adam Thornfield Director 30 September 2015 8 May 2016 Resigned [11]
Matthew Adam Thornfield Director 10 October 2012 30 April 2014 Resigned [11]
Rebecca Tieger-Marcus Director 9 May 2018 18 September 2020 Resigned [11]
Marilyn Joyce Trovato Director 9 May 2018 25 March 2019 Resigned [11]
Mor Yahel Director 20 June 2024 18 June 2025 Resigned [12]


Accounts

Recent accounts: income and expenditure as displayed on the register (k = £1,000); net assets are assets less liabilities
Year ended Income Expenditure Net assets Sources
31 December 2023 £237.03k £227.25k £1,179,695 [13] [14]
31 December 2024 £262.79k £298.88k £1,143,609 [13] [15]
31 December 2025 £227.16k £333.49k £1,037,284 [13] [5]


Relations with Israel

The synagogue's website published a UJIA appeal dated 9 October 2023, “Israel is at war and needs your help now”, preserved in a December 2023 capture. It asked readers to contribute to UJIA's Israel at War Community Appeal and said funds would support victims, trauma services and the Jewish Agency's Victims of Terror Fund. Publication of the appeal is not evidence of a sum donated by the synagogue or of a military grant.[16]

A June 2025 website article by Jonathan Lewis encouraged readers to vote for “Our Israel”, the joint Reform, Liberal and Masorti slate in the World Zionist Congress election. It asked registered members to turn their registration into a vote and send delegates representing egalitarian and Progressive Judaism.[17]

An archived calendar also lists Yom Ha’atzmaut on 15 April 2021, without giving attendance figures or a detailed programme.[18]


See also


External links


Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Find a Community, The Movement for Progressive Judaism, accessed 6 November 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 David Shulman, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds, JCR-UK, accessed 6 November 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Companies House, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds (08248096): overview, Find and update company information, accessed 6 November 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Charity Commission for England and Wales, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds: governance, Register of Charities, accessed 6 November 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sinai Synagogue, Leeds, Report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025, Annual report and accounts, pp. 1–3, 7, accessed 6 November 2026.
  6. ↑ Michael Leigh, ‘Reform Judaism in Britain (1840–1970)’, in Dow Marmur (ed.), Reform Judaism: Essays on Reform Judaism in Britain, Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, 1973, p. 44, accessed 6 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds: contact information, Register of Charities, accessed 6 November 2026.
  8. ↑ Charity Commission for England and Wales, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds: governing document, Register of Charities, accessed 6 November 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Charity Commission for England and Wales, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds: trustees, Register of Charities, accessed 6 November 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 10.17 10.18 10.19 10.20 10.21 10.22 10.23 10.24 10.25 10.26 10.27 10.28 10.29 10.30 10.31 10.32 10.33 10.34 10.35 Companies House, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds (08248096): officers, Find and update company information, accessed 6 November 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 11.18 11.19 11.20 11.21 11.22 11.23 11.24 11.25 11.26 11.27 11.28 11.29 11.30 11.31 11.32 11.33 11.34 Companies House, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds (08248096): officers (page 2), Find and update company information, accessed 6 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Companies House, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds (08248096): officers (page 3), Find and update company information, accessed 6 November 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Charity Commission for England and Wales, Sinai Synagogue, Leeds: financial history, Register of Charities, accessed 6 November 2026.
  14. ↑ Sinai Synagogue, Leeds, Report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, Annual report and accounts, p. 8, accessed 6 November 2026.
  15. ↑ Sinai Synagogue, Leeds, Report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024, Annual report and accounts, p. 8, accessed 6 November 2026.
  16. ↑ UJIA, Israel is at war and needs your help now, Sinai Synagogue Leeds, 9 October 2023, Wayback capture, 1 December 2023, accessed 6 November 2026.
  17. ↑ Jonathan Lewis, Voting for the UK World Zionist Congress, Sinai Synagogue Leeds, 30 June 2025, Wayback capture, 25 July 2025, accessed 6 November 2026.
  18. ↑ Sinai Synagogue Leeds, Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Sinai Synagogue Leeds, 15 April 2021, Wayback capture, 16 April 2021, accessed 6 November 2026.
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