The United Synagogue

FAQs

How do I join my local US Shul?

To join a shul of your choice, contact the administrator direct, please click here for the list of US communities. The administrator will be more than happy to assist you with the completion of the membership application form, agreeing membership fees and welcoming you to your new community.

Do I need to supply any documentation?

As membership to the United Synagogue is only available to persons of the Jewish Religion according to the rulings of the Office of the Chief Rabbi, you may be asked to provide additional documentation.

How much does it cost to become a member of a US Shul?

The US membership fee is broken down into two parts. The first is the contribution that is used in the running of your shul. This is set individually by each shul. The second part is your contribution to the Funeral Expense Scheme (FES), that is a set rate across the US, dependant on age.

Are my (single) children covered under my membership?

Children are covered by parents’ membership up to the age of 21. Once they have reached the age of 21 they must join in their own right. For this, Tribe have created a special membership for singles aged 21-30 called Tribe Community Membership (TCM) that offers all the benefits of synagogue membership plus added lifestyle benefits such as discounts from kosher restaurants. The cost of TCM is uniform across all our member synagogues at just £60 per year including FES which can be paid monthly installments. To find out more about TCM visit Tribe TCM.

I am a member of the US and my wife is not. Is she covered for FES?

Unfortunately to be part of the FES scheme you must be a member of the United Synagogue. If your wife is currently not a member and would like to be part of the US please feel free to contact our membership department who will be happy to advise you on the easiest way to do this. Their contact number is 020 8343 5687.

If a wife has signed the membership application, she will now automatically be joined as part of the family membership, as long as she is halachically Jewish. Her FES will be paid under the family membership. She will obtain voting rights, be able to stand for election, serve on committees (Board of Management etc).

I am having financial difficulties and find it difficult / cannot afford to pay shul fees – what can I do?

If you are having difficulties the first step is to contact your shul’s Financial Representative who is responsible for such issues. Your situation will be dealt with in the utmost confidence and sympathetically.

I am getting married with a US Shul – who do I contact? How much does it cost?

To find out about getting married within the US, please visit our Getting Married section.

Could you explain the Funeral Expense Scheme (FES) in more detail?

FES is the US scheme to ensure you are buried at one of the US cemeteries at no additional cost to loved ones. Payment into the scheme must be continuous and for people joining over the age of 40 there is an entrance fee into the scheme. The Entrance Fee is set on a sliding scale for applicants wishing to join the FES (based on age and marital status). The entrance fee is based on your husband's age if you are married.

The current (2012) FES rates are:

• £7 for single members aged 21-29
• £64 for members aged over 29 (married couple = £128 based on husband's age).

What should I do if I cannot afford the FES Entrance Fee quoted?

You will need to contact Melvyn Hartog, Head Of Burial on 020 8343 6283.

I've heard that some people pay veteran FES contributions; what are these?

Veteran FES rates are 50% of the standard FES rate. This rate is available to members who have been paying their FES contribution continuously for 50 years or more. You can apply for this discounted rate by contacting Michelle Mervish in the US Membership Department on 020 8343 5687.

If I unfortunately have to bury a member of my family who is not a member of the United Synagogue’s Funeral Expense Scheme, how much will it cost?

The current cost of a burial at Waltham Abbey cemetery is £12,500 and at Bushey cemetery it is £12,500.

My child has severe learning disabilities- how can I cover him/her for burial?

There is a Special United Synagogue Burial Scheme linked to Norwood/Ravenswood . The current cost is a one-off payment of £1000.00 for a prepaid funeral (Burial in either Bushey/Waltham Abbey Cemetery). To find out more contact contact Suzanne Lion at Norwood/Ravenswood.

this week
shabbat times

May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
Begins: 20:46
Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar

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