The United Synagogue

New £3m HQ for United Synagogue

PRESS COVERAGE

London, 2nd March, 2007

NEW £3M HQ FOR UNITED SYNAGOGUE

The United Synagogue has bought new headquarters close to its existing premises at Adler House, North Finchley, London for a price of £3.6 million.

Solar House, at Tally Ho Corner, is “a good user-friendly building, with disabled access and has been acquired at a competitive price,” said Rabbi Saul Zneimer, US chief executive.

Its current tenants will provide rental income to the US, and in the long-run the acquisition is expected to cut head office costs – given how much the US would have had to pay to rent a building.

Peter Zinkin, US joint vice-president, told the US council on Monday that the new building was “a financially attractive proposition” offering “much more suitable premises.”

While the US will have initial use of the top floor, eventually Solar House will house the Office of the Chief Rabbinate, the London Beth Din and the departments of US – including the young people’s organisation Tribe, which is currently based in Edgware.

The move has been prompted by the impending expiry of the lease on Adler House. Rejected alternatives had included a new development in Hendon and a former seminary in Mill Hill, which the US had considered as the possible site of a new Jewish centre in partnership with other community organisations.

On Monday night, council members debated proposals for a drastic reduction of the council from 265 to around 70 members – although no vote was taken.

Under a plan drawn up by a committee headed by Michael Rosen, of Pinner Synagogue, both male and female council members would be directly elected by congregations.

Since 1994, council members have been appointed from within local boards of management – a method the rabbinical authorities deemed necessary to allow women to join the council as full members.

The proposals would also strip affiliated congregations with below 400 members of the right of individual representation: instead, they would have to elect three representatives between them.

-END-

Article Credit, Jewish Chronicle, www.thejc.com

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