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Rabbi Yoni Golker and his wife Dina are the Community Rabbi and Rebbetzen at St John's Wood US. They have been there since August 2016.
They are responsible for working with all age-groups within the community in partnership with the senior rabbinical team and the Youth Directors.
Rabbi Yoni Golker grew up in Golders Green and spent three years at Yeshivas Beis Yisroel. Rabbi Golker is an experienced educator and seasoned public speaker. Rabbi Golker is known for his remarkable educational programming and especially his creative virtual programming during the pandemic, where he conducted over 100 interviews with renowned people across the Jewish world, with hundreds of thousands of online views.
Prior to joining St John’s Wood Synagogue, Rabbi Golker taught for over a decade at JFS, where he was head of Upper School Jewish Education.
Rebbetzen Dina studied psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate level, specialising in counselling psychology and is also a qualified secondary school teacher. Rebetzen Dina leads the Babes in the Wood group for mothers and babies which meets on a Friday morning, as well as other mum support groups within the community. Rebetzen Dina also delivers ladies shiurim as part of the Taste of Torah series on selected Shabbat Mornings. Dina is part of the Chief Rabbi’s Maayan Programme for high-level educators for the Jewish community, as well as advisors in the area of Taharat Hamishpacha (laws of family purity) and women’s health issues.
The Golkers are responsible for education and programming within the community and work with our Young Professionals/Young Jewish Network, engaged and newly marrieds and with our Professional plus groups, as well as many other demographics within the shul. Rabbi Yoni has also organised many of the successful educational programmes for various groupings in the community including our Judaism Alive course, Minimoons and Parenting Courses. The Golkers play an active and leading role in local Young United Synagogue events with other US Shuls. Rabbi Yoni also plays a full role in lifecycle roles for members of all ages within our community as well as delivering shiurim and classes.
