Synagogue re-development required due to high annual costs to maintain building

The Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, in Croxdale Road, is drawing up plans for the renovation, which is still in the early stages.

The current building’s maintenance costs are in excess of £60,000 a year in addition to costs of around £10,000 hiring additional spaces such as tent hire and events held at Yavneh College, in Hillside Avenue.

Options were considered including selling the synagogue and moving to a new location.

The entire process if it goes ahead, from planning through to final building, is anticipated to last approximately five years.

Borehamwood and Elstree synagogue has 2,150 members. The area around Borehamwood and Elstree has the third largest Jewish community in England.

An interim minister, Rabbi Shimshon Silkin, was appointed at the synagogue in March as temporary spiritual leader following the announcement Rabbi Naftali Brawer will be leaving in August.

Barry Rose, from the synagogue, said: “The building itself is at the end of its life and the facilities are inadequate.

“It costs a fortune to maintain the building and this was our main consideration when thinking of the future.

“We have looked at other areas including moving to another site but where do we go in Borehamwood?

“Where we are is fairly well located and central to the area’s community. We have looked for other places but found there was no alternative.”

Members of the synagogue say it will take at least a year to finalise the design and a further 18 months to construct it. If approved, the building would be on two levels and would retain the current prayer hall.

The plan includes, among other areas, office accommodation, a larger hall and a large lobby area.

Mr Rose added: “We have conducted a feasibility study so it is the very early stages.

“There is also the issue of raising the money for the project so at the moment it is in the planning stages and no final decisions have been taken.”