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From Ealing Today

Ealing Synagogue Civic Service July 5th 2025

(L-R) Gary Barak, Chair and Jonathan Glass Vice Chair of Ealing Synagogue

July 16, 2025

Ealing United Synagogue decided on a different approach for this year’s Civic Reception. Its new council broadened the list of invites to include, not only local politicians and civic figures, but also all the local religious leaders representing the Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.

The response was gratifying with nearly 100 people turning up on the recent Shabbat on 5 July and feedback on the event has been overwhelmingly positive.

Attendees on the day included councillors and other local politicians as well as the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Anthony Kelly, Deputy Lieutenant of Ealing, Richard Kornicki CBE (the representative of the King in the borough) and an MP.

The guests were greeted by Ealing Synagogue Chair, Gary Barak, and welcomed with coffee and biscuits in the shul hall, whilst the shabbat service continued in the main shul.

They joined the Jewish community in the service via a processional walk into the synagogue, orchestrated by the Council, led by the Mayor and his staff bearer, prior to the ark containing the Torah scrolls being opened, and everyone stayed to the end of the Musaph service.

On every seat the synagogue provided a description of the service, and an ongoing commentary of the service was administered by Vice Chair and Warden, Jonathan Glass, who explained the week’s Torah Sedrah portion, section by section, as well as clarifying far more about the structure of the service and other practices.

The prayer for the State of Israel was read out by one of Ealing Synagogue’s members in English and in explaining the Sedrah, the 3,500 year-long association between the land of Israel and the Jewish people was pointed out.

At the end of the service all the guests joined the members for the Kiddush (reception), with speeches given by Ealing Synagogue’s chair Gary Barak, the Mayor and the Deputy Lieutenant. Mr Barak highlighted the constant need for vigilance in fighting antisemitism and all speakers emphasised the necessity for community cohesion.

Many of the guests had been to previous civic services and they remarked that this was the first time a regular commentary had been given during the service and what a difference this meant to their experience of the event. Rabbi Vogel said he felt this was the most impressive civic service he had officiated over in 25 years serving the Ealing Jewish community and a great deal of this was down to the support, not only orchestrated on the day, but in preparation, by Ealing Synagogue’s vice chair Jonathan Glass.

The intention of the council was to provide the opportunity for local elected members, religious leaders and other dignitaries to know about the existence and practises of Ealing’s small but vibrant Jewish community. Only a few days after the Civic Service, Ealing Synagogue’s Chair Gary Barak had already been invited to attend several other religious and council events as a special guest.

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