Rabbi David Hulbert MA MSc

I’ve been the rabbi of the Brentwood Reform community for some four years now. I look forward to leading our monthly Shabbat morning services, together with my wife Fiona. We live in Woodford, where I am also Rabbi Emeritus of the East London and Essex Liberal Synagogue.

Although small, Brentwood is a warm and friendly community. The members are very supportive of one another. You’d be surprised how many Jewish people have recently moved out to the towns and villages of Essex, a bit further away from the London suburbs. Maybe you will meet some new Jewish neighbours!

Our synagogue is Progressive; we follow the new ‘Forms of Prayer’ siddur of Reform Judaism, so prayers are said in both Hebrew and English. Services begin promptly at 11:00 am, and we try to end with a tasty kiddush around 12:30 pm. Men and women sit together, and we encourage women to share equally in leading our services, participating and reading the Torah. Both boys and girls are taught and celebrate their bar/ bat mitzvahs at 13. Of course, we accord the warmest of welcomes to those with non- Jewish partners.

As rabbi, I support and supervise the progress of those who wish to convert to the Jewish religion – proselytes – they have to study, attend services regularly, and learn enough Hebrew to lead full Jewish lives in synagogue and at home. The whole process takes around a year.

Jewish weddings can take place under our auspices, and synagogue membership entails a burial scheme, so that a proper Jewish funeral (burial or cremation) will take place when the time comes. We normally bury at the Western Cemetery near Cheshunt, close to the A10 and M25.

We maintain good relations with the Brentwood Christian Friends of Israel, who join us every year for Holocaust Memorial Day and our Passover seder meal.

I look forward to getting to know you and your family and being with you as you embark on a lifetime journey to deepen your Jewish knowledge, commitment and faith.

Rabbi David Hulbert