Origins and Early Years

Jewish families had been living in Cockfosters and Southgate for some time, but it wasn’t until March 1948 that a new synagogue was established by a group from Palmers Green, initially named the ‘Southgate and Cockfosters Hebrew Congregation’. Due to the name conflict with Palmers Green and Southgate Synagogue, it was renamed Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue. Notably, our Shul is two months older than the State of Israel.

In 1949, the synagogue acquired its current site on Old Farm Avenue. Significant development began in the 1950s with the foundation stone laid in 1954. Rabbi Ronald Lubofsky was the first minister of the newly established congregation but left a year later to take up a position at the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia, leading to the temporary appointment of Rev Joseph Herman as Minister/Chazan.