Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
A Reform Jewish congregation worshipping in a purpose-built synagogue on Auckland Road since 2015.
Beth Shalom is the Reform synagogue of Cambridge, standing on Auckland Road a little north-east of the city centre. It belongs to the Movement for Reform Judaism, and its own website describes a progressive, inclusive community that welcomes members from around the Cambridge area and visitors from further afield. The listing here is of a place of worship, not a sightseeing stop, so it is best approached as a community building rather than an attraction.
A congregation that built its own home
Community life began in October 1976 with the founding of what was then called the Cambridge Reform Jewish Community; the Beth Shalom congregation took shape later, in 1981. For many years it met in hired premises, and in 2015 the community moved into a new synagogue on Auckland Road, the first Reform one in the city. Its prayer hall has space for 200 people or more, and the building was dedicated at a service on 6 September 2015.
Services and community
Services are held in Hebrew and English and are led by members of the congregation, each followed by a shared Kiddush. Kabbalat Shabbat, the service that welcomes the Sabbath, takes place twice a month, following the prayer books of the Movement for Reform Judaism. The synagogue's stated aims are to provide religious services, education and a community hub for Jews in Cambridge.
Practical notes
The synagogue is a working place of worship with a calendar of services and events, so check the website's what's-on page before turning up. Visitors from outside the congregation should contact the community first and respect the practices of the services. The building is modern and has no heritage listing.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
