Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu joined Sha’arei Tsedek as our Principal Rabbi in January 2018.

Ordained at Leo Baeck College in 2004, Rabbi Ambalu is a passionate teacher as well as a learner.

She is committed to bringing joy and meaning to our community’s experience of prayer and learning, everywhere from our baby group to our b’nei Mitzvah programme, to supporting adult learners who are ready to take an active role in leading the religious life of the synagogue.

Rabbi Ambalu also teaches the next generation of rabbis at Leo Baeck College London, lecturing in Mishnah and Talmud.

She is committed to bringing depth and scholarship to the Reform Jewish experience, and has published a number of articles and chapters, the latest of which, Loving Your Neighbour as Yourself, appears in Who Is My Neighbour ed. Richard Carter and Sam Wells, SPCK, May 2018.

Her seminal article on the distinctiveness of Reform Halachah can be accessed here add hyperlink to https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/reform-judaism-1000-words-halachah-progressive-integrity/

Rabbi Shulamit has two daughters, together with her partner, Rebekka Wedell, a composer and music director.

Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu
E: Shulamit.ambalu@shaarei-tsedek.org.uk
DD: 0203 115 1604

Rabbi Colin Eimer grew up in Hendon, North London and went to Christ’s College, Finchley and became Barmitzvah at Hendon United Synagogue.

Throughout his teenage years, Colin retained an interest in his Jewish heritage and eventually started going to the youth club at West London Reform Synagogue where he became more and more involved.  Whilst attending the youth club he came under the mentorship of the newly-arrived rabbi, Rabbi Hugo Gryn, and through him met other Reform rabbis.  Colin soon realised that here was a Judaism which enabled him to live as a Jew in the midst of society and not separated from it.  He studied Geography and Economics at LSE with the intention of becoming a Town and Country Planner or a Geography teacher.  However, after graduation, he enrolled as a rabbinic student at Leo Baeck College.

He was ordained in 1971 and spent three years as Associate Rabbi at the Paris Reform Synagogue.  He returned to England and began teaching French at a school in North London.  It was also at this time that he became the first Rabbi at the newly-established Bushey & Radlett Reform Synagogue.  In 1977 Colin became the Rabbi at Southgate & District Reform Synagogue. He also taught Biblical Hebrew at Leo Baeck College to a whole generation of Progressive rabbis and now teaches Modern Jewish History.

Colin retired in 2015 and is now Emeritus Rabbi at Sha’arei Tsedek, continuing to have a strong relationship with the community, conducting occasional services, and leading a regular Midweek Discussion Group at the synagogue.

Louise Katin has been conducting the Sha’arei Tsedek choir for over 20 years. She started her musical journey as a Violinist and Saxophonist, obtaining an Honours Degree in Music and Psychology at University. Upon graduating, she went on to study singing under the guidance of Penny McKay at the Guildhall School of Music. Her early singing career in Opera and Musical Theatre included roles such as Second Lady in The Magic Flute, the title role in La Périchole, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof and Mrs Kneebone in The Dinner Engagement. In 1998 she qualified with a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Studies having studied at Abbey Opera Training, performing roles such as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cherubino in the Marriage of Figaro, Felicia in Il Crociato in Egitto, Ottavia in Coronation of Poppea and Geneviève in Pelléas & Melisande. Having sung as a Mezzo Soprano Louise began to extend her repertoire to Soprano roles and now sings principally as a Soprano. 

Louise has taught singing over the years and was also Musical Director of A-chord Choir in East Finchley from 2010-2017.  

Louise enjoys being invited to sing solo at concerts, recitals and weddings. She is a former member of the Zemel Choir and has had the opportunity to sing as a soloist with the choir on several occasions; most notably at the Freedom Concert held in 2023 to raise funds for the Ukraine Crisis Appeal at World Jewish Relief.  Sha’arei Tsedek hosted the Zemel Choir in an evening of uplifting music in which Louise sang as soloist and also lead both the Sha’arei Tsedek Choir and the Koleinu Band in freedom related repertoire.  

Louise has organised many fundraising concerts at the synagogue – themes have included Music through the 50’s to 00’s, an Operatic evening, a Musical Theatre evening and an evening of Music by Jewish Composers.  

At Sha’arei Tsedek Louise runs the Choir and Koleinu Band, and she occasionally sings in a Cantorial capacity, co-leading services alongside our Rabbi. 

louise.katin@shaarei-tsedek.org.uk

Patsy has worked at Alonim for seven years and is an experienced Early Years Practitioner.

She is passionate about teaching and developing her skills both professionally and personally.

Her family has been members of Sha’arei Tsedek since 2009 and is very involved in the life of the community. Before joining Alonim Patsy worked for Thomas Cook Holidays recruiting staff to work overseas.  She then moved to Whitbread, the UK’s largest restaurant, hotel and coffee shop operator where she recruited restaurant managers.

Married with two daughters, I have been a member of Shaarei-Tsedek for over 35 years. I have been teaching continuously in our Religion School/B’nei Mitzvah class since 1989 and am currently one of the teachers for our conversion class. I have even been known to conduct the occasional Shul service.

I am passionate about Jewish Education for our youngsters in this modern progressive society. Some years ago, I embarked on a two  year study programme to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Jewish Education, which led to further studies which culminated with an MA in Jewish Education under the auspices of the Leo Baeck College.

It is still exciting to see our young students progress and mature through the B’nei Mitzvah class and beyond.

Lorraine has been responsible for Marketing and Communications at the synagogue for over five years, producing the weekly newsletter, creating publicity materials, and updating content on the website. Lorraine also manages the synagogue’s social media presence, ensuring that the community stays informed and engaged.

Previously Lorraine worked at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice with responsibility for Press & PR, Help 4 The Homeless as Charity Manager and The Karen Berman Consultancy as an Account Manager.

Lorraine loves colour, creativity, and thinking outside the box. She enjoys soaking up inspiration from abstract art, a great theatre production, or a breezy walk outside.

Lorraine lives in Hertfordshire with husband Ashley and they have two young adult daughters.

Bonnie has a degree in Informal and Community Education, and started her career in Youth Work working for what was Edgware District Reform Synagogue (EDRS). After a slight hiatus from the Jewish sector, she took on the role of Synagogue Administrator at Alyth North Western Reform Synagogue for four years, after which she made the move back to what is now EHRS as head of Marketing & Communications, a position she held for seven years. As of October 2024 she joined us here at Sha’arei Tsedek as our Synagogue Manager.

Bonnie is an avid football, Elvis Presley, and tv & movie fan, and loves taking regular trips to the cinema to see pretty much anything! She also has a love for cooking and particularly baking, creating novelty cakes and cupcakes for family and friends.

Claire has been the administrator at Sha’arei Tsedek for over three years assisting with the  day-to-day running of the synagogue and turning her hand to a variety of tasks.

Previously she has worked at JCoSS and North London Hospice, in an administrative and comms capacity respectively. Claire also has a background in book publishing and enjoys spotting typos from 10 yards away.

In her spare time, Claire enjoys reading, being a servant to her cat and socialising with her friends. She lives with her husband David and has two young adult children.