Sternberg Centre facts for kids

The Sternberg Centre for Judaism is a special place in Finchley, London. It's like a campus, home to several important Jewish groups. It was built around an old 18th-century manor house.

The centre was created to bring together different Reform and Liberal Jewish organizations. These groups are connected to the Movement for Reform Judaism. They focus on education and culture. The centre opened in 1981. It is now named after Sigmund Sternberg, who was a very important person. The first groups to be part of the centre were Leo Baeck College, the Movement for Reform Judaism, and the Akiva School. Akiva School was the first Reform Jewish day school in England. Later, the (Masorti) New North London Synagogue also moved there. The Sternberg Centre also has the offices for RSY Netzer, which is a youth movement for Reform Judaism.

The centre also used to host the Jewish Museum, Finchley, until 2007.

Movement for Reform Judaism

The Movement for Reform Judaism has had its main offices at the Sternberg Centre since 1981. This Movement is a large group that connects 41 independent synagogues. Synagogues are Jewish places of worship and community.

The staff at the Sternberg Centre help these synagogues. They support smaller communities and work with the Reform Beit Din, which is a religious court. They also help with education, youth activities, and support for students and young adults. They offer practical help to synagogues with things like staff, computers, and communication.

The Movement organizes many events. These include a Jewish music conference every two years. They also have weekend events and gatherings for people in mixed-faith relationships. They help those who are thinking about converting to Judaism. There is also a big national conference held in different places.

Akiva School

Akiva School started in 1981. In 2007, it became a larger school. It moved into a new, modern building in January 2008. Akiva is the only Progressive Jewish primary school in North West London that gets government help.

It is a welcoming school for everyone. It teaches children to be happy, confident, and knowledgeable. They learn to love Israel and all parts of Judaism. Children at Akiva learn to understand and respect themselves, others, and the world around them.

New North London Synagogue

Quick facts for kids New North London Synagogue
The synagogue interior in 2012
Religion
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Rite	Masorti Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
Status	Active
Location
Location	80 East End Road, Finchley, Borough of Barnet, London, England N3 2SY
Country	United Kingdom
Location in Greater London
Architecture
Architect(s)	van Heyningen and Haward Architects
Date established	1974 (as a congregation)
Completed	2011

This Jewish community started in 1974. It was founded by people who followed Louis Jacobs. Today, it has about 2,400 members. The main religious leader, called a rabbi, has been Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg since 1987.

For some years, the community did not have a permanent home. They raised over £6 million to build their own synagogue. A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. This new building opened in 2011 at the Sternberg Centre.

The synagogue was designed by van Heyningen and Haward Architects. It has three places for prayer. It also includes a nursery for young children and a room for teenagers. There are also spaces for social gatherings and offices.

Leo Baeck College

Leo Baeck College is named after Leo Baeck. He was an inspiring German Reform rabbi in the 20th century. The college started in 1956. Its first goal was to train Liberal and Reform rabbis.

Today, the college trains rabbis and teachers. It also gives advice on education. It helps develop leaders for Jewish communities. The college also offers Jewish learning to everyone. This includes working with people of different faiths. It is a place where you can earn a degree. It specializes in Hebrew and other Jewish subjects. Leo Baeck College is now located at the Sternberg Centre.

Jewish Museum, Finchley

This museum first opened in 1983. It was called the Museum of the Jewish East End. It was founded by David Jacobs. Its main goal was to save the history of London's East End. This area used to have a very large and important Jewish community.

In 1990, the museum changed its name to the London Museum of Jewish Life. Later, it joined with the Jewish Museum in Camden Town. The museum then started to include the history of other Jewish communities in London. It also teaches about the Holocaust and works against racism.

The Finchley museum closed in 2007. In 2009, it moved to a bigger building in Camden. This move created more space for the Akiva School to expand.

See also

• History of Church End Finchley – This tells you about the old Manor House at the centre of the site.
• History of the Jews in England
• List of Jewish communities in the United Kingdom
• List of synagogues in the United Kingdom