New Rabbi for Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue

Tanya Sakhnovich has been inducted as full-time Rabbi at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue. Rabbi Tanya was born in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and graduated from the Belarusian State Pedagogical University with an MA in Music and History of Art.

Involved in co-ordinating community and education programmes for the World Union of Progressive Judaism in both Minsk and Moscow she moved to London in 2004 to study for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College.

After graduating in 2009, Tanya served Nottingham Liberal Synagogue and Elstree Liberal Synagogue before joining EHRS a year ago. She now joins the permanent Rabbinic team of Mark Goldsmith and Debbie Young-Somers.

No fewer than 13 Rabbis and Cantors joined her for the special occasion and Tanya was thrilled that her family back in Minsk could watch the induction online.

She said: “I was so happy that my parents were able to follow the service online. It was a very emotional day for me. I was moved to have so many of my distinguished colleagues in the service as well as a synagogue packed with friends from different parts of the world along with many from my former communities.

“As my family wasn’t able to be with me on the day, having friends and members with me made a big difference, and I felt like we were one big family.”