Rabbi Mendel and Rebbetzin Chai Cohen, the leaders of the Saatchi Shul, have been chosen as the new senior rabbinic couple for St John’s Wood United Synagogue.
They will take up the role in March following the retirement of Dayan Ivan and Rebbetzin Rachel Binstock after 30 years at the helm of the north-west London community.
The Cohens, who have seven children, know the congregation well since Saatchi – which they joined in 2010 – is housed at St John’s Wood Synagogue and formally became part of the US community in 2018.
Their appointment at one of the oldest US communities – which has in the past been the seat of the Chief Rabbi – demonstrates the degree of acceptance of Lubavitch within the central Orthodox establishment.
Michael Abraham, chair of St John’s Wood, said he was “delighted with this appointment, which represents both continuity and renewal for St John’s Wood Synagogue.
“Rabbi and Rebbetzin Cohen are exceptional leaders with a proven ability to build community and to inspire and connect across generations. Their values and experience align perfectly with our mission and future direction.”
Rabbi Cohen said: “Baruch Hashem, as St John’s Wood Synagogue celebrates its 150th year, it is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with leading Central London’s most vibrant Jewish community.
“We are deeply grateful to the Saatchi community for believing in us 16 years ago, and thankful to the members of St John’s Wood for placing their trust in us as we look to the future together – building on a proud legacy with warmth, responsibility, and shared purpose.”
He paid tribute to Dayan and Rebbetzin Rachie Binstock “whose dignified leadership and guidance have meant so much to us over the years”.
Raised in Leeds, Rabbi Cohen was sent in his early 20s to found a Chabad House in Los Angeles. He is a qualified dayan, having been one of the first graduates of a new Montefiore Endowment course in the UK and holds a master’s degree in Jewish education from the London School of Jewish Studies.
Rebbetzin Cohen, who grew up in Seattle, is the director of the St John’s Wood Kindergarten, the Mimi Dwek Hebrew School – which she and her husband founded – and runs the St John’s Wood bar and batmitzvah programme.
She is studying to become a yo’etzet halachah (halachic adviser) in a course run by Montefiore and the Jerusalem-based Nishmat institute.
The Binstocks said their successors “have already given many years of devoted service to the St John’s Wood community, and we have every confidence that they will bring energy, innovation, and dedication to this important and challenging role”.
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