The dedication service of the first Synagogue to be built in Milton Keynes took place on Sunday 6th April 2003.  The service was conducted by Rabbi Willy Wolff, Regional Rabbi in North East Germany, and Rabbi Sammy Rodrigues-Pereira, Rabbi Emeritus of Hatch End Reform Synagogue.

The Synagogue has regular Sabbath, High Holyday and Festival services, Cheder and Social events.  Prior to the appointment of it’s own Rabbi, services were conducted by the Synagogue’s team of Wardens, visiting Lay Readers, Rabbis, and Student Rabbis.

The Synagogue choir is led by Sheila Goldsmith. The Synagogue has its own consecrated burial ground in Milton Keynes. 

There is a regular Synagogue magazine, “Listen” keeping members up-to-date on services, social events and news in the community.

The Synagogue was founded by Malcolm Pruskin in 1978.  He and his wife, Maureen moved to Milton Keynes from Wimbledon in 1977 to find there was no established Jewish community, the nearest being Orthodox, in Northampton.  Kitty Morris, Maureen’s Mother, and founder member of Wimbledon & District Reform Synagogue, wrote a letter to the Jewish Chronicle asking anyone in Milton Keynes interested in forming a Reform Synagogue to write to Malcolm.  Letters arrived, visits were made and on 4th March l978 the first ever service was held.  Conducted by Rabbi Larry Tabick, it was attended by over 100 people, including visitors from RSGB.  A Kiddush followed the service. It was shortly after this the Milton Keynes Reform Synagogue was founded with Malcolm Pruskin as the first Chairman.  The Synagogue was later re-named Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue. Services and social events in those days were initially held in members’ homes, later moving to hired halls. 

It was Wimbledon & District Reform Synagogue who lent our Synagogue two scrolls for their first High Holyday Services, which were held at Plum Park, Nr. Towcester, the home of one of our former members.  These services were conducted by the Rev. Buzzy Gordon from America.  The Synagogue now has 3 scrolls, one of which is on permanent loan from Westminster Synagogue.

In November 1990, Rabbi Willy Wolff became the first Rabbi in Milton Keynes where he remained for three years.  It was at this time the decision was made to concentrate on raising money for our own Synagogue building, and being a small community it took until 2002 for sufficient funds to be raised for building work to commence.

Len Sharpstone, who was Chairman at the time, persuaded Synagogue member Barry Norman to form a Building Committee and to take on the onerous task of being responsible for the building work which included all the pre-building meetings with the Bank, English Partnership from whom we are buying the land, architects, local council planners and builders etc, and for Warren Bright, a Synagogue member, to be the on-site building co-ordinator overseeing the building work, and ensuring all utilities would be provided.  

On Wednesday 15th May 2002, a 60 tonne crane and 8 lorries with the building sections arrived at the site and by the end of the day the Synagogue building was up.  Brick and tiling work done, the inside completed and the furniture delivered. The first Synagogue in Milton Keynes was completed, and the first service, which included a Barmitzvah, took place on Saturday 17th August 2002.  Sadly Len Sharpstone died in the November.

Barry Norman went on to become Chairman of the Synagogue and in February 2005 saw the appointment of Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu the first Rabbi to Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue since the new building was completed. In August 2005 Barry was tragically killed in a car crash.

On Saturday 22nd November 2008 a special service was held to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the founding of Milton Keynes & District Reform Synagogue. The service, conducted by Rabbi Shulamit Ambalu, was attended by Rabbi Tony Bayfield the Head of the Movement for Reform Judaism and local dignitaries.

Maureen Pruskin

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