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Although the first Jewish family moved into New Barnet in 1928, it took another twenty years before an advertisement in the Barnet Press produced a group of committed Jewish families who got together to form the Barnet Community and, in 1954, joined in the United Synagogue as Barnet and District Affiliated Synagogue. At that time, services were held in a converted garage. By the early 1960's, the community had grown rapidly and the first part of its permanent premises opened for full services on Rosh Hashanah 1965.

As the community continued to grow, further extensions were added but the building is no longer suitable for the needs of a young, vibrant community that has grown by leaps and bounds over the last twenty-six years. It has been realised for some time that something drastic must be done and, for the last couple of years, suitable sites in the immediate vicinity have been investigated, none of which have been suitable. We have decided to use the existing site and are looking at ways to maximise its use within the existing building. Compromises will have to be reached between the needs of the community, the requirements of the local planning authority and the funds available.

The Barnet Community has benefited by the move of the Jewish population from the inner suburbs of London to the outer suburbs. Young married couples are attracted by the quality of secular and Jewish education locally, resulting in needs that the community never envisaged when the shul was first planned. Although the young are, of course, the future of the community, the elderly and infirm cannot be forgotten and special consideration will be given in our plans to make access much easier. The shul obtained the services of Rabbi Isaac Newman, who provided the Community with a spiritual leadership for 20 years, although only part-time. He was followed by Rabbi Pinchas Rosenstein, Rabbi Shaul Robinson, and since June 2006 Rabbi Barry Lerer. The premises are used one way or another every day of the week. The Shul now provides a regular "drop-in" youth club, adult education, groups of young marrieds, a Friendship Club for the not-so-young, children's services for all ages, a vibrant ladies group and much more.

Through all this, we have been able to maintain the unique Barnet atmosphere that is so well-known, not only to our own community, but felt and commented upon by all visitors of whatever shade of observance. We in Barnet Synagogue are convinced that our recent expansion of our building facilities will lead to the expansion of the range of facilities we can offer the community.