BES Chatanim & N'shei Chayil 2021

Rabbi Sam Taylor serves as the Community Rabbi at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, where his main role is being Rabbi of BES Yavneh along with other responsibilities across the entire community.

In addition to his role at BES, Rabbi Taylor is the Head of Fellowships at JNF UK and the Jewish Chaplain at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Rabbi Taylor studied at Yeshivat HaKotel before graduating from the Cass Business School with a BSc in Management. He then attended Yeshiva University where he received his Rabbinic Ordination and an MA in Jewish Education. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard University.

Rabbi Taylor was previously the Community Rabbi at Western Marble Arch Synagogue and was the Assistant Rabbi at East Hill Synagogue in Englewood, NJ.

Simon and Gina have been members of BES since they married and Simon's been a member of the BES security team ever since then. He's been outside on security at virtually every significant event at shul since the 1990’s. They have two daughters at university. 

An IDF veteran having served 3 years as a lone soldier in the IAF, Simon was presented with the Outstanding Soldier Award on Independence Day 1983. After a period of academic study he returned to the UK and joined the precursor organisation to CST and is still a CST volunteer. Simon served as an Independent Custody Visitor for 23 years initially with the Metropolitan Police Service and subsequently Hertfordshire Constabulary. 

A local political activist, Simon has been a town councillor representing Brookmeadow Ward for 11 years and is the immediate past Mayor of Elstree & Borehamwood, having served 2 years in office. As the son of a Hungarian Holocaust Survivor, Simon endeavours to continue his late father’s work, ensuring what happened must never be forgotten.

Rebbetzin Emma Taylor is the Community Rebbetzin and Educator at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue, which entails being based at BES Yavneh on Shabbat and Festivals and initiating educational programmes across the entire community.

Emma also teaches History, is Head of PSHE and is Assistant Head of Sixth Form at Hasmonean Girls School, having previously taught at Beis Yaakov High School.

Emma, a graduate of Chief Rabbi Mirvis’ Ma’ayan women’s leadership programme, attended Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalyim (MMY) in Jerusalem, then earned a BA in History at King's College London and was awarded an MA in Education and Special Education at Touro College in New York. Emma is a certified Teacher in both the UK and USA.

Prior to joining BES, Emma was the Community Rebbetzin of Western Marble Arch Synagogue.

Rachel moved to the area 15 years ago with her husband Steven. They have three children aged 15, 14 and 10 years old. Soon after arriving in the area they became regular Shul attendees; first at Croxdale and then Yavneh.

She enjoys going to shul and was always on hand to help out with the Kiddush rota and then soon became involved with running the welcoming rota at Yanveh. She always enjoyed standing outside (particularly on sunny days) welcoming people to shul.

In 2017 Rachel became the Financial Representative for BES and undertook this role for four years.

Whilst it was time consuming and hard work, it was very rewarding - being able to use her professional experience to give back to the community was fulfilling.

It was an honour and privilege to be part of the HO team and Rachel is very honoured to have been asked to be Eishet Chayil this year.