Hampstead Shul appoints new rabbinic couple

Hampstead Synagogue has announced the appointment of a new rabbinic couple. Following a trial Shabbat, Rabbi Akiva and Rebbetzin Batya Rosenblatt were voted in unanimously by Hampstead members this week.

The Rosenblatts currently lead Hadley Wood Jewish Community, also part of the United Synagogue. The couple, who are expected to start their new roles in early 2026, will be taking over from Rabbi Dr Michael Harris, who is making aliyah after serving the congregation for 30 years.

His successor said he and his wife, who have four children, were looking forward to helping “nurture and strengthen a thriving centre of Jewish life in West Hampstead”.

Rabbi Rosenblatt was born in Liverpool and moved to London as a child – but remains an avid fan of Liverpool FC.

He studied for many years at leading yeshivot, including the Jerusalem Kollel, before joining the Rabbinic Training Academy.

From 2018, Rabbi Rosenblatt was the assistant rabbi at Woodside Park United Synagogue, before joining Hadley Wood in 2020. He is also a trained chazzan and frequently sings at weddings.

Rebbetzin Rosenblatt, who is from Manchester, studied at the Jewish Teachers Training College in Gateshead for three years and subsequently taught Jewish studies at Broughton Jewish Primary School.

After marrying Rabbi Akiva and moving to Israel, she took courses at the Shelem College of Complementary Medicine in Jerusalem. Since training in the Three Principles approach to emotional wellbeing, which focuses on the relationship between the mind, consciousness and thought, with Dr George Pransky and Dr Mark Howard, Rebbetzin Rosenblatt has led wellbeing groups and seminars for women, specialising in relationships.

Rabbi Rosenblatt, who is also the honorary principal at Wolfson Hillel Primary School, said: “Batya and I feel truly honoured to be joining the illustrious Hampstead Synagogue – a warm and welcoming community with a proud past, an exciting future, and tremendous potential for growth and dynamism. We look forward to working closely with the shul and Young US to help nurture and strengthen a thriving centre of Jewish life in West Hampstead.”

Richard Abramson, the chair of Hampstead Synagogue, said: “Hampstead Synagogue is proud of its long history as a pillar of Jewish tradition in North London. The appointment of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Rosenblatt is a wonderful opportunity for us to ensure that we move forward with fresh vigour and success.

"We are confident that our new rabbinic couple will both enthuse our present membership and bring many young Londoners into the ambit of Jewish life through an involvement with Hampstead. We have come to know and admire their energy, knowledge and enthusiasm, making them worthy successors to those who have served us up till now.”