Our Founder Rabbi, Dr. Louis Jacobs z"l was one of the world's most distinguished rabbinic scholars and authors. He wrote more than fifty books and was widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest authorities on all  major aspects of Jewish Studies including Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash, Responsa, Liturgy, Hasidism, Mysticism, Kabbalah, Philosophy and Theology.

For more than 40 years Rabbi Jacobs served this congregation which he founded with brilliance and distinction. The Masorti Movement he inspired, has grown into a dynamic movement built on his theology and teachings. In December 2005,  a Jewish Chronicle poll in which 2000 readers took part voted Rabbi Jacobs the greatest British Jew in the community's 350-year history in England. 

Rabbi Jacobs died on Shabbat 1st July 2006/5th Tammuz 5766.

A Web site dedicated to promoting the teachings and approach of Rabbi Jacobs has been launched - to visit the site click here -  www.louisjacobs.org

A Memorial Lecture has been established to be held each year on the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Jacobs. The inaugral lecture took place on Wednesday 20th June 2007. A Memorial Tribute was given by Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Chicago, and the Keynote lecture "Jewish Preaching on Social Justice", was given by Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein, Principal of the Leo Baeck College.

The second Memorial Lecture, "Taking Hold of Torah", took place on Sunday 6th July 2008, and was given given by Rabbi Dr Arnold Eisen, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

The third Memorial Lecture, "Israel’s Future", took place on Sunday 28th June 2009 and was given by Rabbi Michael Melchior.

The fourth Memorial Lecture, "The Talmud and the Jewish Question", took place on Sunday 20th June 2010 and was given by Rabbi Dr Norman Solomons.