Our People
Rabbi Daniel Epstein has been serving the WMA community together with his wife, Ilana, since March 2021. Before that, they spent seven years at the Cockfosters & North Southgate United Synagogue. Rabbi Epstein is involved in interfaith dialogue, runs a successful adult Torah education programme, and works to raise awareness of mental health challenges in the Jewish community. He is a foundation governor of the 2,000-student JFS High School and is an educator on the Holocaust Educational Trust’s “Lessons from Auschwitz” programme. He holds a BSc (Hons) ARCS in Chemistry and Management Science from Imperial College London and he and Ilana have four children.
Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein is one half of the senior rabbinic team at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue. She works within the community, giving two shiurim each week: on Parashat HaShavua and on Art History/Culture within Judaism, as well as providing pastoral care, primarily to the women of our community. Beyond the WMA community, Ilana is also Chief of Staff at the Jewish Futures Group – a collection of informal Jewish education organisations in the UK. Previously, Ilana worked for the United Synagogue on various marketing and publication projects, including the redesigning of the US’s Daf HaShavua from 4-page monochrome sheet to a full-colour weekly educational booklet.
Chazan Eitan Freilich is Resident Chazan at WMA.
One of the shining young stars of British Jewish music, he follows in a long tradition of innovative, joyful music at the Western Marble Arch synagogue.
Increasingly known across the UK for his inspiring synagogue services, Eitan is perhaps best recognised as one of the world’s most sought after simcha singers. With three successful albums, numerous popular social media videos, and frequent performances in cities from Las Vegas to Venice, he has demonstrated his commitment to developing a style of music and simcha relevant and joyful for today’s Jewish world.
Inspired by his family’s rich Chazanut heritage, and his training under notable cantorial masters, Chazan Eitan has become celebrated for his unique blend of traditional Jewish liturgical music and contemporary melodies.
A graduate of the CASS Business School and Yeshivat Sha’alvim, Chazan Eitan is joined at WMA by his wonderful wife Gabriella, a qualified teacher who leads WMA’s childrens’ services, and with their beautiful four children.
Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld is Rabbi Emeritus at WMA.
We wish Rabbi Lionel and Natalie Rosenfeld Mazel Tov on their retirement.
Rabbi Lionel’s energy and passion for the community is only matched by his world-renowned voice. He is the fifth generation of a Jerusalem family of Rabbonim and Cantors, and is well respected for his composition of new Jewish music and performs at major events around the world with the Shabbaton Choir.
His long association with our community began when he served as our Chazan between 1988 and 1997 and returning as Rabbi in 2005. He is a passionate advocate for Israel, and with his wife Natalie, have four children and 14 grandchildren all living in Israel. The warmth and support that he and Natalie provide to all members of the community is shared with the many visitors who join us each Shabbat from all over the world.
נפלה עטרת ראשינו
מורינו הרב יעקב צבי בן דוד אריה זצ״ל
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS
Western Marble Arch Synagogue, the Western Charitable Foundation with Rabbi Lionel Rosenfeld deeply mourn the untimely passing of our beloved spiritual leader and friend Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.
We wish long life to his wife Lady Elaine, son Joshua, daughters Dina and Gila and the extended family.
Gina Drew Davis is our Administrator, and as such heads up the office of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue. She owned a Jewish Nursery for 25 years, is a former Governor of JFS and has been an Executive member/lay leader of several charities including Hope Charity, which she managed in the UK for 13 years. Gina is a valuable point of contact for all members and visitors to our community.