Redbridge area Progressive shuls vote for merger

FOLLOWING IN the footsteps of Redbridge Orthodox communities, the two local Liberal congregations have voted overwhelmingly to amalgamate.

In parallel EGMs on Sunday, members of Bet Tikvah (Barkingside) and W o o d f o r d Liberal sy nagog ues s up - p o r t e d t h e dissolution of their existing shuls and the formation of a new single congregation.

The unification will take e f f e c t f r o m January 1, creating a community of around 700 members which will be led by rabbis Richard Jacobi and David Hulbert.

Rabbi Danny R ich, Liberal Judaism’s senior minister, said the merger offered “a fant ast ic opportunity to bring toget her t he strengths and resources” of the two congregations.

It was “a statement of our confidence in, and desire to serve the Jewish community of Redbridge, Essex and beyond”.

In the votes, 86 per cent of Bet Tikvah members and 81 per cent of Woodford Liberal congregants backed unification.

Consultations will take place over a name for t he new community. Ser vices will be held in both current synagogues for at least 18 months while options for a joint building are investigated.

F o r Woodford Liberal, chairman Jonny Hurst was excited by the p r o s p e c t o f being part of “one of the largest Progressive J e wis h c o mmuniti e s i n the country, led by two highly respected rabbis.

“I genuinely b e l i e v e t h e whole will be g reater t han the sum of its parts, creating a stronger and more sec ure c o mmuni t y, wit hout l os - ing the identity and values which we have bothdeveloped and cherished over many decades.” Gary Freedman, his Bet Tikvah counterpart, felt the decision would benefit Liberal Jews in Redbridge, “especially the growing number of families”, and Liberal Judaism as a whole. Gary Freedman and Jonny Hurst