Ilford rabbi lls vacancy at orehamwoodminyan
BOREHAMWOOD AND Elstree United Synagogue has filled a ministerial vacancy with the appointment of Rabbi Alex Chapper as its community rabbi.
Rabbi Chapper, currently minister of Ilford Federation Synagogue, will have responsibility for developing BES@Yavneh in the Southside of Borehamwood, as well as providing additional spiritual leadership for the BES community in its Croxdale Road home on the opposite side of the Hertfordshire town.
Rabbi Chaim Kanterovitz, BES senior rabbi, said he was “delighted” at the appointment. “Together, we will be able to pursue our vision of one united and thriving community operating across multiple, vibrant sites to create an exciting future for BES.”
Rabbi Chapper said that he and his wife Eva “will be sorry to leave the Ilford community. They have treated us incredibly well throughout our time here and we have made a number of enduring friendships. The community has shown us tremendous respect and love and been receptive to our ideas which has enabled us to achieve so muchtogether.Atthesametime,weare very excited about the new challenge of joiningBorehamwoodandElstreeSynagogue. We look forward to contributing to its future growth and development.”
Anne Gordon, chairman of BES, added: “With over 2,500 members, BES is one of the fastest growing and most vibrant Jewish communities in the UK. Rabbi Chapper’s addition to our rabbinic team enables us to build on our reputation as a leading and growing modern Orthodox synagogue. We are also grateful to Rabbi Yaakov Finn who has been acting as interim rabbi at BES@Yavneh, and will stay on in this role until Rabbi Chapper takes up his post.”
Rabbi Chapper is expected to begin his new role shortly after Pesach. He replaces Rabbi Boruch Boudilovsky who, together with his wife Esther, recently made aliyah after more than five years serving BES.
TheSouthsideminyanattracts around 200 people to its services at Yavneh College.
Synagogue members were also informed this week that the shul’s youth minister, Rabbi Amos Azizoff had resigned. Ms Gordon wrote: “We would like to thank him for all his work with the youth over the last 18 months and wish him well.”