Leading Reform synagogue puts faith in a cantor rather than a rabbi for its new head
ONE OF the flagship Reform congregations in the UK has broken with tradition by appointing a cantor to head its clerical team.
Finchley Reform Synagogue (FRS) has asked Cantor Zoe Jacobs to be its new spiritual leader, succeeding Rabbi Miriam Berger, who announced she would be leaving in July.
Cantor Jacobs, who grew up at FRS and has been cantor there for 15 years, is believed to be the first cantor in a Progressive congregation to be appointed leader of a clergy team.
Cantor Rachel Weston heads Sinai Synagogue in Leeds, where she is the sole minister.
Cantor Jacobs, who will take up her new position in July, said: “FRS has always been my spiritual home.
“For the last 15 years, I have worked alongside an inspirational friend and colleague in Miriam to build a new model of collaborative spiritual leadership. “I am so honoured and motivated to now follow in the footsteps of my extraordinary predecessors to continue our rich tradition of social action, deep relationships and musical engagement.”
FRS chair Jenny Nuni said: “FRS has a legacy of bold and innovative choices. “Appointing Zoe to lead our clergy team positions both FRS as a community and Progressive Judaism as a whole in the vanguard of change, showcasing a commitment to spirituality, creativity and new ways of thinking.”
Cantor Jacobs will lead a team that includes Rabbis Deborah Blausten and Howard Cooper. Ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Institute of Jewish Religion in the US, Cantor Jacobs was the first woman to earn the qualification to serve a British congregation. FRS has doubled its membership in two decades and recently moved into a new, purposebuilt building.
In the meantime, Alyth in Golders Green has turned to a third-generation Israeli Reform rabbi, Golan BenChorin, to be its principal rabbi. Rabbi Ben-Chorin arrived as interim rabbi at Alyth (North-Western Reform Synagogue) after Rabbi Josh Levy left to become chief executive of the Movement for Reform and to see through the union with Liberal Judaism as colead of Progressive Judaism. Rabbi BenChorin is a well-travelled rabbi.
His previous pulpits include Rosh Pina, Israel’s most northerly Reform community, Temple Judea in Florida and the Peace Synagogue in Tbilisi, Georgia.
He has also been director of Israel programmes for the Leo Baeck College. Rabbi Ben-Chorin said: “I am deeply honoured and delighted to transition into the role of principal rabbi, with gratitude to our uncompromisingly committed lay leadership, dedicated rabbinic team and devoted staff.
“In the words of the traveller’s prayer: ‘May You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps to fulfilment, and help us reach our desired destination with vitality, joy, and peace.’” Synagogue chair Justin Wise added: “We are thrilled to begin this new phase in Alyth’s life, in a year that will also see the opening of our beautiful new building.”
The rabbinic team includes Rabbis Hannah Kingston and Elliott Karstadt.
This showcases a commitment to new ways of thinking