Category: In the Press

A conference took place last Sunday to provide learning and chizuk to the Federation’s team of dedicated Rebbetzins. The conference was held at the JLE and was extremely well attended.

The Federation Beis Din hosted Rabbi Shmuel Yosef Shtizberg, noted mechaber and posek of Gur in Beit Shemesh, for a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing Jewish communities in the UK, vis a vis the application of halachah to contemporary household appliances. Rabbi Shtizberg, with his keen technical understanding, has advised leading manufacturers on matters of halachah and spearheaded the revolutionary project to design Shabbos-compliant smart water meters. The meeting was held in the light of the creation of the Federation’s new technology department, which has already published pre-purchase consumer guides for the usage of ovens, fridges and freezers on Shabbos and yom tov. Members of the Federation’s ShailaText Rabbinic panel were also in attendance.

ford Federation Synagogue has announced the appointment of a new Rav, Rabbi David Singer, who will be joining the kehillah shortly after Pesach. Rabbi Singer, who grew up in Birmingham, began his career as the assistant Rabbi in Singers Hill synagogue many years ago, before moving to Eretz Yisrael, where he lived for over 40 years. In 2013, he and his wife moved to Ireland, where he took

In the early hours of Sunday morning, a select group of Federation Rabbanim, including Rosh Beis Din Dayan Yisroel Yaakov Lichstenstein, set off from Hendon and Edgware for Luton airport. The group, numbering 15 members of the organisation’s growing Rabbinic team, was embarking on a two-day Rabbinic retreat based at Glenalla House in Donegal, Ireland, comprising a full programme of events arranged by Federation Director of Education Rabbi Dovid Roberts.

The Federation’s hugely successful ShailaText service was launched in June 2015, l’ilui nishmas Dayan Gershon Lopian, zt”l. Although the initial premise was that all she’eilos would be answered within 24 hours, it very quickly became apparent that a faster turnaround was required, and the service altered its guarantee to a “within four working hours” response time.

The community shul of the Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) has announced that it will be joining the Federation as an affiliate member. The shul is comprised of two minyanim. A vibrant and welcoming shul, based at the JLE, it is regularly attended by some 150 men, women and children over Shabbos and has a steady flow of attendees during the week. Additionally, a satellite Shabbos minyan is based in the home of Rabbi Akiva Tatz in Golders Green. The davening is enjoyed by 50 regular participants, including the many children who attend the on-site children’s service and creche.

The Federation has held its second annual Rabbinical Conference on Rosh Chodesh Av at the Pillar Hotel in Hendon.

There are a record number of shuls in the United Kingdom today, according to a newly published survey, but shul membership numbers have continued to decline. The report was produced by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research on behalf of the Board of Deputies.

The Beis Gavriel kehillah in Hendon has announced that it will be joining the Federation as its 26th member shul. Beis Gavriel was founded by the Lubavitch community in 2008, in memory of the late Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, Hy”d, who lost their lives in the terror attack in Mumbai. This unique background is a constant reminder of mesirus nefesh, which provides positive inspiration and chizuk to all. Beis Gavriel has developed into a warm and diverse kehillah, comprising members of all ages and backgrounds.