Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was elected chief rabbi of Britain

After many months, during which dozens of candidates from around the world were interviewed for the role of Chief Rabbi of the UK, the Chief Rabbinate Trust - decided this week to select Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.


Rabbi Mirvis, 55, a native of South Africa, serves as rabbi of United Synagogue Congregation - the flagship of modern Orthodox communities in London in Finchley in London for 16 years. He served as Chief Rabbi of Ireland. The Lithuanian rabbi studied in Israel and received rabbinical ordination. He holds the roles of rabbi, mohel, shochet and cantor in his community.

Since the retirement announcement of Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, names of rabbis from Israel and around the world were brought up and down - including the names of Rabbi Metzger and Rabbi Lau.


This past Erev Rosh Hashanah the Chief Rabbinate Trust held a vote between the different communities in England, where the contestants names were mentioned, including Rabbi Michael Braude, a rabbi and judge in Atlanta, Rabbi Meir Solowetzik, one of the heads of Yeshiva University and Yeshurun community leader in New York, along with other names.

The poll results were divided and no candidate received a majority.


Last week, the Chief Rabbinate Trust interviewed Rabbi Harvey Belsky, a community Rabbi in Golders Green.


Just this week the Chief Rabbinate Trust succeeded in raising the most votes for Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who lives in Golders Green.


Rabbi Mirvis will come into office in September 2013.

The Rabbinical Center of Europe, praised the selection. Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, vice president of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe said: "The name of a person goes before him. The name of Rabbi Mirvis is known in England and abroad as a rabbi who knows how to bring every Jew into the community and who knows how to find a channel into the hearts of those who are not close to a life of Torah and mitzvot. Selection of such a person appointed as chief rabbi of the United Kingdom is good news for the Jews of England and good hope for Judaism in the country."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!