ANT KATZ
UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has said that he will attend Limmud in the UK in December – a precedent-setting move which will see the first serving chief rabbi to attend the event since its inception in 1980.
The recently-appointed former Capetonian Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth, said he was “very pleased to be participating” in Limmud – a cross-communal education conference.
A spokesman at the London Beth Din (LBD) says it still harbours reservations about Orthodox rabbis attending. The dayanim did recognise, however, that the decision was the prerogative of the Chief Rabbi. The LBD retained “every confidence” in Rabbi Mirvis and offered him “every support”.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis told JC.com: “One of my primary functions is as teacher of the community. I see Limmud as an opportunity to teach Torah to large numbers of people who want to learn.”
His predecessor, Lord Jonathan Sacks, although he attended Limmud before becoming Chief Rabbi, stayed away after taking office. In 1995 Lord Sacks told US rabbis they were free to attend the event at their own discretion. But, for the most part, Orthodox rabbis have heeded the wishes of the LBD which had opposed their attendance.
The LBD dayanim remain “seriously concerned” at Limmud blurring “the distinction between authentic Orthodox Judaism and non-Orthodox Jewish beliefs and practices”.
Steve Pack, president of the United Synagogue (UK equivalent of the UOS) said he “wholeheartedly” welcomed Chief Rabbi Mirvis’ move.
“Limmud is one of Anglo-Jewry’s greatest achievements and exports,” said Pack. “I know that participants will enjoy hearing from the Chief Rabbi and benefit from learning with him.”
Oliver Marcus, co-chairman of Limmud UK’s December event, said they were “delighted” at Rabbi Mirvis’ decision “to join us at Limmud conference as a presenter and a participant”.
SA Orthodox rabbis have also taken a decision not to participate in the fast-growing Limmud-SA.
Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein is inundated with last minute matters relating to The Shabbos Project (happening this weekend) and could not be contacted for comment. His office told Jewish Report, however, that the decision not to use Limmud as an educational platform had been taken in conjunction with the South African Rabbinical Association.
The local event has not hosted a South African Orthodox rabbi as a delegate or speaker, but Limmud locally does attract an ever-increasing number of frum delegates.
Wayne Sussman – national co-chairman of Limmud-SA – told Jewish Report on Monday that he would be travelling this week and that one of the other co-chairmen would comment on the matter, but no comment had been received at the time of us going to print.
