UK Rabbi: Communal leaders must keep kosher
Rabbi Daniel Levy claims that any Jewish communal leaders who does not keep a strict kosher diet could negatively affect community
A rabbi in a northern English city has been accused of polarizing sections of the community after stating that all Jewish communal leaders must keep kosher.
Rabbi Daniel Levy of the United Hebrew Congregation in Leeds made the comments during address entitled Eating Kosher Thinking Straight during an educational event held at Etz Chaim Synagogue this month.
The minister claimed that any Jewish communal leaders who did not keep a strict kosher diet could negatively affect the community by making wayward decisions on its behalf.
“Any person who holds any position in the community whether it's in a shul, the Welfare Board... Leeds Jewish Housing Association, if they want to make the right decisions for the community they have got to eat kosher,” Levy said.
"If they do not eat kosher, they will make the wrong decisions for the community. This is so often why wrong decisions are made in the community, why rabbis are not consulted when they should be, why there is no Jewish High School.”
Communal concern
The comments drew strong criticism from some communal leaders who said the rabbi could only damage the community by saying such things.
Leeds Rep Council president Sue Baker was quoted by the Jewish Telegraph newspaper as saying: "This is not the first time Rabbi Levy has expressed such views. Polarization can only have a negative effect on the community as a whole. The reality is that it would do very real harm if we lost those of great ability who volunteer their time and skills for the benefit of all."
Stan Cundle, chairman of Makor, the Jewish and Israel Resources Centre in the city, backed Baker. He said: “I wonder, following Rabbi Levy's comments, whether he, other ministers and lay leaders who keep kashrus meticulously have ever made a decision detrimental to the greater community?"
Rabbinical right
However, other members of the community supported Levy's right to criticize those that do not keep kosher.
Rebecca Weinberg, Leeds Jewish Welfare Board chief executive, said: "I would not expect him to compromise on this issue and fully respect his view. We are very fortunate to have so many people who devote their time and are totally committed to this community in both a paid and voluntary capacity.
"They are role models because of their dedication, their energy, their ability to inspire, their vision and their conduct. They are prepared to take responsibility for their actions and decisions in order to support and motivate a shrinking community."
Paul Gross, Etz Chaim Synagogue president, said: "I would respectfully point out that the fact that someone eats kosher does not necessarily mean that they have the necessary skill set required for communal leadership positions."
A spokesperson for the Kashrut (laws of kosher-ness) Authority said: "All delegates to the Kashrut Authority are appointed by individual Orthodox synagogues. We do not question their level of observance."
Courtesy of the European Jewish Press
Kosher
Photo: Gabi Menashe
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