Community
Rabbi returns to Leeds shul after board gender row
Dayan Shalom Kupperman had been concerned that a majority female board would not comply with Jewish law
August 13, 2024 10:02
Dayan Shalom Kupperman had been concerned that a majority female board would not comply with Jewish law
August 13, 2024 10:02A Leeds rabbi has returned to his pulpit after temporarily withdrawing his services amid a dispute over female leadership.
Dayan Shalom Kupperman, the senior rabbi of Etz Chaim Synagogue, who also heads the city’s Beth Din, had been concerned that the make-up of the prospective new team of honorary officers would fail to comply with Jewish law because there would not be a male majority.
He had not attended the synagogue on Shabbat morning the previous week - but last Friday, a statement jointly issued to members by him and the honorary officers announced that he would be “returning to work today”.
The JC understands that a new slate of officers, due to have been approved at the synagogue’s annual meeting two weeks ago, was to have consisted of four men and four women. This would have left the incoming new president, Sara Saunders, with the casting vote on decisions made by the board.
In an exchange with the outgoing president Paul Gross shortly before the AGM, Dayan Kupperman is said to have cited “evidence” from the London Beth Din that a female president could serve only with a majority of male trustees.
Mr Gross is understood to have made it clear that the synagogue’s rabbis should not interfere in the composition of the board and the synagogue would suspend them if they felt unable to perform their duties.
In response, Dayan Kupperman is said to have accepted “your generous offer to be suspended on full pay”.
In the event, the JC understands that one of the women due to have taken office withdrew, therefore leaving a majority of men.
In the statement, released on Friday by Dayan Kupperman, Mrs Saunders and the officers to the community, they said: “Following honest and open discussions between the honorary officers and Dayan Kupperman, we are pleased to confirm that Dayan Kupperman is returning to work today.”
It went on: “He has confirmed that he is happy that there should be no restrictions on a female president or the composition of the honorary officers.
It added that Dayan Kupperman had “apologised for the delay in reaching that conclusion and he fully acknowledges the consequences of that delay.
“He deeply regrets and apologises for the hurt and upset to the members and any damage to the reputation of the shul. This was never his intention and we have accepted his explanation and apology.
“We feel that lessons have been learned, which we hope will make us stronger going forward.”
The position of the Office of Chief Rabbi is that there is flexibility on the make-up of synagogue boards, but it is up to the local rabbi to determine their conformity with Jewish law.
Three years ago, the United Synagogue amended its rules to enable a woman to be elected president of the organisation in future, while ensuring there would be a majority of male trustees.
Currently, there is parity with five men and five woman on the US trustee board, an additional woman having been co-opted. But in the event of a split decision, the male president Michael Goldstein would have the casting vote.