Tributes have been paid to Reverend Gary Newman, who has retired after 40 years in ministerial service.

Rev Newman was commemorated at a special reception at Cranbrook United Synagogue, where he has spent the last 24 years.

Bernard Berman, chairman of the synagogue, said it had been an “incredible career”, which began in the Southport Jewish community, where Rev Newman was minister and chazan, followed by a tenure as chazan at Higher Prestwich Hebrew Congregation in Manchester before his eventual move to Essex.

Newman’s path led him to serve as chazan and assistant minister at Southend and Westcliff synagogue and then Newbury Park synagogue in 2001.

Following the merger of Newbury Park with Clayhall United to become Redbridge United, Rev Newman became chazan and welfare minister, continuing in these roles when the communuity later joined with Ilford United to form Cranbrook United.

Berman said: “Rev Newman has always shown an unwavering attention to those who needed help, often in their darkest hours.”

Reflecting on his career, Rev Newman expressed his heartfelt enjoyment for every moment spent serving the United Synagogue.

He said:  “It’s been the most glorious, most wonderful career. I love people. I can't praise enough the local executives I have worked with, and everyone at head office has been magnificent.” 

He said that the most vaulable lesson he had learnt during his career was “how to love people, to be there for everybody and to be a mensch”.

He added: “I prided myself on trying to go beyond the call of duty. My forte has always been being there for the public and helping the community, which is exceptionally important.”

He paid tribute to his wife, Gillian, “the unsung hero”, who helped out by visiting the sick, attending shivas and entertaining, he said.

He recalled the words of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks when he had his induction at Newbury Park 24 years ago, “[He] said: ‘If you love your congregation, your congregation will love you.’ I never forgot those words. And I loved each and every one of my congregations, wherever I was.”

Rev Newman received an award in 2020 from the BHR University Hospital Trust for two decades of service as the chaplain at King George Hospital in Goodmayes and Queen Hospital in Romford, where he regularly visited patients. He also provided help to the United Synagogue’s Burial Society.

Jo Grose, chief executive of the United Synagogue, said: "Forty years is, by any measure, an extraordinary amount of time to dedicate oneself to the Jewish community. During the four decades, Reverend Newman, together with his wife, Gillian, have served thousands of Jews from all walks of life across the country, his passion and love have shone through...Reverend Newman has always put supporting others before his own needs.”

The event featured tributes from various speakers, including Dawn Howes, representing Jewish Care’s Vi and John Rubens House, where Rev Newman was a frequent visitor, Geoff Hartell, former vice-president of the United Synagogue and Harold Marco, former warden of Newbury Park Synagogue.