ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus
Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has complimented Manchester congregational rabbis Dovid Lewis and Dovid Eisenberg for being in the vanguard of a "new breed" of ministers.
Lord Sacks officiated at the induction ceremonies of Rabbi Lewis at South Manchester Synagogue and Rabbi Eisenberg at Prestwich Hebrew Congregation at the weekend.
More than 300 people attended the Friday-night dinner at South Manchester, also marking the 140th anniversary of the 600-member community.
The Saturday-evening ceremony at Prestwich, followed by a reception, attracted a crowd of 450.
Addressing Manchester Jewish Representative Council on Sunday morning, the Chief said Rabbis Lewis and Eisenberg were "seriously learned bnei Torah, very non-judgmental, user friendly and accessible. The future spiritual leadership of this community is going to be in very good hands."
He listed the increased role of women in the community and the expansion of the Jewish schools network as key achievements of his rabbinate.
On his way back to London, Lord Sacks stopped off at Solihull Synagogue, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013. He praised it as a small community with an enormous heart.