Lemer, 48, a consultant paediatrician who is also chief officer for strategy and innovation at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, is a member of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue and became a US trustee in 2014.
US trustee Claire Lemer of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue[Missing Credit]
She was standing, she said, because “I want to use my extensive experience – successfully leading, developing and improving complex professional and charitable organisations – to strengthen British Orthodox Jewry.”
Her experiences in the US had “given me a deep understanding of the US’s work and the current and future needs of our communities,” she said.
She is a trustee of the US-run Jewish Community Academy Trustee, Kisharon Langdon and Shaare Zedek UK, which supports the medical centre in Jerusalem.
She also chairs two primary school boards that belong to the Harris Federation, one of the country’s largest multi-academy trusts.
At 41, Taylor would be the youngest candidate and if successful the youngest president of the organisation in living memory.
[Missing Credit]
The Stanmore and Canon’s Park Synagogue member already has a substantial track record in the organisation, having first been elected as a trustee of the US in 2017.
And he follows in a long line of service. His father, Stuart, was a vice-president and chief executive of the US, while his late grandfather, the Reverend M H Taylor, was minister of Dollis Hill Synagogue for 44 years - the longest ministry for a single congregation in US history.
A former trader at a bank and hedge fund, Saul Taylor successfully went in to the spirits business as co-founding manager director of Dalkeith Brokerage, producers of the award-winning DS Tayman single malt. Three years ago, the company was start-up of the year in Work Avenue’s Business Awards and last year was listed by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s fastest growing businesses.
He said, “I believe the United Synagogue and Anglo-Jewry are at its best when there are strong performing local communities. I want to refocus the US on empowering the local communities with greater resources and infrastructure to cater for a more diverse modern British Jew.
“I feel with my experience in business, and the community coupled with being the youngest president in the history of the charity, will place me well to make the changes necessary to inspire the next generation of British Jews.”
Ten years ago, the third candidate, Marc Meyer, authored a 140-page strategic review into the US and it is to “redynamise the effort” in implementing its recommendations that has led him to stand.
Previously chairman of Hendon Synagogue for seven years, he is currently its financial representative and is co-founder of the US Central Chevra Kadisha. Performing taharah - the ritual cleansing of a body before burial - is “my most important effort”, he said. He is also a trustee of Magen David Adom UK and on the executive of MDA Europe.
Former chair of Hendon Synagogue Marc Meyer[Missing Credit]
Meyer, 66, who came to London from France nearly 30 years ago, believes “the place of the United Synagogue is not what it should be. It should be more prominent in advocacy and representing the community.”
He also wants to focus attention on young people. “We are still missing the engagement of the disengaged - from those who leaves school to the time when they have children of their own.”
Founder of a tech company, he would look to deploy AI systems to enable the US to better connect with its membership.
The US changed its rules four years ago to enable women to stand for the presidency after they were first admitted as trustees in 2014.
The organisation’s chief executive Jo Grose, who is the first woman to have the role, said: “Although candidates have until June to announce their nomination, we are delighted that three people have already confirmed they are standing to be president.
"The United Synagogue provides key communal infrastructure for the British Jewish community, making this one of the most important lay roles in the Jewish community so we are pleased there is already so much interest and that there will be a competitive election with a number of strong candidates.”
The organisation will also be electing a treasurer and other trustees.
Goldstein was unopposed when he stood for re-election in 2021.
