Community
Lauderdale Road rabbi reverses decision to leave
Dayan Daniel Kada had been due to move to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue at Holland Park
July 29, 2022 08:48
Dayan Daniel Kada had been due to move to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue at Holland Park
July 29, 2022 08:48Dayan Daniel Kada has been persuaded to remain as rabbi of the flagship synagogue of the S & P Sephardi Community, Lauderdale Road in Maida Vale.
Earlier this month it was announced that he and his wife, Tamar, would be leaving at the end of the year for the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue at Holland Park.
But in an email to members late on Thursday evening, the parnas presidente of the SPSC, Alan Mendoza, said, “We are delighted to update you… the Kadas are staying.”
Dayan Kada became rabbi of the community in April last year after previously leading the Wembley Sephardi Synagogue, a constituent of the SPSC. He was due to succeed Rabbi Avraham Lavi, who was retiring to Israel, at Holland Park, which is an affiliate of the SPSC.
Dr Mendoza said the “magnificent development is in no small part down to the outpouring of love and support that both the Kadas and the board have received from you – our members – looking to achieve just this outcome.”
It was proof that the mission to “rejuvenate and galvanise” Lauderdale Road that the Kadas had undertaken was succeeding, he said, “and that we can go from strength to strength together working as a united team to deliver exactly what you are looking for: a vibrant and dynamic congregation for all ages which we can all be proud to be a part of.”
Dayan and Rabbanit Kada said it had “deeply touching to have heard firsthand from so many of you, what our continued ministry means to individuals and families within our kahal [community].
“We are truly humbled and excited to continue serving this illustrious community and its unique and lovely people and families for many more years to come.”
Naomi Green, president of Holland Park, said "We are disappointed at the decision that Dayan Kada has made but wish him and his family great success for the future."
The community would "resume our efforts to fill the post being vacated by Rabbi Lavi on his retirement at the end of August," she said.
As well as leading Lauderdale Road, Dayan Kada was appointed to the Sephardi Beth Din after becoming the first student to graduate from a UK programme to produce dayanim.
Gerry Temple, a longstanding member of the SPSC, commented, "Our community at Lauderdale Road has rallied around the dayan and his beautiful family to put together a plan that puts to rest any residual issues... and clears a path for the dayan to continue the great work he has started."