Community
Manchester shul's plan to fire rabbi and chazan 'heartless and ill-conceived'
Opposition mounts to Whitefield Hebrew Congregation's proposal to make Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag and chazan Yossi Muller redundant
September 12, 2019 09:55
Opposition mounts to Whitefield Hebrew Congregation's proposal to make Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag and chazan Yossi Muller redundant
September 12, 2019 09:55Organisations within the Whitefield Jewish community have attacked the plan of Whitefield Hebrew Congregation to fire its rabbi and chazan as “heartless and ill-conceived”.
In letters to congregants this week, the Whitefield Community Kollel and the Whitefield shul choir made it clear that they would not survive the removal of Rabbi Jonathan Guttentag and chazan Yossi Muller.
The Whitefield kollel stressed its “deep disappointment and anguish” at next week’s special general meeting on the shul’s recommendation. It urged members to “vote down the proposal of the executive”.
As the JC reported last week, lay leaders of the Manchester congregation of around 750 families have written to members about the proposition to terminate the employment of Rabbi Guttentag and chazan Muller.
The kollel’s notice, written by the rosh chabura (head of the study group), Rabbi Aryeh Masher, with other kollel members, described Rabbi Guttentag as “the source of energy and spiritual direction for the Whitefield community.
“He skilfully interlaces the working of Whitefield Community Kollel with the Whitefield shul, so that many shul members and their families gain educationally, spiritually and religiously from all that the kollel has to offer.”
They warned that if Rabbi Guttentag were dismissed, “all that input will come to end”, leading to the closure of the kollel, which was founded in 1991.
“Where is the recognition that it was solely Rabbi Guttentag, as an unpaid trustee of the kollel, who personally fundraised for the kollel annual budget for all these years?” the kollel representatives asked.
They pointed out that the closure of the kollel would, among other things, result in a dramatic reduction in local weekday afternoon and evening services, end opportunities for one-to-one learning and tutoring for shul members and prompt an exodus from the area.
For its part, the Whitefield choir published a letter expressing shock at the proposal to dismiss chazan Muller, describing his contribution as “irreplaceable.
“Our choir will not survive his removal from Whitefield shul. Without his leadership and inspiration, there is no choir — not for barmitzvahs, not for aufrufs, not for Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur,” wrote choirmaster Tim Dempsey.
“We urge you to use your vote with this in mind.”
The JC understands that there has already been some upheaval within the congregation with the cancellation of choir’s annual first night Selichot service, which is traditionally well attended.
Members opposed to the dismissals are holding an informal meeting three days before the SGM to discuss the situation.
