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Non-Sephardi could be next Sephardi religious leader

June 21, 2012 16:16

BySimon Rocker, Simon Rocker

1 min read

Members of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation are to be asked whether their next religious leader needs to be Sephardi.

Britain’s oldest Orthodox community will shortly renew its attempt to find a new spiritual head following the imminent retirement of Rabbi Abraham Levy, who has led it since 1980.

Rabbi David Bassous, the London-born head of a Sephardi synagogue in New Jersey, had been recommended to fill the post by the Spanish and Portuguese lay leadership. But he withdrew earlier this year after the result of a members’ vote to approve him was challenged.

The mahamad (executive) plans to hold meetings at three of its synagogues next month to gauge views on the way forward.