Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner is to return to the pulpit 18 months after stepping down as the Reform Movement’s senior rabbi.

She is joining the Bromley Reform congregation and will start her part-time duties at the beginning of April.

“It is a coup for us,” said Bromley Reform chair Michelle Brooks Evans.

“Following her near decade as senior rabbi to the movement, she has chosen to return to her vocation as Bromley’s community rabbi and we are thrilled to have her enthusiasm, intelligence and spiritual guidance.

“As a magnet for Jewish life in the area, the possibilities are excitingly endless. We’ve spent the last two months keeping this within the recruitment group. We are over the moon.”

Rabbi Janner-Klausner, who is also an inclusion and development coach, said she was excited by her new role.

“I already love Bromley for their open hearts, true inclusion and exceptional mutual support. Bromley is a friendly and generous community for people of all kinds.”

For Ms Brooks Evans, it also revives a relationship dating back to 1984 when “Laura was one of my leaders on an RSY Israel tour — my first foray into Reform Judaism, having grown up in an Orthodox community in Woolwich.

“Laura changed my life and she’s now at Bromley changing our community.”

The shul started a recruitment process in response to the departure of Rabbi Mati Kirschenbaum, who left in November to join the rabbinic team at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue.

Having “always had a soft spot for Bromley”, Rabbi Janner-Klausner emailed Ms Brooks Evans in mid-December to say she was interested in applying for the post.

“We met for coffee the next day and things moved very quickly from there. We offered her the job at the end of January and she accepted within five minutes.

“She sees in Bromley a community she thinks she would like to be involved in, one that looks after its own and not in a Jewish area — it takes me half-an-hour to drive in. She’s already putting dates in her diary.”

It’s a growing congregation of 450 members and in her three-day-a-week role, Rabbi Janner-Klausner will be variously involved in Shabbat services, Friday night suppers and youth activities.

“We have a lot of barmitzvah children and a thriving cheder,” Ms Brooks Evans said.
Movement for Reform Judaism acting co-chair Paul Langsford expressed delight at the appointment.

“Bromley is a caring and thriving community,” he said. “She’ll receive a warm and enthusiastic welcome and we wish her every success in her new role.”