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London synagogue quits strictly Orthodox union over Halpern

January 2, 2013 10:48
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By

Simon Rocker,

Simon Rocker

1 min read

A north-west London synagogue has quit the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations in protest at its handling of allegations against a senior rabbi of inappropriate conduct with women.

The board of the 180-member North Hendon Adath Yisroel Synagogue acted swiftly after members voted overwhelmingly at an emergency meeting on Tuesday to change the constitution to allow the congregation to sever links with the Union.

Its move to go independent reflects exasperation at the Union’s indecision over complaints made by a number of women about marriage counselling sessions run by Rabbi Chaim Halpern of the Divrei Chaim synagogue in Golders Green.

Henry Ehreich, secretary of North Hendon Adath, explained that the decision had been taken because of "the way the Union has been dealing, or not dealing, with the problem. We were faced with a situation where members of our shul were voting with their feet.