High Holy Day services in doubt on Gold Coast
THE future of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation (GCHC) are in doubt this year, after the Sydney Beth Din banned GCHC from hiring a new rabbi.
THE future of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation (GCHC) are in doubt this year, after the Sydney Beth Din banned GCHC from hiring a new rabbi.
It follows the announcement two months ago by the GCHC board that it would not be renewing the contract of Rabbi Nir Gurevitch after it expires on August 31.
Rabbi Gurevitch, who has served the congregation for more than 20 years, and two congregants asked the Sydney Beth Din to place an injunction on the GCHC board to stop them appointing a new rabbi so they could fight to save the rabbi’s job at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).
The injunction was granted and the beth din said they have until midday on Friday to seek the EGM.
According to the injunction, no rabbi should accept a job as the rabbi of GCHC because din Torah proceedings have been initiated. “An ikul [injunction] has been granted restraining the synagogue from employing a rabbi or minister until such time that the beth din rescinds the ikul,” the statement from the beth din said. “Similarly, a ‘ban’ has been placed by the beth din on any individual who takes up such a position while the ikul is in place.”
However, the ruling was slammed by the board, who said the financial members of the congregation supported the board at a recent special general meeting.
“The Sydney Beth Din are making it impossible for many of the Gold Coast’s Jewish residents and visitors to attend Orthodox services during the High Holy Days,” the GCHC board told The AJN.
“Rabbi Gurevitch has been the rabbi of the GCHC for more than 20 years and the message we have is that now it is time for a change.
“The primary responsibility of the board of management is to take care of the affairs of the congregation, not the rabbi’s personal affairs.”
Rabbi Gurevitch said he believes the congregation wants him to continue. “We are passionate about wanting to serve the community,” he told The AJN this week.
“This decision was never put to the members, and we want [them] to have the opportunity to vote.”
The board is standing, uncontested, at an election on August 18.
JOSHUA LEVI
Rabbi Nir Gurevitch.
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