Struggling shul moves to church

Peterborough Synagogue has resumed services in a rented room in a local church after an emotional final Friday night in its premises for 57 years.

The United Synagogue is trying to sell the Cobden Avenue building for £75,000 but has yet to find a buyer.

Peterborough Mayor Paula Thacker was among the 30 people at the farewell service, where the attendance was swelled by a number of non-Jewis

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Joining the rabbi doctors

Rabbi Harvey Belovski of Golders Green Synagogue has joined the elite band of "Rabbi Drs" in Britain after being awarded a PhD by the University of London's Birkbeck College.

His thesis is on the thought of Rabbi Shemuel Bornstein, a Chasidic rebbe from Sochaczew in Poland, who died in 1926.

Rabbi Belovski began his doctoral research four years ago.

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Home improvements

The 300-member Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue is selling the rear section of its Archie Fay House to help fund the shul's redevelopment project.

Vice-president Prue Baker said the aim was to provide "a fully accessible, energy efficient and attractive synagogue for our growing membership and a Progressive Jewish cultural centre for Sussex and the south coast."

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Finchley Synagogue picks first chief executive

Finchley Synagogue, Kinloss, has appointed Bradley Rood as its chief executive, thought to be the first such appointment for a United Synagogue.

Mr Rood, 54, who takes up his post next week, is a member of Highams Park and Chingford shul, and brings 35 years' business experience to the post.

Mr Rood's arrival follows the recent appointment of assistant rabbis Leibish Heller and Michael Laitn

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Heart doctor congregant is a life-saver in shul

Liverpool's leading heart specialist was a life-saver when a Childwall congregant's heart stopped beating during the Shabbat service.

Shul member Dr Stephen Saltissi - Royal Liverpool University Hospital's clinical cardiology director - was sitting two rows away when Childwall choirmaster David Coleman, 63, collapsed.

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Capital gain is Birmingham's ministerial loss

Birmingham Central Synagogue will be without a permanent minister for the High Holy-Days following the departure in August of Rabbi Shlomo Odze.

He is joining South Hampstead Synagogue as associate rabbi after serving the Pershore Road community for six years.

"He will be greatly missed and a very hard act to follow," said Central president Geoffrey Clements.

Rabbi Odze has agreed to help

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Zinkin and Pack battling for US presidency

The two United Synagogue vice-presidents will go head to head in an election for the presidency of British Jewry's biggest religious organisation.

Peter Zinkin of Golders Green Synagogue and Stephen Pack of Cockfosters and North Southgate are battling to succeed Simon Hochhauser as president in the July 11 poll.

Whoever wins will be primarily responsible for the selection of the next Chief R

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