Rabbinical council gives green light to lay eulogies

New guidelines allowing lay people to speak at funerals are to be introduced by the United Synagogue "in the next few weeks", its president Simon Hochhauser said on Monday.

The relaxation of previous rules restricting eulogies to ministers was announced last month by the leaders of the US's Rabbinical Council (RCUS). But the rabbis were subsequently told by US head office to hold fire on the new policy, pending further consultations.

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US reinstates eulogy ban

The United Synagogue has put on hold plans by its rabbis to allow relatives to give eulogies at funerals.
Only last month the head of the organisation's Rabbinical Council (RCUS) wrote to colleagues to say that they could relax the previous practice, objected to by many congregants, which permitted only members of the clergy to speak at the cemetery.

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Father dies moments after seeing his daughter marry

A leading communal figure died suddenly at his daughter's wedding on Monday evening.

Michael Rosen, 65, from Pinner, Middlesex, was celebrating the marriage of his daughter Lynne to Robert Dyan at the Grove Hotel in Watford, Hertfordshire, when he collapsed from a suspected heart attack.
One guest said: "He seemed 100 per cent fine. Everything was normal and we were returning to our tables after the Israeli dancing when he collapsed. You could see it was serious because the rabbis started praying."

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New US shul appoints minister

Rabbi Avi Scharf has been appointed minister of the United Synagogue's newest congregation, Hendon-based Alei Tzion.

Currently a senior rabbi at Ohr Torah Stone Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem, he will also be the rabbinic scholar in residence at the London School of Jewish Studies and head the kollel at Immanuel College, Bushey.

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United Synagogue removes gag on relatives speaking at funerals

The United Synagogue has relaxed one of its most controversial rules that restricted the delivery of funeral eulogies to rabbis or ministers.

A letter has gone out to rabbis from the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogues recommending that lay people should be allowed to give a hesped (eulogy) on certain occasions at the discretion of the local rabbi.

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Review for Rabbinate Trust

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Re-established cheder holds first prize-giving in 15 years

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Herts Ladies enjoy "alfresco flavours"

One-hundred members of Herts Ladies, drawing from Hertfordshire's nine United Synagogue communities, enjoyed an "alfresco flavours" cookery demonstration by Denise Phillips. Borehamwood ladies' guild hosted the event, whose £700 proceeds will benefit Israeli charities.

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United Synagogue community host "we're here to help" brunch

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Cemetery worker settles race claim

A Jewish cemetery worker is due to receive an out-of-court settlement from the United Synagogue following a dispute over racial discrimination.

Peter Sollosi, who worked for the US as part of its burial society, had claimed that non-Jewish workers were paid more than him to work at Christmas.

The case was due to be heard by an employment tribunal next week, but the parties have now resolved the matter and agreed to a settlement.

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