Meanwhile, having led ELS for 15 years, Rabbi Burden will become the shul’s rabbi emerita. She was “thrilled to be handing over to a very special colleague and friend”.
To mark her contribution, the synagogue organised a Zoom party where the guests included two local MPs, the Mayor of Ealing and a number of rabbinic colleagues.
Synagogue chair William Glassman said: “It is hard to choose Janet’s most significant contribution to the community. She has done so much and affected our members in so many different ways, from raising awareness about social action to being a ‘Jewish mother’ for the community with her Friday evening ‘tishes’.
“She has comforted us in times of grief and celebrated with us in times of joy.
“Personally, I believe that Janet’s most significant contribution has been to challenge us in so many ways to live up to our Liberal Jewish principles and ‘walk the walk’, not just ‘talk the talk’.”
