Saul Taylor becomes new president of the United Synagogue

All three candidates campaigned vigorously, visiting a number of the 56 United Synagogue congregations and taking part in a lively hustings’ session last Tuesday.

Saul Taylor, after being elected as the new president of the United Synagogue (Photo: Gaby Wine)[Missing Credit]

Taylor is taking over from Michael Goldstein, who was been president for two four-year terms. Taylor paid tribute to Goldstein and his other predecessors, saying he was “deeply aware of the weight of this office and the quality of leaders who have come before me”.

He called Goldstein “an example of how communal leadership could be done. You have an amazing knack of bringing people with different views together to move things forward.”

Taylor also spoke highly of his opponents, describing Meyer as “challenging, passionate and always with a smile” and Lemer, who has been a United Synagogue trustee alongside Taylor, as someone whose “achievements have made the United Synagogue much stronger and diverse”.

During his election campaign, Taylor said that his priorities would be to create a more inclusive, community-centred United Synagogue, turning synagogue buildings into multifunctional community hubs and investing in the youth.

Inspired by his late grandmother, one of the first female judges Myrella Cohen QC, he also committed to advance the position of women within the organisation, particularly in the area of female religious leadership and high-level education.

Taylor said he would strengthen the US’ ties with Israel, developing partnerships between congregations and communities in Israel.

The United Synagogue announced the results on X, posting: “We can’t wait to work with Saul and the new trustee board in this next chapter of the charity.”

At 43, Taylor becomes one of the youngest ever presidents of the organisation. Phil Rosenberg, who became the youngest Board of Deputies president at 38, posted on social media: “Mazal Tov to Saul Taylor on his election as President of the United Synagogue! Saul’s election shows the leadership of the community moving to a new generation. We very much look forward to working with him over the coming years.”

Also celebrating were new US trustees Cindy Goldstein, Rachel Hartog, Daniel Turner and Darren Lewis.

The election coincided with the 155th anniversary of the United Synagogue being founded by an Act of Parliament in 1870. The organisation is the only Jewish charity to have been started in this way.