A major Masorti synagogue has voted to phase in regular egalitarian services in response to falling attendances at the traditional minyan.
The New London Synagogue in St John's Wood has held a Minyan Chadash service - for which men and women are counted in the minyan - every month for around 12 years. Following a vote at its EGM, egalitarian services will be held twice weekly over the next two years.
Around 200 voted in favour, with about 80 against. The turning tide was evident on Shabbat, when for the first time the traditional service failed to attract a minyan.
A Minyan Chadash organiser, Stephen Lerman, said the move was led by Rabbi Jeremy Gordon, who started the egalitarian service before he was ordained. There had been dissent from "some stalwarts in the community, some lovely people who realise the way the community's moving but are very unhappy about it. Not just older people either, but younger members who joined from the United Synagogue who enjoy the open-minded, questioning aspect of Masorti but like traditional female and male roles."
However, Mr Lerman predicted that at the end of the two-year trial, the Minyan Chadash would prove its worth. "It's a really interesting, exciting development."
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