A British-born rabbi who grew up in Australia and now serves in Canada is poised to become the new minister of one of the United Synagogue’s largest congregations, Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Rabbi Daniel Friedman, from Beth Israel Synagogue, Edmonton, is the recommended choice of the HGS board to succeed Rabbi Dov Kaplan, who plans to return to Israel in 2018 after seven years in London.
Members of the congregation will vote on the nomination on Sunday after Rabbi Friedman addresses the community over Shabbat.
His wife Batya will also be visiting with four of their five girls.
HGS chair Carolyn Bogush has told members: “We believe we have conducted a rigorous, thorough and fair selection process and now ask for your support by ratifying the board and selection committee’s recommendation.”
When he started his career at Newtown Synagogue in Sydney at the age of 21, he was Australia’s youngest rabbi. He has rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, head of the Beth Din of America.
Rabbi Friedman has a master’s degree in political science from the University of Alberta and has been studying for a doctorate there in international relations. His wife has an MBA from Alberta and is director of an interfaith housing initiative.