United Synagogue rabbi defends restrictions on partnership minyan leaders

Although it was presented as “modern Orthodox and halachic” (acceptable within Jewish law), this was “simply not the case”.

Rabbi Kanterovitz said: “One should not attend, lead or partake in these minyanim. I do not say this lightly and this has been my position for some time.”

As well as having consulted a number of modern Orthodox authorities in Israel, he pointed out that Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was “of the same opinion and has prohibited the taking place of such activities in our shuls”.

The Borehamwood PM, Kehillat Nashira, which convenes locally every few weeks, was the first of its kind to meet openly in the UK.

Rabbi Kanterovitz added that he believed those involved in PMs were “well-meaning and intentioned and in the main seek closeness to Hashem and spiritual upliftment, even if they have chosen an erroneous avenue through which to achieve this end.

“Accordingly, I fervently hope that they do attend our shul and feel welcomed and appreciated. Nonetheless, there are halachic limitations which I have put in place, which I, together with the honorary officers feel are appropriate for these circumstances.”

Those who led PMs could not lead prayers in his synagogue on High Holy Days. “Standards of those who lead services over this period are higher than the rest of the year and this has good halachic basis. The shaliach tzibbur [prayer leader], leader or reader needs to be acceptable upon the entire congregation,” he said.

There were, he said, “concerns that individuals who attend these services despite the knowledge that the Marah De’atrah [local religious authority] rules that this is against the halachah, however well-intentioned they may be, will be in a position to teach and instruct Torah matters in our community.

“Although in the interest of communal harmony and togetherness, I am not placing a limitation on this I urge the various minyanim and groups to ensure that any divrei Torah [addresses on Torah] and talks they arrange are in line with the principles of BES. If in doubt consult me and I shall make a decision on a case-by-case basis depending on many different considerations and factors.”

But he said accusations that the partnership minyan was “divisive and separatist, elitist or trouble causing are unhelpful and are wrong. Any attempt to apply censure beyond what has been discussed is I feel unjust and would be a tragic error”.

Meanwhile, Miriam Lorie, one of the founders of Kehillat Nashira, who says she was stopped from teaching at BES earlier this year, has written of her experiences on her blog .

“After receiving the call to say that I was no longer allowed to teach Torah at BES, I cried for two days,” she wrote.

“BES is the shul I grew up in, the shul where I am still a member. As you know from this blog, I’m spending this year studying Torah. That’s a year’s worth of new Torah learning and enthusiasm that I won’t be able to share with my home community, not to mention the feeling of hurt and humiliation. There is a personal cost to building ever higher and tighter walls, as well as a hefty spiritual, communal, and now educational cost.

“I believe that we are at a crossroads in the Orthodox world, and have the choice, right now, to take a deep breath, and think creatively and halachically about how to meet the change demanded by the world we live in. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen all at once. And we won’t all agree. And that’s OK. But we can be respectful. We can make space for diversity of belief and practice. And come on, we can certainly do better than banning.”