The United Synagogue

Meet The Rabbi - Rabbi Baruch Levin, Brondesbury Park Synagogue

PRESS COVERAGE

London, 9th August, 2007

MEET THE RABBI

Rabbi Baruch Levin, Brondesbury Park Synagogue

Rabbi Levin has been minister of the United Synagogue’s Brondesbury Park congregation in this regenerated area of inner North-West London since 2004. He was ordained in Belgium. Like his father, South Hampstead’s Rabbi Shlomo Levin, he is also an accountant.

Are you a family man?

My wife Kezi and I have five children, the eldest is eight. I am a hands-on Dad and Kezi and I work as a team in every aspect of our lives. Raising a family is key to who we are in our personal and communal lives. An ideal day with the family would be to go to a farm, preferably with no mobile contact.

Tell us about a typical week at the synagogue

Sunday morning minyan, Monday night Talmud class, Tuesday “mummy and me” group, Thursday evening class on the portion of the week. On Shabbat, as well as the regular services, there are three children’s services, afternoon services with seuda shlishit (including a monthly guest speaker). Invariably, there will be a levaya [funeral] and shiva or two, and often a brit milah or baby naming (60 children have been born in the community since 2004). I also spend time on Torah study, preparing shiurim and personal reading — currently Ayn Rand’s book The Fountainhead.

Tell us what you like most about your role

It affords one the privilege of sometimes getting a look at people’s souls. I find this hugely moving and uplifting. Often, the circumstances which give rise to this are not jolly and while in theory, maintaining professional distance is good practice, if you want to laugh with people in their happy times, you have to cry with them in their sad times.


-END-


Article Credit, Jewish Chronicle, www.thejc.com

this week
shabbat times

May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
Begins: 20:46
Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar

   ------------------------