The United Synagogue

Rabbi Dov Kaplan Of Caesarea To Be Next HGSS Rabbi

PRESS RELEASE

London,
7th March 2011

RABBI DOV KAPLAN OF CAESAREA TO BE NEXT HGSS RABBI

On Sunday March 6th, Rabbi Dov Kaplan was officially voted in as the new Senior Rabbi at Hampstead Garden Suburb United Synagogue (HGSS). After a rigorous application process, the HGSS selection committee unanimously decided to recommend Rabbi Kaplan as their preferred candidate and the high turnout of members voting in favour was testament to the community’s enthusiastic approval of the decision.

HGSS chairman Keith Barnett was delighted with the outcome, commenting:

“Rabbi Kaplan is a very impressive and dynamic religious leader and we regard him and his wife as a fantastic couple whose warmth, vitality and inclusiveness will be a wonderful addition to our community. We are very excited to have been able to attract them and we plan that they will join us prior to the High Holy Days.”

As the new Senior Rabbi of HGSS, Rabbi Kaplan will offer a range of religious and educational services including pastoral activities, sermons and classes together with social and cultural activities to inspire and engage the community and its youth. He will work alongside Rabbi Knopf and Chazan Avromi as part of the community’s professional team.

Rabbi Kaplan said:

“I am honoured to have been asked to serve as Senior Rabbi at HGSS. Filling the position in this distinguished community following in the footsteps of my talented predecessors is a true and meaningful challenge. Guided by the Torah's values, with Hashem's help, I am excited at the prospects.”

Rabbi Kaplan, together with his wife Freda, has visited the community in the last few months staying at HGSS for a Shabbat and in addition Rabbi Kaplan came on a separate week long visit. On both occasions the community engaged with the Kaplans through question and answer sessions, sermons, shiurim for a variety of audiences and topical discussions with children at the Kerem School.

Since 1997, Rabbi Kaplan has been the Rabbi of Caesarea, a wide and varied role, with responsibility for officiating at various life cycle ceremonies, mediating in community and family matters and provided counselling to youth and couples. Rabbi Kaplan placed a special focus on Jewish education and ran weekly classes for adults.

Born in New York, Rabbi Kaplan made aliyah to Israel with his family at the age of 11. After high school, he enrolled in the Yeshivat Hakotel Hesder programme and began semicha studies. He took up rabbinic training at Yad Avi Hayishuv and earned a B.A. in Talmudic research at Bar Ilan University. A Spanish speaker, his first rabbinical role was in Cali, Columbia where he spent four years as the Rabbi of the Jewish community.

London born Freda Kaplan made aliyah with her family at 16. She combined Jewish Studies and training as a social worker while at Orot College and has previously worked at Share Tzedek Hospital, Jerusalem. Currently Mrs. Kaplan divides her time between her six children, working as a medical clown at Laniado Hospital in Netanya and carrying out her duties as Rebbetzin of Caesarea. Her role as Rebbetzin includes teaching women within the community, running bat mitzvah programmes, assisting brides and looking after the local mikveh.

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EDITORS’ NOTES: -

HGSS
Founded in 1934, Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue (HGSS) is a young, thriving modern orthodox community of more than 1200 families - over 1000 members are under the age of 21. Prayer services run three times a day and on Shabbat, the synagogue is often full to capacity and runs a variety of services including a young families service, a Sephardi minyan and a Hashkamah minyan. There is also a vibrant youth minyan and four children’s’ services for children of all ages. On Sundays there is a cheder and the Kerem primary School is also housed within the HGSS complex.

For further information, please contact:

Nikki Saunders
The PR Office
Work: 020 7284 6969
Email: us@theproffice.com

this week
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May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
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Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar

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