The United Synagogue

New US Member Alei Tzion Appoints Leading Rabbi

PRESS RELEASE

London,
18th August 2008

NEW US MEMBER ALEI TZION APPOINTS LEADING RABBI

Alei Tzion, the newest synagogue to join the United Synagogue family, is delighted to announce that Rabbi Avi Scharf has been appointed as its new rabbi.

As well as serving the Alei Tzion community, based in Hendon, Rabbi Scharf will also be the Rabbinic Scholar in residence at LSJS and the Rosh Kollel of the Torah MiTzion Kollel at Immanuel College.

Rabbi Scharf, who attained rabbinical ordination in 2000 at the prestigious Yeshivat Hamivtar, is currently working as a senior Rabbi of Ohr Torah Stone Yeshiva High School, in Jerusalem. Previous posts include programme director and Rosh Kollel at Shirat Shlomo synagogue in Efrat as well as scholar in residence at Cornell University and rabbi of the Young Israel community in New York. He is married to Devorah and they have four children. Rabbi Scharf, who will take up his position in September, will succeed Rabbi Binyamin Tabory who will be returning to his role as one of the senior rabbis at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush).

Eliot Kaye, Chairman of Alei Tzion, commented: "As one of the fastest growing communities in the UK, we are extremely excited to have Rabbi Avi and Devorah leading us. We are confident that their inspirational approach to Torah education and community development will motivate the Alei Tzion community to grow further within our new US family."

Rabbi Avi Scharf said: "I am excited to undertake the position as Rabbi of Alei Tzion, a truly modern orthodox, zionist community. Alei Tzion is a place where members care about one another and are welcoming to others. It is a community that is growing both physically and spiritually, thanks to the leadership of its lay leaders and Rav Tabory. It's an honor to continue the spiritual development of such a young, vibrant and learned community.

"I am also happy to be teaching at LSJS and the Torah MiTzion Kollel at Immanuel College."

Dr Raphael Zarum, Chief Executive of LSJS, commented: "Rabbi Scharf's scholarship will infuse the many courses at LSJS with even greater inspiration and depth. I look forward to working with him."

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