Any questions...for the next US president?

We put eight key questions to presidential hopefuls Claire Lemer, Marc Meyer and Saul Taylor prior to the vote on July 14.

CLAIRE LEMER

 

Claire Lemer[Missing Credit]

1. What would be your three top priorities if you became president of the US?

A. Supporting our professionals and volunteers - who are our most precious asset - so that they can grow and nurture their communities. I will do that in two ways. Firstly, by training them to deal with increasing complex regulation e.g. safeguarding. Secondly, by supporting synagogue councils with targeted additional professional advice and input.

B. Improving communication between the centre and communities. We need to have open discussions and a culture of partnership so we can address difficult challenges, like how to ensure our buildings are fit for purpose.

C. Engaging our younger members by creating dedicated synagogue council roles for them that put them at the heart of their local communities.

2. There is now such a huge diversity of Jewish communities for people to choose from, ranging from grassroots movements to organised prayer spaces. How would you ensure that the United Synagogue continues to be relevant?

The United Synagogue is the heart of modern centrist orthodoxy in the UK. Recently, at my shul, I walked from the main service, past the coffee and conversation, and the Sephardi Minyan, waving to those leaving the Hashkama service and felt incredibly proud of the range of services provided. We need to keep listening to members and working with our rabbinic teams to make adaptations like this happen. We need to meet the needs of people beyond services, through local social or support groups. As what we do evolves, our focus has to continue to be on ensuring we provide value for our members.

3. The role of women has substantially evolved since the early days of the United Synagogue. However, some still feel there is much more the US could do, particularly when it comes to bat mitzvahs. What would you say to them?

We have come a long way, and having a female candidate run for president for the first time is an important step. Where we go from here is up to our communities. The pace of change will be up to them. Alongside their Rabbinic teams, they will decide what is right for their members and when.

4. It seems that there has been quite a lot of movement of rabbinic families over the last few years. What would you do to prevent your rabbis and rebbetzins from leaving due to burnout?

We have begun to offer additional training and support to rabbinic families. But there is more we can do. We can offer them professional development and coaching, we can guide them towards new challenges, and we can back them in establishing new programmes and initiatives. It won’t be the same thing for every couple, but we can and must look for ways to help them feel valued and empowered.

5. October 7 and its aftermath has caused some parts of the Jewish community to become increasingly inward facing. What would you do to reverse this trend so as to ensure that the Jewish community has a positive relationship with wider UK society and other faith communities?

As president of the United Synagogue, I would ensure that members feel supported and safe to engage in Jewish life. That means sustaining all the things that have provided emotional solace, and a sense of unity and connection to Israel, during these difficult times, such as recent online prayer sessions and enhanced security at our synagogues. Beyond that, I will of course, partner with other communal organisations to help foster a tolerant society where US Jews are able to fully express our faith in the UK. Cross-faith partnership requires personal connections, and I have invested in building those over many years. But it also means being brave and speaking out where necessary to confront antisemitism. The president of the US can’t do it alone, so I will also support training for young people to give them the skills to represent our communities and advocate for our rights in society.

6. As the academic year ends, some children finishing primary school are finding themselves without a place at a Jewish secondary school. What do you think the US could do to support these families – and do you think that Jewish schools are the be-all and end-all?

Ensuring that every Jewish child has access to a Jewish school is fundamental to me, that is why I am a trustee of the JCAT. I continue to encourage the US to work closely through communal bodies such as PAJES to try and find solutions quickly. The Chief Rabbi's School Review, which I have been heavily involved in, is a crucial step in ensuring that more Jewish children will have access to brilliant secular education alongside experiential Kodesh to help create engaged young people of the future. We also need to support our cheder education to ensure that every child can learn about our faith, in the way that meets the needs of their families.

7. Views on Israel have become more and more polarised since October 7, and young people are more inclined than older generations to question their relationship with it. What would you say to a young person who said that they no longer identified as a Zionist?

I would start by listening to why they feel this way. I would respond by explaining why I feel so passionate about Israel. I would describe sitting in a hotel in Israel, full of young people, many in uniform, humbled by the price they are paying for me and others. I would end by offering to link them with a young person of their age in Israel so they can compare their lives and continue to discuss and help find their role in our collective story.

8. And finally, the most pressing issue. Please complete the following sentence: I couldn’t get through kiddush without…. whisky.

MARC MEYER

Marc Meyer[Missing Credit]

1. What would be your three top priorities if you became president of the US?

A. Engage teenagers and young adults (around 14-30 years old) to come back and experience the new United Synagogue: vibrant, inclusive, caring, and tailored to their social needs. Offer them more of what they want and need—whether it's professional networking, help finding housing, a safe space to work, learn, and socialize during the week, or targeted events and socials. Shift their perception from “the synagogue of my parents" to "MY synagogue."

B. Modernise the systems and communications inside and outside the organization: gather feedback from members, automate processes, simplify procedures, and enable broad and instant sharing of relevant information-creating a better-connected global community and freeing up time for local offices (and the centre) to focus on productive tasks.

C. In harmony with the treasurer, management and trustees, develop an action plan to raise sufficient funds to parallel process a fair number of redevelopments and essential repairs in communities that require these for both their growth and the proper conduct of their activities, including both religious and communal purposes.

2. There is now such a huge diversity of Jewish communities for people to choose from, ranging from grassroots movements to organised prayer spaces. How would you ensure that the United Synagogue continues to be relevant?

The United Synagogue provides an infrastructure, “the Civil Service” of Anglo Jewry, that is unparalleled and serves more than a quarter of the Jewish population in the UK (internationally recognised Kashrus authority, first in class burial organisation, Rabbinic Tribunal, Office of the Chief Rabbi, etc.). It needs to firstly, capitalise on this unique resource and expand it to other services (such as an online University drawing on all topics relevant to every Jew) and secondly, evolve its network of nearly 60 communities into an all-embracing collection of venues, community and regional hubs where everyone finds the values encompassed by modern orthodoxy, i.e. solidarity, ethical values, vibrancy, opportunities to learn…and chill. In so doing, you will retain existing members, attract the less engaged, and stimulate loyalty.

3. The role of women has substantially evolved since the early days of the United Synagogue. However, some still feel there is much more the US could do, particularly when it comes to bat mitzvahs. What would you say to them?

The short answer is: Yes!

The granular answer includes the need to agree a common standard of guidelines to be deployed throughout the US. As an Orthodox organisation, the US is accountable to the Office of the Chief Rabbi and the Beth Din, hence the need to work closely with these offices to constantly adapt to the legitimate desiderata of all constituencies, in this case the women, whilst staying within the ambit of the tradition that ensures the future of Judaism.

In the case of bat mitzvahs, it should be a joyous event shared by the entire congregation, allowing both the bat mitzvah girl and her family to celebrate with pride and distinction.

4. It seems that there has been quite a lot of movement of rabbinic families over the last few years. What would you do to prevent your rabbis and rebbetzins from leaving due to burnout?

A community without a happy rabbinic couple and a supportive lay leadership is somehow dysfunctional. The challenge resides in recruiting the right personalities and skillsets for the job and adapting to the demographics of each community. Recruitment of the stars of the next generation is rendered challenging by the competing offers that emanate both from the active Kiruv organisations and by the attractive packages abroad.

An answer is to design competitive (whilst realistic) packages, clear career paths and a safety net for retirement, illness, and bereavement events.

The welfare and mental health of all rabbis and rebbetzins must be monitored, and any instances of grievance between the community and the rabbinate should be addressed immediately.

5. October 7 and its aftermath have caused some parts of the Jewish community to become increasingly inward facing. What would you do to reverse this trend to ensure that the Jewish community has a positive relationship with wider UK society and other faith communities?

Engage in a positive dialogue. Only through dignity, non-aggressive affirmation of identity, and dialogue with all reasonable interlocutors, will we restore being “a quiet light unto society”.

6. As the academic year ends, some children finishing primary school are finding themselves without a place at a Jewish secondary school. What do you think the US could do to support these families, and do you think that Jewish schools are the be-all and end-all?

Proactive planning of numbers and setting a “national Jewish schools board” to look at the allocation of places could aggregate applications into a shared pool. Reviewing slightly the CRP criteria could lead to freeing places for Jewish children.

Jewish schools, working closely with synagogue communities and youth organisations, are essential to preserving our heritage.

7. Views over Israel have become more and more polarised since October 7, and young people are more likely than older generations to question their relationship with Israel. What would you say to a young person who said they no longer identified as a Zionist?

The United Synagogue is not required to be politically biased or activist. Instead, it should embrace and nurture a love for the nation and the people of Israel, and it should be praying (as we do in every Shabbat service) for their welfare, preservation, and prosperity.

Individual views are all respected, but we abide by a simple cry of the heart: “Am Yisrael Chai”.

8. And finally, the most pressing issue. Please complete the following sentence: I couldn’t get through kiddush without….

A fine dram of whisky to toast the Sabbath, a glistening piece of Ashkenazi herring to savour the tradition, and the warm camaraderie of friends turning every blessing into a feast for the soul!

SAUL TAYLOR

Saul Taylor[Missing Credit]

1. What would be your three top priorities if you became president of the US?

A. A more inclusive, community-centred United Synagogue. The United Synagogue must be a home for every Jew. Our communities are increasingly diverse, and we must place inclusion at the heart of our work. That means reaching out to Sephardi, Mizrahi, Israeli, French and Jews of colour; divorced individuals, older singles and people with disabilities.

B. Transform infrastructure and synagogue spaces. Our physical spaces must reflect the vibrancy of our communities. We would launch the most ambitious building programme in Anglo-Jewry’s history, not just replacing old buildings, but reimagining them as welcoming, multifunctional community hubs.

C. Invest in youth, Tribe and the next generation. Securing our future means investing in our youth. Tribe must become the heartbeat of our communities, offering age-specific programming from early childhood through university. We would support young professionals through a new hub in West Hampstead, host matchmaking events and run immersive experiences like Shabbatons and Israel trips.

2. There is now such a huge diversity of Jewish communities for people to choose from, ranging from grassroots movements to organised prayer spaces. How would you ensure that the United Synagogue continues to be relevant?

Diversity is one of my six strategic objectives I have included in my strategic plan. I feel that gathering Jews of different opinions and backgrounds is the cornerstone of any community. The US has had success recently in incorporating grassroots communities. The best example is Mill Hill East, which is now a fully-fledged US community with 475 members. There has been similar success with grassroots projects in Hatfield and Shaarei Tefilla in Edgware. Grassroots-led communities are the best way for the US to seed the future and are a crucial part of my strategy.

3. The role of women has substantially evolved since the early days of the United Synagogue. However, some still feel there is much more the US could do, particularly when it comes to bat mitzvahs. What would you say to them?

When it comes to female leadership, I'm inspired by my late grandmother, Judge Myrella Cohen QC, one of the first female judges in the country. It's right to acknowledge the recent strides the US has made in this area. It's hard to imagine that just a few years ago, women could not be chairs of a synagogue or trustees. I’m proud that it was our trustee body that enabled a women to stand for president of the US. There is still much to do in this area. I feel the next frontier is female religious leadership, including greater utilization of higher-level religious education for women and yoeztet halachot, of which there are nowhere near enough in the US. I would invest heavily to make sure this happened during my term in office.

4. It seems that there has been quite a lot of movement of rabbinic families over the last few years. What would you do to prevent your rabbis and rebbetzins from leaving due to burnout?

At the US, our rabbis are our greatest asset. Training rabbis is a long and expensive process, and we need to get better at spotting and nurturing rabbinic talent. We must ensure that the correct support networks and resources are provided to make sure we assist our rabbis in any way that we can. In addition to the mental health services that are already being provided by the US I would make sure I and the trustees had regular dialogue with the rabbinate through organised forums to make sure their concerns were heard.

5. October 7 and its aftermath have caused some parts of the Jewish community to become increasingly inward facing. What would you do to reverse this trend to ensure that the Jewish community has a positive relationship with wider UK society and other faith communities?

I have done extensive inter-faith work in my local community in Harrow. I was very proud that in Stanmore we hosted multi-faith events to improve community cohesion and mutual understanding. The best way to challenge stereotypes and negative prejudices is to get to know one another on an individual basis. Multiculturalism is a family value as my wife is a trustee of the Anne Frank Trust UK, which seeks to challenge all types of racial prejudice and discrimination. As president, I will continue to champion these efforts.

6. As the academic year ends, some children finishing primary school are finding themselves without a place at a Jewish secondary school. What do you think the US could do to support these families, and do you think that Jewish schools are the be-all and end-all?

Rising demand for Jewish schools is a vote of confidence in our education system, but it presents a challenge the US needs to take seriously. Making the correct educational choices for their children is especially stressful to parents. The US must step up by advocating for and enabling additional school places to meet this growing demand and support families in need.

7. Views over Israel have become more and more polarised since October 7, and young people are more likely than older generations to question their relationship with Israel. What would you say to a young person who said they no longer identified as a Zionist?

Under my leadership, the US would strengthen its connection with Israel. We would roll out several Israel supporting initiatives like partnering with communities in Israel, upping education for children and adults and planning more missions to Israel, where the UK could be more actively engaged. If the US was more comfortable in its Zionism, that would make the next generation be more comfortable about feeling pride in their Zionism.

8. And finally, the most pressing issue. Please complete the following sentence: I couldn’t get through kiddush without….the latest DS Tayman release!

For more information on the July 14 election of the next United Synagogue president, and hustings,which are taking place on July 8, click here

To read previous articles in the JC about the US presidential elections, click here