Three vie to be next United Synagogue president

The United Synagogue has confirmed that three candidates will be running to be the next president of the organisation – Claire Lemer, Marc Meyer and Saul Taylor.

The election will be held on July 14, with the winning candidate taking over from current president Michael Goldstein, who will step down after serving two terms of four years.

Lemer, who is a trustee of Kisharon Langdon, has led US Women and supported the Jewish Community Academy Trust (JCAT), said in her manifesto: “I want to use my experience – as a US trustee and an expert in change management in the complex field of medicine – to help the organisation evolve. I want to make sure we are supporting our members, communities and employees in every way we can.”  If she wins she will become the US’s first woman president. 

A consultant paediatrician at the Evelina London and chief officer for strategy and innovation at The Women and Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Lemer said her vision included “a US that is steeped in tradition, rooted in halachah, helping our members find their place proudly in modern society…

“We will have thriving local communities, backed by more bespoke central support. We will have strong, empathetic communal leaders – rabbinic, lay, and professional – serving all our synagogues.” Meyer said that his goal would be “to strengthen our community, articulated around three transformative axes. With my extensive experience and proven leadership, I am committed to guiding the United Synagogue into a vibrant, inclusive, sustainable, and influential future.”

With a focus on engaging young people and using cutting-edge technology, such as AI, to “enhance the member experience”, Meyer said: “My leadership and extensive governance history equip me to deliver this vision. I am the candidate with long-standing experience in shul management, education, welfare, and strategy-setting.”

Meyer was born in France and has an MBA from Harvard. He has a long career as a senior corporate executive, investment banker and management consultant.

“Together, we can create a United Synagogue that inspires young people, embraces innovation, expands its membership, and serves as a beacon for Orthodox Judaism,” he said.

In his manifesto, Taylor said that if elected, he would “renew our mission, invest in our people, strengthen our connection to Israel and build a more inclusive, purpose-driven future, anchored in Torah and unity”.

Having served as a trustee, led initiatives including Young US, the Chesed Appeal and co-founded the Chesed Bursary Fund, Taylor said that he would focus on building an organisation that was more inclusive and community-centred, invest in young people and strengthen the United Synagogue’s relationship with Israel.

Taylor, who has worked in finance and more recently founded an alcohol bulk trading firm, said: “This is a moment of opportunity. If we embrace it with courage and unity, we can build a future that honours our tradition, inspires every generation and truly reflects the diversity and vibrancy of the United Synagogue.”

Whoever is elected will lead around 36,000 adult members across our 56 communities.

Jo Grose, chief executive of the United Synagogue, said: “We’re thrilled to have such competitive trustee elections to lead our dynamic charity.

"Being a trustee of the United Synagogue is one of the most exciting volunteer roles in the community. Trustees lead the charity and through its work they will inspire tens of thousands of people to lead meaningful Jewish lives.”

Eight candidates are standing for trustee positions. Under the United Synagogue constitution, there must be four women and five men as trustees including the president.

A number of trustee posts are not up for election. This means that if Lemer is chosen as president, one of the three women standing as a trustee will also be elected. But if either of the male contenders becomes president, two other women will be elected.

The two vacant male trustee posts are being contested by five candidates.

Current trustee Tristan Nagler has stood unopposed for the role of United Synagogue treasurer and will take over that role from current treasurer, Maxwell Nisner, on 14 July 14.

Hustings will be held on July 8.

​To read the candidates’ full manifestos and to sign up for hustings, go to: theus.org.uk/news/united-synagogue-trustee-elections-2025/ or click here