Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber, who will join Brighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue as their new rabbi in August, was ordained by Leo Baeck College on Sunday (3 July).

Gabriel was ordained by Liberal Judaism Vice President Rabbi Danny Rich in a service attended by many Progressive rabbis and leaders, including Liberal Judaism CEO Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Liberal Conference of Rabbis and Cantors Co-Chair Rabbi Rebecca Birk.

Leo Baeck College is the UK’s only Progressive Jewish rabbinic seminary, training rabbis for Liberal, Masorti and Reform congregations in the UK and abroad. Its five-year rabbinic postgraduate programme is known for its depth and intensity.

Gabriel was one of five new rabbis ordained in a service held at The Liberal Jewish Synagogue. The others were:

• Rabbi Anthony Lazarus Magrill, who will serve Mosaic Masorti Synagogue.
• Rabbi David Yehuda Stern, who will serve Radlett Reform Synagogue.
• Rabbi Lev Taylor, who will serve South West Essex and Settlement Reform Synagogue.
• Rabbi Mathias Elasri, who has founded Tselem – a Paris-based organisation operating in the UK and Europe with the aim to bring people into museums and teach about God through art, play and tradition.

Rabbis Anthony Lazarus Magrill, David Yehuda Stern, Mathias Elasri, Gabriel Kanter-Webber and Lev Taylor

The service was led by Rabbis Alexandra Wright, Charles Middleburgh, Debbie Young-Somers and Colin Eimer, with the music led by Cantor Tamara Wolfson.

It was dedicated to the memory of Dr Stephen Herman, Leo Baeck College’s Chair of Governors and a prominent member of The Ark Synagogue, who died last week.

Speaking at the start of the service, LBC Dean Rabbi Dr Charles Middleburgh paid tribute, saying: “Steve cared passionately about Leo Baeck College and worked tirelessly for it. His death is a tragedy for his family and for all who knew and loved him.

“While this service is one of celebration, Steve’s death inevitably casts a shadow over it, and we dedicate it to him.”

• Pictures by Zoe Norfolk Photography.
• There will be a full tribute to Dr Stephen Herman in the next issue of LJ Today.