“A life of vertical & horizontal responsibility: Shavuot during the Coronanvirus pandemic”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis – Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks – Former Chief Rabbi of the UK; Renowned speaker and author
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is only the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis has held educational and community positions in Israel, Ireland and the UK. His first position was Rabbi of the Dublin Hebrew Congregation (1982 – 84). He was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland (1984 – 92), a position previously held by Lord Jakobovits, and Rabbi of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London (1992 – 96), a position previously held by Lord Sacks. Chief Rabbi Mirvis was appointed Senior Rabbi at Finchley United Synagogue (known as Kinloss) in 1996, a position which he held until becoming Chief Rabbi in 2013.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis transformed the Finchley community into a vibrant centre of educational, social, cultural and religious activity, becoming the fastest growing community in the United Synagogue.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. As Chief Rabbi, Sacks formally carried the title of Av Beit Din of the London Beis Din. He is now known as the Emeritus Chief Rabbi.
Since stepping down as Chief Rabbi, in addition to his international travelling and speaking engagements and prolific writing, Sacks has served as the Ingeborg and Ira Rennert Global Distinguished Professor of Judaic Thought at New York University and as the Kressel and Ephrat Family University Professor of Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University. He has also been appointed as Professor of Law, Ethics and the Bible at King`s College London. He won the Templeton Prize (awarded for work affirming life`s spiritual dimension) in 2016, whilst also authoring over 30 books.
From the center of the world and the city that unifies all Jews, Yeshivat Hakotel is proud to present an unprecedented Pre-Shavuot Worldwide Achdut Program. Visit vayichan.com for more info!
The song K’ish Echod was performed by Shloime Dachs
