The Movement for Reform Judaism

Leo Baeck College in London sends congratulations to the Abraham Geiger Rabbinic College on the occasion of the first ordination of rabbis in Germany since 1942.

At that time, the Hoschschule fur die Wissenchaft des Judentums in Berlin was closed and no further rabbinic ordinations took place. For the last 50 years, Progressive congregations in Germany were served by rabbis graduated from the London based Leo Baeck College of which there are currently five working throughout Germany.

Leo Baeck College Principal Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein will travel to Dresden for this auspicious occasion on September 14th 2006 when three rabbinic students will be ordained following a course of study in Berlin including attending seminars in London and working with Progressive rabbinic colleagues in the UK. Professor Saperstein comments: “I am honoured to extend a hand of collegiality and support to the institution bearing the name of one of the greatest rabbis and scholars of the nineteenth century, Abraham Geiger. We congratulate those who now assume the historical role of serving as the first rabbis ordained on German soil since 1942”

Two of the three newly ordained rabbis will work in Germany and one will return to his native South Africa. Rabbinic graduates of Leo Baeck College will present students for ordination including Rabbi Dr Andrew Goldstein and Rabbi Willy Woolf. Baroness Rabbi Julia Neuberger will give the keynote sermon.

For further details, please contact:
Rabbi Dr Michael Shire
Michael.shire@lbc.ac.uk
0208 349 5600

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