BRIGHTON & HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION

Officiants of the Brighton Hebrew Congregation 1827-1930

Background:Compilation of a list of officiants who served during this period has presented a number of problems and the accuracy of the list which follows cannot be guaranteed. The search has involved inspection of often very unclear photocopies of the original Minute Books [now housed at The Keep] and the deciphering of records written in a number of hands over much of the 19th century. The early years of the community were often characterised by problems in ensuring the strict kashrut of meat, as a result the main concern was the employment of a competent shochet (slaughterer). As can be seen from the list below this function was often combined with the reading of the synagogue service, teaching and also secretarial duties.

Jacob Moses Cohen–  Shochet/Chazan                 1827

Moses Wineman– Shochet/Chazan/Secretary         1827

Lion Levy– Shochet/Chazan                                    1827 – 1831

Jacob Isaacs– Shochet                                             1831 – 1836

Benjamin Berliner– Shochet/Reader                       1837 – 1840

Nathan Cohen– possibly combining the roles of Reader/Secretary/Teacher (temporary) around                 1840

Benjamin Barnett– Reader/Secretary/Teacher       1840 – 1841

Mr Rintel– Reader                                                     1842 – 1843

Benjamin Levy– Chazan                                          1843 – 1851

S Nuremberg – Shochet and Reader                        1843 – 1879

Rev C Jacobs– Reader/Secretary/Teacher  1867 – 1915

Rev A N Spiers– Shochet/Reader                1880 – 1885

Rev L Slevansky– Shochet/Reader                         1885 – 1897

Mr Lazarus Lubetzki– Shochet                                1897 – 1954

A major figure during his period and with Reverends Levinson and Lieberman frequently assisted with Shul services. Leaving date uncertain, possibly succeeded as Shochet by Rev Bernstein.

Mr G Lipkind– Assistant Minister/                 1898 – 1899 Second Reader/Teacher

Rev A Levinson– Second Reader                1899 – 1930

Suffered several periods of ill health and given extended leave from time to time. Gives notice February 1930.

Rev B Lieberman – Minister                          1915 – 1930

1917 spends year in France as Chaplain and is temporarily replaced by Rev L Weinrow. March 1920 tenders resignation but withdraws this after request by Board. Resigns May 1929 to leave ministry and enter legal profession but continues until new incumbent Rev I Fabricant appointed.

Rabbis or Leaders from 1930

Rev (Rabbi from 1960) Isaac Fabricant                    1930 – 1973* & 1978 – 1981**

Rabbi Dr Julius Unsdorfer                          1973 – 1978

Rabbi Dr Bernard Susser                           1982 – 1985

Rabbi Cymberg (part time)                            1986 – 1989

Rabbi Leonard Book                                               1989 – 1994

Rabbi Moishe Shaw                                    1990 – 1992

Rabbi Pesach Efune                                               1995 – 2008

Rabbi Hershel Rader                                               2009 – present

*Chaplain to HM Forces 1941–45, Rabbi M Warshawand Reverend Phillip Brummerofficiated in his absence.

**Also for High Holidays 1986.

Ministers

Reverend Phillip Brummer                          1936 – 1948

Reverend Leo Brill                                                    1948 – 1950

Reverend Berel Braunstein                        1950 – 1995

Reverend Bloom                                                       1943 – 1962

Reverend Michael Kahan                                         1963 – 1983   

Reverend Benny Cass                                            1983 – 1986

Reverend Yehiel Weiss                                            1986 – 1988

HOVE HEBREW CONGREGATION

Rabbis

Rev S. Anekstein– first Minister of the New Synagogue in    1929 which became Hove Hebrew Congregation in 1930.

Rabbi Bernard Wilner                                             1934 – 1968

Rabbi Julius Carlebach                                                                     He was locum Rabbi several times.

Rabbi Sidney Leperer                                              1970 – 1974

Rev Alec Ginsburg                                                   1976 – 1980

Rabbi Anthony Goldblatt                                         1983 – 1987   

Rev Eli Sufrin(temporary)

Rabbi Smith (temporary)

Rabbi Bennaroch(temporary)

Rabbi Salasnik(temporary)

Rev Moishe Dick                                                       1993

Ayal Lebovitch                                                          1994

Rabbi Vivian Silverman                                          1995 – present

Cantor

Chazan Kalman Fausner                                        1933 – 2007

BRIGHTON & HOVE PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE

Marcus Goldberg                                                      1936 – 1938

Rabbi Sidney Berkowitz                                          1938 – 1939 (Temporary Acting Rabbi)

Dr Henrique Lemle                                                   1939 – 1940

(Refugee from Frankfurt, interned as a German National May 1940. Later moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he helped form a Liberal Synagogue)

Archibald Fay                                                                                      Lay Reader                                                              1940 – 1950 Ordained Minister                                                            1950 – 1962

Rabbi David Baylinson                                            1962 – 1965

Rabbi Leslie Sirtes                                                   1965 – 1966

Rabbi Isaac Richards                                               1967 – 1967

Rabbi Nicholas Ginsbury                                        1967 – 1970

Rabbi Meyer Benjamin                                             1971 – 1975

Rabbi Charles Wallach                                            1977 – 1988

Aubrey Milstein(Lay Reader)                                   1988 – 1993

Rabbi William Wolff                                      1993 – 1997

Rabbi Paul Glantz                                                    1997 – 2000

Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah                                2000 – present

BRIGHTON & HOVE REFORM SYNAGOGUE

Rabbi Erwin Rosenblum                             1956 – 1984

Rabbi Jeremy Collick                                               1984 – 1999

Rabbi Dr David Meyer                                              2001 – 2006

Rabbi Charles Wallach                                            2008 – 2012

Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo                           2012 – present