A rabbi for Kehillat Kadimah
Sydney’s Kehillat Kadimah congregation has appointed a communal rabbi.
Rabbi Dovy Rapoport, with Rivkah, Ella and Nissi
Rabbi Dovy Rapoport who is currently a high school teacher at the Kesser Torah College and , as well as being Baal Koreh and High Holy Day rabbi at Central Synagogue has been appointed the communal rabbi for 12 months starting in December.
Kehillat Kadimah is the congregation which whose premises were formally the South Head Synagogue which closed down.
An integral step in Kehillat Kadimah’s renewal was the appointment of a communal Rabbi who shares its values and vision as a religious Zionist, orthodox community.
In February, the Board commenced an extensive recruitment process which included candidates from Australia and overseas. The entire Board, which represents a diverse cross-section of our members, was involved throughout the process, and canvassed feedback and received input from members as well as from leading Rabbonim.
Originally from England, Rabbi Rapaport is completing his Bachelor of Life Sciences with a Psychology major at the University of New South Wales. His wife Rivkah grew up in Melbourne and is a full-time registered nurse. They have two children – daughter Ella (5 years) and son Nissi (3 years).
The majority of our community met Rabbi Rapoport over the High Holy Days when he delivered several droshot and shiurim and, together with Rivkah, warmly engaged with members. Feedback following his relatable, relevant and thoughtful insights was overwhelmingly positive, and alongside the family’s warm, engaging and personal nature the decision was an obvious and unanimous one by the Board.
Chairman of Kehillat Kadimah Joshua Bolot said: “We are delighted to have someone with the energy and calibre of Rabbi Rapoport join our community. His knowledge, passion and experience as an educator across all age groups will be a great asset at our kehillah. Together Rabbi Rapoport and the Board have already begun planning some exciting initiatives for 2019.”
Rabbi Rapoport added: “Rivkah and I are thrilled at the prospect of building our home within the Kehillat Kadimah community. We have found only warmth and kindness in this community, and we look forward to working with the Board, as well as existing and prospective members. We are confident that we can make a difference in the growth and Jewish connectivity of this community. This is such an important task, not just for this community, but for the whole Australian Jewish Community.”
There will be further opportunities for members to meet with the Rapoport family in the coming months, as well as to welcome them formally in December. It is planned that following the end of the school year, the Rapoport family will relocate to the Rose Bay area.
Rabbi Rapoport will work closely with Chazan Rabbi Niasoff, Baal Koreh Rabbi Simons, the Board and personnel of Kehillat Kadimah.
After such a tumultuous period our congregation can move forward. Rabbi Rapoport’s appointment provides the opportunity to establish a vital community reflecting the orthodox Zionist ethos of the members.