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25 Years in the Rabbinate

Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Wednesday, 27 May 2009

On Shabbat, 23 May 2009, the congregation of Sinai Synagogue, Leeds, honoured Rabbi Ian Morris, with a Kiddush to commemorate the anniversary of the Rabbi’s 25 years as a member of the rabbinate. Rabbi Morris, who was also recently honoured by the Hebrew Union College, New York, with the award of an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, is seen here conversing with a member of the Sinai congregation. A donation was made to the New Israel Fund and the HUC in Rabbi Morris’ name, by the congregation.

In an unusually personal digression, Ian Morris told the community in his sermon about his arrival in Leeds and how he has now spent more than half of his rabbinate at Sinai. His intention in coming into the rabbinate as an Australian, had been to serve the Australian community. But circumstances led him to be available at just the time when Sinai was looking for a new rabbi. It has been a successful and rewarding relationship between this Yorkshire community and the rabbi who admits that at the time he was approached, would have had difficulty in finding Leeds on the map!