Gabriel Kanter-Webber is a British rabbi. He received semichah in summer 2022, after training at Leo Baeck College,[1] and is rabbi of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue,[2] succeeding Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah who retired in 2021.[3] His arrival in Brighton was covered by local news.[4]

He also serves as chaplain to the University of Sussex.[5]

Education and career

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Kanter-Webber studied his undergraduate degree at the University of Sussex, during which time he was also headteacher of the Progressive Synagogue's cheder. After graduating from university, he spent a year as a youth worker for LJY-Netzer.[2][6][7]

He previously sat on the Board of Deputies of British Jews. In 2015, Jewish News listed him as number 7 on their list of 25 young Jewish leaders to watch.[8]

Kanter-Webber also officiated at Britain's first bar mitzvah for a non-binary teen and at the first Jewish burial in the city of York for 8 centuries.[8]

His Leo Baeck College dissertation calls for abusive rabbis to have their rabbinic ordination taken away.[9]

In 2022, he reported a Board of Deputies of British Jews member for making racist comments about Desmond Tutu, sparking a Board of Deputies investigation.[10]

Personal life

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Kanter-Webber is married with one son.[2]

Publications

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References

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  1. ^ "Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber ordained by Leo Baeck College". Liberal Judaism.
  2. ^ a b c "Cheder teacher to return as rabbi". thejc.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber". Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  4. ^ Southwell, Felice (31 August 2022). "New rabbi follows in footsteps of his groundbreaking role model". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Chaplaincy and Meeting House". University of Sussex. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Our Rabbi". Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Rabbinic profiles: Masorti, Reform and Liberal". JCR-UK. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Where are they now? What our Twenty-Five Under 25 are doing five years on". www.jewishnews.co.uk.
  9. ^ Doherty, Rosa (2021-12-28). "Rogue rabbis should be 'stripped' of their title". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-02-20.
  10. ^ Mendel, Jack. "Board investigating ANOTHER claim of racism from a deputy". www.jewishnews.co.uk.