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When British-born Leo Dee, 36, returns to England this September after a year of study at Yeshivat Torat Yosef– Hamivtar and three in the David Falk Kollel, he will be fulfilling his dream of serving as a rabbi in the British Jewish community. Newly-ordained by the Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary, Leo will now be assuming the position of assistant rabbi at the venerable Hendon United Synagogue, one of London’s largest observant congregations.

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Joel Zeff and Rosh Kollel Shuki  Reich present newly-odained  Rabbi Leo Dee with his semicha

Prior to taking a sabbatical to study in yeshiva, Leo had enjoyed a successful career in finance. Soon after starting to learn at OTS, he decided to quit his job and stay to study for semicha  with the goal of working in outreach with British Jewry. “Now, I feel that I’m reaching my life’s ambition,” he says.

Leo joins tens of OTS alumni who are making a tremendous impact on the British Jewish community by assuming educational and leadership roles, in which they personify the OTS ideal of Torah-true Judaism that is relevant, open and nurturing. In his new position, the newly-ordained rabbi will lead two of the synagogue’s four minyanim – the student service for 18-21 year-olds and the minyan for young singles and couples in their 20’s and 30’s. He will also serve as the shul’s community development director, responsible for creating activities to increase the connection of congregants with the synagogue.

The new position is especially significant, Leo notes, as his grandparents were married in the Hendon synagogue 70 years ago; five years later, his wife, Lucy’s grandparents also held their wedding there.

A Special Role for Straus Students

Hendon United Synagogue is one of a growing number of congregations across Great Britain that are turning to OTS as the primary source of outstanding modern Orthodox rabbis and educators, reports Rabbi Gideon Sylvester, executive director of all OTS men’s programs on the Israel Henry Beren Campus. “In addition to Leo Dee, several other graduates of the Straus Seminary and the Ethel and Adolph Beren Educators Institute will be beginning new rabbinical or teaching positions in England this fall.”

Moreover, Sylvester continues, a brand new Straus initiative will send OTS students to UK synagogues for short-term visits, during which they will run explanatory prayer services for youth. “Because the studies at our yeshiva are geared toward making Judaism accessible and relevant to all Jews, our students are especially well-prepared to talk to youth about Jewish tradition and prayer in language that they can relate to,” he says.

Toronto-born Shaanan Scherer, 30, who is currently completing his first year in the Straus Seminary, will initiate the program by serving as leader of the explanatory service at the Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue in Essex. “Although it is ’officially’ a student service, this type of tefilah attracts congregants of all ages,” Scherer says. “It involves a lot of explanations and abridged versions of some prayers.” Scherer, whose wife, Emma, grew up in the congregation, feels that his studies at OTS have prepared him well for the assignment.

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