Page 9 - HGS Suburb News 151 - Autumn 2022

It went from there…

Profile on Kate Webster, newly appointed

Chair of Proms at St Judeʼs

Photo: Jeremy Coleman
HGS Synagogue

welcomes new leaders

SIMONE HALFIN
ampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue, or Norrice Lea as it is also
known, was inaugurated in 1935 with 70 families. Now, with
H over 2000 adult members, and several hundred children, it is
one of the most prestigious synagogues in England. July marked the
beginning of a new chapter, with the appointment of Senior Rabbi Marc
and Lisa Levene, and their daughters, as well as Community Rabbinic
Photo: Martin Webster couple Rabbi Luis and Jodie Herszaft, together with their sons. Together
with Cantor Avromi and Rochelle Freilich the new team is complete.
MARIE-CHRISTINE O’CALLAGHAN was very satisfying to see children and Kate was asked if she would Cantor Avromi, whose magnificent voice has raised all our spirits during
(and staff) progressing, occasionally be interested in taking on the job. the recent pandemic, has been part of the synagogue for many years.
ate’s association with the against considerable difficulties.” She did (eventually) say yes. Rabbi Levene was a Youth and Community Rabbi at the synagogue
Suburb dates back to 1995 Kate retired in 2015 and Kate hopes to induct herself in previously but left to take up a post at Belmont Synagogue for five
K when she was appointed eventually joined the Proms as a the role by listening to the people years. He told me he and Lisa were exceptionally excited, and feel it is
the deputy head of Henrietta volunteer friends coordinator and, involved in the delivery of the their purpose in life being appointed Senior Rabbi back in the Suburb
Barnett School (HBS) and decided as she says: “it went from there.” Proms. She wants to consolidate after five years away. ‘To develop and build and help grow such a
to live here because she wanted Kate loves to walk so it seemed a and take things forward by flagship community is a dream job for us’ were his words.
to be able to go for a walk without natural step to take on the reaching out to the next generation Discussing Covid, he felt it had decimated, like a tornado, everyone
using a car. The proximity of the programming of the Heritage of participants and volunteers. throughout the world and caused havoc, so every faith leader needed
Heath and the architectural walks and lead some herself – ‘a She feels the need for generational to work out how to bring people back to attending services and be part
delights of the Suburb provided bit like a geography field trip for renewal is vital for any organisation. of their community again. As in Norrice Lea, people had got out of the
her with a plethora of interesting adults except it’s about history’. Kate would love to do more about habit of going to synagogue, and it was going to be hard to reverse
and enjoyable walks. She also got involved in the Suburb education and heritage and to that. Rabbi Levene felt his main job initially was to listen, to talk to as
Kate was born in Peterborough Archives particularly in the research continue to develop the core music many of his congregants as possible and find out what they want both
and studied geography at Sheffield relating to the 1911 Census and LitFest strands of the Proms from the community leaders themselves, and from the synagogue. “It is
University before becoming a which, among other fascinating Festival. She thinks that it’s about understanding what people want and how we can provide it.” As
teacher. She first taught in a information, reveals where people wonderful that the children’s with Church members also, he was firm in his belief that people should
comprehensive and then in a who moved to the Suburb came concert sold out and that the be part of a community, not just taking part in the religious services,
grammar school which was in a from. She then became the chair family concert was well attended. but coming along to other activities as well.
deprived area and proved very of the Proms at St Jude’s She also wishes to turn some of Rabbi Luis and Jodie Herszaft are taking up their first post in the
challenging because of the socio- Education Committee which the parents into evening concert community since he qualified as a Rabbi. They have previously been very
economic background of the organises children’s and family goers. So, watch this space, good involved with youth and young people and, although originally from
students. HBS was a very different concerts, together with a number things are about to happen… London, they have just arrived back from living and studying in Israel.
school; an all girls’ school with of Barnet schools and the help of
students passionate about their Da Capo, a charity that believes
education. While at HBS she was that every child should have access
an acting head for two terms and to a quality music education. A
the experience made her think highlight is the Schools’ Prom
that she could be a Headteacher. which brings together almost 400
She was subsequently appointed children from Barnet primary and
Headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s secondary schools to perform in
Girls’ School in Barnet, a St Jude’s. A series of workshops
comprehensive school which prepare the children for a high
reflected the diversity of London’s quality musical performance with
population. Kate was very happy professional musicians.
there, doing a job which matched It was at this time that
her passion for girls’ education Richard Clegg, the then chair of
and allowed her to ‘open doors Proms, who had steered the
for young women’. Besides, “no Proms through the difficult Covid
two days were the same” and “it period, was thinking of retiring

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