RCE Holds Conference in London with Focus on Mikveh Construction and Burial Laws
The Rabbinical Centre of Europe organized an intensive three-day educational seminar in London last week, bringing together dozens of rabbis from across Europe. The program centered on two crucial aspects of Jewish communal infrastructure: the construction and maintenance of mikvaot and the halachot relating to the chevrah kadisha.
Leading the comprehensive training was Rabbi Yaakov Roza, who serves as the rabbi of the Tel Aviv Chevrah Kadisha and holds a position on the Council of the Chief Rabbinate. His expertise in the laws and customs related to honoring the deceased provided participants with invaluable practical guidance.
The technical aspects of mikveh construction were covered by Rabbi Moshe Goldberg, who chairs the ‘Taharem’ organization. As both an architect and designer specializing in ritual baths, Rabbi Goldberg offered detailed insights into the planning, construction, and maintenance requirements of these essential facilities.
The seminar featured additional distinguished speakers, including Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, Chief Rabbi of the Federation in London; Rabbi Eliezer Liber Shneebalg of Edgeware; Rabbi Avraham David of the Sephardic Beth Din in London; and Rabbi Shimon Chai Rachamim, a Tel Aviv-based expert mohel and rabbi. These religious leaders addressed practical halachic questions that commonly arise in European Jewish communities.
Participants had the opportunity to visit a mikveh in Edgeware, guided by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Raskin, a dayan of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations and leader of the local Lubavitch community. The program concluded with an instructive tour of the Federation community’s new cemetery in Edgeware, where Rabbi Roza demonstrated proper burial procedures and shared insights from his extensive experience.
The CEO of the RCE, Rabbi Arie Goldberg, explained that this seminar represents just one facet of the organization’s comprehensive support for European Jewish communities. Throughout the year, the Center assists with Jewish education programs, mikveh construction, medical equipment lending centers, kosher food supply, and the distribution of religious items for various holidays including Pesach, Chanukah and Purim.
The success of the seminar was made possible by close collaboration between various Jewish organizations and leaders. Rabbi Avraham Aba Turetzky, Secretary of the European Rabbinical Council, and RCE Vice President Rabbi Yosef Bainhaker, worked alongside the Federation community’s leadership in London, CEO Rabbi Avi Lazarus and Rabbi Yisrael Guttentag, director of the Kashrut Committee, who provided essential local support. The Machzikei Hadas synagogue in Golders Green, under the leadership of Rabbi Halberstadt, served as the primary venue for this significant gathering.
This intensive training program exemplifies the Centre’s commitment to ensuring that European rabbis are thoroughly prepared to serve their communities with expertise in all aspects of Jewish law and practice. By bringing together religious leaders from across the continent, the RCE continues to strengthen the infrastructure of European Jewish life through practical education and professional development.
