Join Beth Israel in honouring Rabbi Daniel and Rabbanit Batya Friedman: May 24

(EJNews) – After 16 wonderful years of dedication and service, Rabbi Daniel and Rabbanit Batya Friedman and their family will be leaving Beth Israel Congregation (the Family Shul) and the Edmonton Jewish Community later this year. They will be moving to London, England and starting a new chapter of their professional lives with the Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue.

The Friedmans have made an enormous contribution to the Beth Israel Family Shul as well as to the entire Edmonton Jewish community and also at the municipal, provincial and national level. They will be sorely missed and leave very large shoes to fill.

Please join the Beth Israel Congregation for a gala evening of memories and music to honour Rabbi Daniel and Rabbanit Batya Friedman on May 24 at 5:30 pm at the Beth Israel Synagogue. The event will feature entertainment by the International Sensation Y-Studs A Capella.

The Rabbi and Rabbanit are proud to be one of the longest serving rabbinic couples in the history of Beth Israel. “You placed your confidence in us and we placed our faith in you,” said Rabbi Friedman.  “When we first arrived, we were told that the community “needed healing.” Baruch Hashem, today the shul is thriving in ways our founders could only ever have dreamed of – a function of the great partnership we have had with solid layleaders over the years.”

Beth Israel is now the centre of the Edmonton Jewish community for morning and evening minyanim, festival and youth programming, and dedication to the State of Israel. “We could not have accomplished these things without the support and devotion of so many members of the congregation,” added Batya, “ individuals who understood the big picture, often putting aside their own personal desires and agendas for the success of the synagogue as a whole. When we work together for the greater good, we can achieve incredible things. We believe we have, and we are eternally grateful to those who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us through thick and thin.”

Mark your calendars to save the date on May 24 and join the Beth Israel community in honouring the Friedmans.