Rabbi Aharon Bassous wins legal fight against shul trustees

A Beth Din has ruled in favour of a Golders Green Rabbi following a bitter battle with shul trustees.

A ruling was made in favour of Aharon Bassous, ensuring he maintains authority over  Beth Hamedrash Knesset Yehezkel (BHKY).

In a document published by the Beth Din, details of the disagreement were spelled out, including over wearing of masks, which at the time of the dispute was not legally required.

This comes after tensions reached boiling point between Bassous and the trustees in 2020, after the congregation moved into its new £6 million building on Golders Green Road.

The shul, which was founded by Bassous’s family in 1987, disagreed over ownership and control of the new building.

Trustees insisted on mask-wearing, and Bassous threatened to quit – if the measure was enforced.

The document concluded that Rabbi Bassous and his wife have “not ceased their employment at BHKY”, and the Trustees are “not entitled and have no grounds” to terminate his employment.

It says: he remains the “sole Halachic authority for the community and is entitled to approve all Minyanim, speakers, charity raising events and use of all BHKY assets and facilities for the benefit of BHKY as long as it conforms to the law of the land”.

New trustees “will be entitled to manage the affairs ofBHKY as long as it will conform to
the Rabbi’s authority”

Rabbi Bassous has been steeped in controversy following attacks on S&P Sephardi Community Rabbi Joseph Dweck, and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis on LGBT issues.