First ever Czech female rabbi appointed to growing Knightsbridge community
150 new families in three years leads to Student Rabbi Kamila Kopřivová being chosen as additional Minister of Westminster Synagogue
For the first time in the history of Westminster synagogue, an additional full time Rabbi has been appointed, starting in September.
The growing central London community welcomes student Rabbi Kamila Kopřivová PhD; her ordination also marks a historic moment as she becomes the first ever Czech female rabbi, making it all the more special that she joins Westminster Synagogue, the recipient of the 1,564 Czech Survivor Torah Scrolls.
After being stored in the ruined synagogue at Michle outside Prague for almost two decades, they were sent to the Westminster Synagogue in London in 1964, who created an independent charity, the Memorial Scrolls Trust to take care of them. Some 1400 of the scrolls have been allocated to synagogues and organisations across the world.
At the 65th Annual General Meeting of the shul on 8th June 2023, Kopřivová was unanimously elected to join Rabbi Benji Stanley and Emeritus Rabbi Dr. Thomas Salamon as part of the rabbinic team.
The congregation’s decision to recruit an additional rabbi was driven by its increasing membership, with almost 150 new households joining since 2020.
Following a thorough selection process, Kopřivová emerged as the leading candidate from a pool of over twenty applicants.
Currently in the final stages of her rabbinic training at Leo Baeck College, having already studied intensively at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Kamila will assume her post in September 2023, following her ordination on Monday, 4th September.
Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Kamila Kopřivová has already become an integral part of Westminster Synagogue, having spent the past year of her Rabbinic training with the community.
Debra Hauer, Chair of Westminster Synagogue said: “We are thrilled to welcome Student Rabbi Kamila Kopřivová to our rabbinical team. This addition signifies our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our growing community. Kamila’s expertise and passion for Judaism have greatly enhanced our spiritual and communal experiences and we are delighted that she will now be a full-time Rabbi of our community under the continuing leadership of Rabbi Benji Stanley and our emeritus Rabbi Dr. Thomas Salamon.”
Kamila’s academic accomplishments include a PhD in Jewish Theology and Philosophy, with a specific focus on the kabbalistic aspects in the writings of the renowned Rabbi Judah ben Loew Betzalel – the Maharal of Prague.
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