Rabbi Alby Chait steps down from Leeds United Hebrew Congregation
In an emotional letter, the longstanding rabbi described this as 'the right time and the right moment' for his departure
Leeds’ United Hebrew Congregation senior Rabbi Albert (Alby) Chait is stepping down after 20 years.
The 40-year old father of three, who became a rabbi at the shul at the age of 19, was awarded an MBE in 2022 by the late Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the community.
In a letter sent to his community on Tuesday, Rabbi Chait said: “After much thought and reflection, I have decided that the time has come; later this year, for me to leave my role as Senior Rabbi of the UHC.
Pic: Blake Ezra
“I know this news may come as a shock to you all, but this decision has been an incredibly difficult one to make. And so, whilst it pains me to share this with you, it does, however, feel the right time and the right moment and so I wanted to announce this today at the earliest opportunity.
“In 20 golden years in which we have shared each other’s happiest moments and stood side by side through life’s challenges; the bond between us – the trust, the warmth, the sense of family – believe me, is something I will forever treasure.
“But I do feel the time has now come for a new chapter and a new challenge in a new place – for myself, professionally, for my family, and, in time, for the Shul and our community.
“I haven’t yet decided what or where that next chapter in my own life will take me. But over the coming months, I will be taking time to reflect on how best I can continue to serve the entire Jewish community both here in the UK and further afield in the years ahead.”
In 2018 Rabbi Chait founded ‘A Time to Say Thank You’, one of the largest single Jewish initiatives in the UK, with more than 5,000 volunteers giving their time over Christmas to support emergency services and healthcare facilities. In 2025, the blueprint for the project was successfully shared with Australia.
Speaking to Jewish News, he said: “I think when you are a rabbi at a synagogue for a long time, you end up doing weddings for people that you bar and batmitzvahed, you end up doing bar and batmitzvahs for people where you married the parents.
“It’s just about being part of peoples’ story – the good, the bad, the indifferent, the challenges and the successes. It’s a big privilege to be an integral part of their lives. You’re lucky enough when you go to a shul to be part of the congregation; then in time, if you’re lucky enough, you can become friends. I’ve been extremely fortunate that it just became a family. We are part of each others lives and we are part of each other’s family.”
Writing in response to the news, Philip Myers, president of UHC, said: “Friends, you will of course have read Rabbi Alby’s announcement of his plans to leave his role as Senior Rabbi of the UHC, and I would just like to add my initial reflections as president.
“Having learnt of Rabbi Alby’s plans, we have worked together to consider how best to let the congregation know. With news as big as this, it’s always going to be difficult to communicate.
“Rabbi Alby and his beloved family will be with us for several months yet, and there will be time for all of us to reflect more fully and share our thoughts privately and publicly. For now, on behalf of the congregation I would like to express our immense gratitude for an extraordinary tenure of over 20 years. Rabbi Alby has grown with us from Chazan to Senior Rabbi, and from a teenager who arrived from Liverpool to a friend, colleague and mentor with a profile well beyond our city.
“I’d like to add our thanks for the inspirational leadership Rabbi Alby has provided and continues to provide, and for supporting us through all the challenges and successes the community and many of us as individuals and families have experienced.
“I’d also like to acknowledge his fulsome support, encouragement and input to the recently announced plans for amalgamation between the orthodox shuls, and for his help in considering the right direction in the key first steps in recruitment.
“For now, we wish him, Gila, Arielle, Emily and Olivia all the very best in the next stage of their journey.”
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