Chief Rabbi to the rescue in cross communal telethon to support pensioners
The Board welcomes the recent move by United Synagogue Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks to donate all proceeds from his next book, If I Was Really A Rich Man to the United Synagogue Pensions Appeal as well as supporting the Board in joint communal United Synagogue fund raising telethon.
He has also decided to show an initiative to the community by donating an additional 10% of his salary and freelance writing/broadcasting activities to the appeal. Dr Sacks has also encouraged other senior executives at the United Synagogue including its chief executive to take a pay cut until the pensions crisis is resolved so that more money can be given back to its loyal retired staff.
The move comes after it was revealed that there will be a major shortfall in the income United Synagogue staff including Rabbis could receive when they become pensioners.
In 1994, the Chief Rabbi was quoted by the Jewish Chronicle as saying it was unacceptable according to Jewish ethics “to make pensioners suffer for investment decisions in which they were not involved” and the Board is delighted that once again, Dr Sacks is a man of his word.
“When the Chief Rabbi says something within the community, we trust he really means it,” said Board appeals manager Debbie Green. “Never in the course of anglo-Jewry have we had a Chief Rabbi who has done so much to bring communal dialogue and that\’s why we are delighted to support a cross communal event to raise much needed funds.”
Upwards of £3m is needed to support the United Synagogue pension fund and the telethon aims to not only raise that but also to double it.
“We at the Board are fully behind the community and all sections of it,” added Board president Harry Greenberg. “And we know all community members regardless of background will support this.”
A spokesman for the Chief Rabbi said: “Dr Sacks was really stunned when told that his fellow rabbis would be living a life of hardship unless funds were raised, so that\’s why he decided to donate the proceeeds from his next book as well as take part in the cross communal telethon. The Chief Rabbi has done much for the community raising Jewish pride, creating positive Jewish awareness and building bridges with all sections of his own community as well as others.”