Diamond Jubilee Dinner

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was the guest of honour at a dinner to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the consecration of Kingston, Surbiton and District Synagogue’s building.

The Chief Rabbi warmly congratulated the community on its Diamond Jubilee and explained the significance of the number 60.  He said that as in the case of the Mishkan, the synagogue building was only there to serve its builders, the shul members. He said that In KS&DS, people have always counted, and the community has excelled through the people it has produced. As a result, the Kingston community remains a source of Jewish continuity in a powerful way.

Other speakers included Stephen Pack, outgoing President of the United Synagogue at his last official engagement, who welcomed KS&DS as a constituent member, and Kingston’s Rabbi Samuel Landau who urged the community to remember the past, enjoy the present and look to the future.

Among the 140 guests were former KS&DS ministers Rev. Bernd Koschland, Rabbi Zvi Lieberman, Rabbi Stanley Coten and Rabbi David Mason. Several local ministers including Rev David Kale of Staines, Rabbi Sagal of Sutton, Rabbi Shindler of Richmond and Rabbi Dubov of Wimbledon Chabad also attended the event.