Adelaide loses another rabbi

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PETER KOHN

RABBI Avraham Gutnick, who took up a temporary appointment as rabbi of Adelaide Hebrew Congregation (AHC) two years ago, is leaving South Australia after his contract ends this month.

A synagogue spokesperson said Rabbi Gutnick had played a key role in healing wounds created by a long-running dispute between AHC and its former spiritual leader, Rabbi Yossi Engel.

Within weeks of Rabbi Gutnick’s appointment in 2007, Shabbat attendances returned to levels not seen since before the rift with Rabbi Engel occurred.¬†A search to replace Rabbi Gutnick is well underway and the congregation expects to make an announcement on his successor shortly.
AHC is now looking for a permanent¬† Adelaide-based appointment, so that the community can have the benefit of a local rebbetzin, the spokesperson said.¬†At the time of Rabbi Gutnick’s appointment in 2007, current AHC president Eric Edelman¬† said the rabbi’s short contract was not a concern.

At one stage during AHC’s dispute with Rabbi Engel, the Sydney Beth Din (SBD), which has jurisdiction over Adelaide, had threatened the shul with a siruv (notice of contempt) if it replaced Rabbi Engel, whose employment the SBD regarded as ongoing.¬†

However, the Supreme Court of South Australia ruled in 2007 that Rabbi Engel’s employment had ended.¬†A police investigation is still underway into Rabbi Engel’s involvement with forged report cards at the former Spirit of David Adelaide Hebrew School.

 

Photo: Rabbi Avraham Gutnick