Yitzchak Schochet
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Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet arrived in the UK in 1991. Having previously served as assistant principle of Oholei Torah Boys School in New York, he assumed the position as Minister of the Richmond Synagogue in Southwest London for two years, while also teaching Advanced Jewish Studies[1] at the Jews Free School. In 1993, at the age of 28, he was offered the position as rabbi of the Mill Hill Synagogue. His vibrancy and dynamism has resulted in a continuous growth of membership, now in excess of 1800 families.
He has a master's degree in Jewish Studies from University College London. He authors numerous articles for newspapers, magazines and journals. He served as Diary Rabbi[2] to The Guardian newspaper and also writes for The Jewish Chronicle as well as a very popular weekly column in the Jewish Weekly. He has featured in The London Times as well as Time Magazine International. Rabbi Schochet can often be seen on television including BBC as a regular panelist for The Big Questions[3] as well as CNN.
In 2018, Rabbi Schochet qualified as an accredited mediator[clarification needed] and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.[citation needed]
In 2018 Rabbi Schochet caused controversy by calling a group Jews who said Kaddish for 62 Palestinians killed by IDF soldiers 'Kapos'.[4] For this he was criticised by Holocaust Memorial Day Trust's Chief Executive Olivia Marks-Woldman, who condemned the usage of the offensive term as bordering on anti semitic.[5]
Hailed as one of the most sought after speakers in the Jewish world, Rabbi Schochet has lectured in Russia, Australia, South Africa, Israel and all parts of the US and Europe and has been rated top speaker at the National Jewish Retreat in the US for several years running. He was also keynote speaker at the International Chabad Conference in New York in 2019, where he addressed 6000 rabbis and lay leaders.[6] In 2024, Rabbi Schochet was invited as guest speaker for the International Siyum HoRambam, addressing more than 10,000 attendees in Brooklyn NY.
Rabbi Schochet served on the Chief Rabbi's Cabinet[clarification needed] with the portfolio of "family" and as chairman of the Rabbinical Council in the UK. He is currently the longest serving rabbi in the United Synagogue[clarification needed]. He was named by the Jewish Telegraph as one of the ten most influential rabbis in the United Kingdom. The Jewish Chronicle describes him as "one of the most outspoken Rabbis in the world."[7]
He is married with five children and grandchildren.
References
- ^ "Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet | HuffPost". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet | Communication: Its Art and Soul". Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "BBC One - The Big Questions, Series 1, Episode 24". BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ Mendel, Jack (4 June 2018). "Anger over Mill Hill rabbi's 'Kapo' remark about Jews who said Kaddish for Gaza dead". Jewish News. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Response to the use of the term 'Kapo' by Rabbi Schochet". 5 June 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "London Rabbi to Address Kinus Banquet". COLlive. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- ^ "About Rabbi Schochet – Rabbi Schochet". Retrieved 21 March 2022.