Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue

Rabbi Larry Becker was born in the United States of America and moved to the UK in 1987. He is married to Anne Elizabeth Becker and has 3 children.

His education initially took place in Cleveland Ohio and he graduated from John Carroll University University Heights Ohio.

He has spent many years working in the commercial world before successfully completing an MA in Jewish Studies at the Leo Baeck College.

Rabbi Becker sees his position as a Rabbi as a multifaceted one. Making available the traditions, history and texts of the Jewish people is for him a central pillar of the role of Rabbi. In his view enabling people to appreciate, enjoy and participate in the depth of Jewish life experiances and nurturing Jewish practice among the congregants is paramount. He considers comforting the ill and those in mourning as well as being a sympathetic ear to those undergoing difficult times as being foundamental to Jewish life as is the sharing of such joyous occassaions as Birth, Bnei Mitzvah and Marriage.

He considers that while leading services is an important role for the Rabbi it does not belong to the Rabbi alone and he sees it as essential that space and training be made available to those within the congregation who wish to experience the role of Shaliach Tzibur. In a sense the Rabbi is the continual Shaliach Tzibur representing the values and aspirations of the community both within the synagogue and the wider community.

Rabbi Becker joined the Sukkat Shalom Reform Synagogue as its Rabbi in July 2008.