Gabriel Kanter-Webber

Gabriel Kanter-Webber is a British rabbi, and the first openly autistic rabbi in the United Kingdom.[1][2] He received semichah in summer 2022, after training at Leo Baeck College,[3] and is rabbi of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue,[4] succeeding Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah who retired in 2021.[5] His arrival in Brighton was covered by local news.[6]

He also serves as chaplain to the University of Sussex.[7]

Education and career

Kanter-Webber studied his undergraduate degree at the University of Sussex, during which time he was also headteacher of the Progressive Synagogue's cheder. After graduating from university, he spent a year as a youth worker for LJY-Netzer.[4][8][9]

He previously sat on the Board of Deputies of British Jews. In 2015, Jewish News listed him as number 7 on their list of 25 young Jewish leaders to watch.[10]

Kanter-Webber also officiated at Britain's first bar mitzvah for a non-binary teen and at the first Jewish burial in the city of York for 8 centuries.[10]

His Leo Baeck College dissertation calls for abusive rabbis to have their rabbinic ordination taken away.[11]

In 2022, he reported a Board of Deputies of British Jews member for making racist comments about Desmond Tutu, sparking a Board of Deputies investigation.[12]

In 2025, he was reported to have "confronted" the chief executive of the Board of Deputies at a service in his synagogue.[13]

Personal life

Kanter-Webber is married with two children.[4]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Allison Ferns on BBC Radio Sussex". Join Allison for Sunday breakfast news, information and great music with a focus on faith. BBC Radio Sussex. 2025-10-12.
  2. ↑ Hello, I’m an autistic rabbi (sermon from Yom Kippur)
  3. ↑ "Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber ordained by Leo Baeck College". Liberal Judaism.
  4. 1 2 3 "Cheder teacher to return as rabbi". thejc.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber". Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Southwell, Felice (31 August 2022). "New rabbi follows in footsteps of his groundbreaking role model". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Chaplaincy and Meeting House". University of Sussex. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  8. ↑ "Our Rabbi". Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rabbinic profiles: Masorti, Reform and Liberal". JCR-UK. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Where are they now? What our Twenty-Five Under 25 are doing five years on". www.jewishnews.co.uk.
  11. ↑ Doherty, Rosa (2021-12-28). "Rogue rabbis should be 'stripped' of their title". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-02-20.
  12. ↑ Mendel, Jack. "Board investigating ANOTHER claim of racism from a deputy". www.jewishnews.co.uk.
  13. ↑ "Rabbi confronts Board chief to his face during Shabbat sermon". Jewish News. 2025-07-11. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
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