Chanoch Ehrentreu

Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu (born 1932 in Frankfurt-am-Main) served for many years as the head of the United Synagogue's Beth Din in Great Britain. He retired from the post in December 2006.

Dayan Ehrentreu was born in Frankfurt in 1932 to Rabbi Yisroel and Rebbitzen B. Ehrentreu. His paternal grandfather was the Munich Rov, the Gaon HaRav Chanoch Ehrentreu, after whom he was named. When his family emigrated to the UK, his rabbi father became principal of Prestwich Jewish Day School. Young Chanoch went to school in Letchworth, and then, after the war, to Hasmonean High School, before going on to study at Gateshead Yeshiva.

In 1960, he founded the Sunderland Kollel, which he headed until 1979. The Kollel moved to Gateshead in 2000.

Ehrentreu was Av Beth Din (Hebrew: Father [i.e., Head] of the Beth Din), and Communal Rabbi of Manchester from 1979 to 1984.

Dayan Ehrentreu was appointed to the post of Rosh Beth Din in London by Lord Jakobovits in 1984. He was known as the Rosh Beth Din (rather than the traditional "Av" Beth Din) as the title of Av Beth Din is formally held by the Chief Rabbi. By dint of his workload as well as convention of his office, the Chief Rabbi is not involved in Beth Din work. Serving together with Ehrentreu during his tenure were Dayan Kaplan, Dayan Menachem Gelley, Dayan Abraham, Dayan Binstock, and Dayan Yitzhak Berger (Consultant). Dayan Ehrentreu retired from the Beth Din in January 2008 but continues his responsibilities as a consultant to the Beth Din. became Av Beth Din of European Beth Din (Basel, Switzerland) 2008.

Ehrentreu is a leading authority in all areas of Jewish law, with particular expertise in the fields of Medical Ethics, Conversions and Kashrut.

In March 2003, Ehrentreu successfully negotiated the construction of the North-West London eruv. He has presented to the House of Lords Select Committees on medical ethical issues, such as stem cell research and euthanasia. The Chief Rabbi commented when Ehrentreu announced his retirement, "The Dayan possesses a rare combination of authority, wisdom, compassion and understanding of our community."

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