The chief executive of Liberal Judaism will take a sabbatical to contest a Barnet seat in next May’s local elections.

 
Rabbi Danny Rich will go on temporary leave from his Liberal Judaism role in January, having been adopted by Labour as a candidate for West Finchley ward.

 
Labour will be defending its seats held by Ross Houston, Kath McGuirk and Jim Tierney. Rabbi Rich will replace Mr Tierney, who is standing down, on the ballot. Whatever the outcome, he expects to return to his day job soon after the election.

“I have always been an advocate of members of the community standing for election to local or national political office,” he said. “I also see contribution to civic life as an extension of being a Liberal Jew.”

He added: “I shall be taking a sabbatical from Liberal Judaism from January 2018 in order that I can get to know the people and streets of West Finchley even better than I do now.

“Most councillors across the country have professional jobs. As when anybody goes on sabbatical, the [Liberal Judaism] board will have made appropriate arrangements so that the organisation does not suffer.”