Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue’s Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah has announced that she will stand down next spring, around the time of her 66th birthday, after two decades with the congregation.

She said that she had devoted the 31 years since her ordination to “contributing to the development of Jewish communal life in Britain and supporting individuals on their Jewish journeys”.

She intends to focus on her writing, initially to complete her next book, Triangulating Judaism. She will also continue to work on the new Liberal Judaism prayer book with her co-editor, Rabbi Lea Muhlstein of Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue.

Paying tribute, shul vice-chair Michael Austin said that although she would be “sadly missed, we are confident that her Liberal Jewish values of social justice, inclusiveness and moderation will guide us into the future.

“Once we have appointed a new rabbi, Elli will become our rabbi emeritus.”

With Progressive shuls holding their festival services online, the rabbi has produced a booklet of her Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur sermons — and reflections on the days in between — for those without digital access.

The booklet will be part of a package also including honey cake, apples and honey, a New Year card designed by a shul member and, if needed, a loan copy of the High Holy-Day machzor.