Rabbi David Singer was inducted as minister of Ilford Federation Synagogue in the presence of leaders of the movement.

He joined the congregation after Pesach, having previously served the Belfast community. He is also a trained scribe, shochet and mohel who has taught at many yeshivot in Israel.

The shul holds a wide range of weekly classes and shiurim, in addition to regular minyanim.

Federation president Andrew Cohen said Rabbi Singer and his wife Judith had already made “a tremendous impression, both within the local community and throughout the wider Federation family”.

Shul president Melvyn Zeff said it was “wonderful to officially welcome our new rabbi, who has so quickly become very popular with our community”.

Rabbi Singer told the JC that the 400-family congregation was “warm, vibrant and friendly. And the shul committee, and indeed all our members, are keen to strengthen the status quo and take things forward.”