St Albans Masorti Synagogue’s inauguration ceremony for Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet was a Stateside affair.

A former minister of the shul, Rabbi Jeremy Gordon (now at New London Synagogue), said American-born Rabbi Zagoria-Moffet displayed “a deep emotional intelligence”.

The inauguration was performed by two of the rabbi’s mentors from New York — Rabbi Daniel Nevins, dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary and Rabbi Mark Greenspan of Oceanside Jewish Centre. They came over specially for the occasion.

Among a video of mazeltovs from around the world was a message from Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth, the new minister’s predecessor, who is now in Australia.