One of the United Synagogue's largest congregations has cancelled tonight's Friday night dinner for Shabbat UK because of lack of demand.
"Unfortunately we did not have enough bookings for the dinner to go ahead," reported Anne Gordon, chair of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue.
One shul member, who did not wish to be named, said she was "hugely disappointed and embarrassed. I went last year and loved every minute. Everyone is dumbfounded."
Last year, the Borehamwood and Elstree Shabbat UK dinner took place in a local hall.
The congregant said youth minister Rabbi Amos Azizoff - who has recently left the shul - had been prominent in making the event a success.
We did not have enough bookings to go ahead
But Mrs Gordon insisted there was "no connection" between the cancellation of this year's dinner and the departure of Rabbi Azizoff from the congregation.