Rabbi Benjy Rickman, head of Jewish studies at King David High School in Manchester, is moving from school to shul to become rabbi of the city’s Yeshurun Synagogue in early summer.
He and his wife Emily will succeed Rabbi Greg and Hannah Bank as rabbinic couple, who after five years at Yeshurun have moved south to lead the Yavneh minyan at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue.
Yeshurun members voted for Rabbi Rickman’s appointment on Sunday after he had led Shabbat services at the weekend and Mrs Rickman had given a dvar Torah to the congregation’s women.
Andrea Cohen, chair of the modern Orthodox congregation, said, “This is a fantastic appointment for the shul and, together with the board , I am excited for the future of our community.”
The Rickmans, thanking Yeshurun for their welcome, said they felt “truly honoured to serve as your next rabbinic couple”.
Rabbi Rickman, who has taught at King David for 19 years, has had previous congregational experience as assistant rabbi and chazan at Holy Law in Manchester for six years. He is currently rabbi for the Mizrachi movement in the city, a role which he will retain.
He was recently chosen as a Sacks scholar, a fellowship scheme endowed in memory of the late Chief Rabbi to encourage religious leadership.
He said the opportunity “to work with and serve the wonderful Yeshurun community allows me to tap into my diverse skill range with creative and innovative ideas to enhance both the religious/spiritual and cultural and social aspects of a Jewish community”.
But he added, “Teaching was no longer doing this for me. The system needs to change to meet the challenges of 21st-century living.”