The United Synagogue’s decision to allow women to chair synagogues has been largely welcomed but not everyone is applauding.

In the Jewish Tribune, the Stamford Hill- based Charedi weekly, columnist Ben Yitzchok calls it a "most regrettable and major step backwards”.

He speculates that it was taken before Chief Rabbi-designate Ephraim Mirvis came to office because Rabbi Mirvis would have “refused to take the halachically objectionable decision, so it was conveniently arranged before his appointment”.

Which is nonsense. Rabbi Mirvis is on record as saying that he was delighted by the move and had championed it for many years.