Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is to lead a rabbinical mission to Israel in May in order to put education about Israel “firmly back in the pulpit”.

The expected participation of 50 Orthodox rabbis would make it the largest mission of its kind mounted by a chief rabbi, his office believed.

Unveiling his plans to encourage rabbis to promote Israel at this week’s annual conference of the Rabbinic Council of the United Synagogue, Rabbi Mirvis said that Israel was “central to Jewish identity”.

He said: “As rabbis, we have a responsibility to educate and inspire our communities and Israel should feature front and centre.”

The mission will be his first official visit to Israel as chief rabbi. In his installation address five months ago, he described himself as “a passionate supporter of Israel”.