Liverpool's Childwall Hebrew Congregation has looked to Israel to fill the ministerial vacancy caused by the summer move of Rabbi Mordechai Wollenberg to Woodford Forest Synagogue in east London.

Members voted overwhelmingly at an EGM on Sunday to appoint Rabbi Martin van den Bergh, 62, who has been running a rabbinical consultancy from Israel after serving congregations including Bevis Marks, Wembley United and Withington in Manchester. He and his wife, Anna, are expected to arrive before Purim on a full-time, two-year contract.

Before Rabbi Wollenberg opted to join Woodford Forest, members of cash-strapped Childwall raised more than £30,000 to save his job. That money was ring fenced to help finance a replacement. In the interim, the community of around 400 adults has been assisted by visiting ministers.

A shul spokesperson said Rabbi van den Bergh would bring "a great deal of maturity and immense pastoral experience. He has worked in small congregations so is aware of the problems."