Support is gathering for Aharon Soudry, minister of Garnethill Congregation in Glasgow, who is currently serving three months' notice after 20 years in the congregation.

Sylvia Fisher, who has been a member of the Hill Street congregation since childhood, told the JC: "Morale in the congregation is very low, I would say more than 90 per cent of the congregation would like Aharon Soudry to stay. We were not consulted before the decision was taken."

Mr Soudry, who has worked for Garnethill on a freelance basis for two decades, was told at the end of August that the congregation would no longer be using his services due to his unacceptable behaviour at the synagogue.

Mrs Fisher said she hoped the synagogue council would reconsider the decision at the next meeting in a fortnight.

"Mr Soudry has shown great devotion," she said. "He has served the congregation for 20 years, sleeping away from home on Friday nights and then walking 12 miles back to Newton Mearns on Shabbat afternoon. He is a very kind man."

Gerald Levin, chair of Garnethill, said he was unaware of any motion or petition having been put to the council but said: "If members of the congregation come to the council with a concern it will be given due consideration."

Mr Soudry declined to comment.