Former Kisharon executive director David Goodman will be the new executive director of the Chief Rabbi’s office.

Mr Goodman’s work with Kisharon — assisting children and adults with learning difficulties — impressed Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, who praised him as “a remarkable individual”.

Chief Rabbinate Trust chairman Simon Hochhauser said Mr Goodman “combines the practical skills needed to manage a key communal organisation with a detailed and intimate knowledge of our community across its wide spectrum”.

A father-of-four and member of Hendon’s Ner Yisrael congregation, Mr Goodman, 53, is due to take up the post at the end of April.

He will initially work alongside the current executive director, Syma Weinberg, who retires in August. Working with the Chief Rabbi and his team would be “an enormous privilege”, he said.