Richmond Upon Thames Green Party councillor Andree Frieze marked her conversion to Judaism at a ceremony at Kingston Liberal Synagogue.

Ms Frieze has a part-time role with Eco Synagogue, an organisation helping Jewish communities to become more environmentally aware.

She has been an active KLS member since 2012, when she and her Israeli husband Shimon Morad joined the community. Their sons Natan and Guy were barmitzvah at KLS.

“Why did I decide to convert now? Ultimately, it’s because I feel Jewish,” the 50-year-old explained. “I want to be Jewish because of the sense of community it gives me, because of the tradition it comes from, because its moral teachings fit with my own. Because it feels like it’s meant to be.”

The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships and Kingston’s former minister.