Marc and Lisa Levene are “delighted” to return to Hampstead Garden Suburb as the North London shul’s new senior rabbinic couple.

Rabbi Levene left Hampstead Garden Suburb in 2017 after five years as assistant rabbi there to take up a post at Belmont United Synagogue. The parents-of-four are expected to start their new role in the summer.

“We are excited to ensure that it continues to be a flagship shul of Anglo Jewry,” said Rabbi Levene, adding that the couple will aim to make sure “everyone finds their unique space and place within such a diverse and vibrant community”.

He also said that he and his wife will be “sad to say goodbye to our wonderful Belmont family”.

Raised in Borehamwood, Rabbi Levene attended Watford Grammar School and JFS and belonged to Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue. After a gap year in Israel with the Federation of Zionist Youth, he studied at Leeds Metropolitan University and achieved a youth work diploma from the National Youth Agency. He went on to support at-risk Jewish teens at a Golders Green centre, the Clubhouse.

Years later, in 2011, he achieved his rabbinic ordination.

Rabbi Levene supports Liverpool FC and his other interests include cooking and single malt whisky.

Hampstead Garden Suburb chair James Kaufmann praised the rabbinic couple for their “warmth, enthusiasm and dynamism” and added that it was “wonderful to be able to welcome them and their entire family back to lead our community”.

Mr Kaufmann thanked Belmont chair Barbara Mazliah and the shul “for the way we have interacted. Whilst we are really delighted to welcome the Levenes, I am sorry that our gain is Belmont’s loss.”

The Belmont chair said the couple had “contributed so much to the Belmont community through their spiritual leadership and pastoral care”.

She added: “Although we are, of course, sad to see them leave and will miss them greatly, we wish them much success and happiness in their new roles.”

HGSS's previous rabbinic couple, Daniel and Batya Friedman, left by "mutual agreement", saying that "through various conversations with the honorary officers, it has become increasingly clear that we have a different vision for the way forward".