Swiss-born Israeli Mani Pollak, 28, is to fill the longstanding rabbinical vacancy at Liverpool’s Allerton Hebrew Congregation in September.

Having recently completed his rabbinical training, the minister hopes to graduate with a social work degree this summer from the Hebrew University. His American-born wife Yaffa, also 28, holds a degree in logistics and economics from Bar-Ilan University and has youth leadership experience in Israel and Ukraine. They have two young children and are expecting another child in August.

The congregation has been without a full-time minister since the departure of Rabbi Doniel Golomb in 2006 to become principal of the Lubavitch Junior Boys’ School in Stamford Hill. Since then, the congregation has been served by Rabbi Aron Balkany as temporary part-time minister and also by Rabbi Lionel Cofnas and emeritus rabbi Malcolm Malits.

Senior warden Merton Cohen, who led the ministerial search, expressed “delight at the prospect of a young Israeli rabbi and his wife coming to serve as our spiritual and communal leaders. We met them in Israel and they have since visited and impressed our community by their warm personalities.”

Rabbi Pollak said he and his wife were “very excited about our move to Liverpool. We look forward to start working with the lovely people.”