Rabbi Yonasan and Yael Roodyn have spent their first Shabbat as Finchley Federation's new ministerial couple.

The Finchley post adds to the rabbi's varied communal responsibilities - he is educational director of Jewish Futures, a popular online lecturer, an expert in halachic issues and programme director for an annual rabbinic conference.

An experienced tour guide, he has led numerous groups to Jewish interest sites in the UK, Israel and Eastern Europe. He also holds a degree in government from the London School of Economics.

His wife, a former Hasmonean High pupil, has a bachelor’s degree in management science from LSE. During the couple's time in Israel, she worked for KPMG as a trainee actuary and taught in a number of Jerusalem seminaries.

Rabbi Roodyn wants "to lead the community to the next stage of its development. There are exciting opportunities ahead and we are looking forward to reaching out to local families to make them feel welcome in our shul."

Shul vice-chair Deborah Kay believed the community would thrive under the Roodyns' leadership. "We know their particular experience will add a new dimension to what we can offer members. This is an exciting time, given our major refurbishment plans in the coming year."