Addressing Sunday's induction ceremony for the Menorah Synagogue (Cheshire Reform) rabbi, Fabian Sborovsky, shul chair Howard Barlow recalled that when the minister first visited the community, "it was quite apparent that here was someone special. We couldn't let this one slip away."

The minister's virtues were also extolled by Rabbi Sybil Sheridan, who performed the induction before a congregation of more than 300.

Born in Paraguay, Rabbi Sborovsky grew up in Israel and also lived in America. He said that coming to Manchester, he had found the English tendency to speak constantly about the weather indicative of a need for people to connect.

He wanted the synagogue to continue what it did best, "being a caring community for all its members, providing children's education and youth activities, engaging families and offering diverse adult programming and social action opportunities".