Radlett United Synagogue has a pulpit vacancy after Rabbi Leo Dee announced his intention to return to Israel with his family in August, three years after joining the Hertfordshire community.

Informing members, shul chair Ray Rubenstein wrote that, in their time at Radlett, Rabbi Dee and his wife Lucy had shown “great warmth and hospitality, opened up their home to many members, hosted and led numerous events and activities, as well as initiating new projects and ideas. Their work behind the scenes in care for the community, supporting those in need, was just an example of their quiet, unseen efforts.”

It was known that the couple had always intended to return to Israel eventually. “Their decision to leave this summer coincides with their children’s educational needs.”

Rabbi Dee said it had been “a tremendous honour and privilege for Lucy and I to have lived in this warm and friendly community. We will cherish this period of our lives.

“But, from the moment we left Israel six years ago, we have missed it intensely. We love the Jewish state, the huge array of Jewish learning institutions, the fact that the buses stop on Shabbat, the ability to buy kosher food at any supermarket and a culture that is fully in tune with our own.”

The timing would “give a new rabbinic couple the best opportunity to come on board, in tandem with the new building, and take Radlett on the next leg of its exciting development. We would, of course, be delighted to stay in our roles until the end of July in order to smooth the handover process.”