The vacant pulpit at Bevis Marks Synagogue could be filled by a rabbi from Israel who grew up in London's Sephardi community.

Rabbi Jonathan Cohen, who belonged to Lauderdale Road Synagogue, is meeting members of the London East End community during a visit this weekend to discuss the post.

Rabbi Cohen, who is in his early 50s, has worked both as a rabbi and IT consultant in Israel and is the author of a translation and commentary on the Sephardi Haggadah.

Bevis Marks has been without a permanent rabbi since the resignation of Rabbi Natan Asmoucha two years ago. Former Wembley Synagogue minister Rabbi Martin Van Den Bergh filled in for a year-and-a-half but he has moved to Israel.