Richmond Synagogue members have overwhelmingly backed the appointment of Rabbi Meir and Rina Shindler as their new ministerial couple, filling the vacancy created by the upcoming departure of Rabbi Jonathan Hughes to Radlett.

A King's College London graduate, Rabbi Shindler has worked as an operational research analyst and in a variety of communal positions, most recently as the living and learning rabbi at Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue. His wife was raised in New York and studied in Israel for four years before moving to London, where she has been a fieldworker for the Jewish Learning Exchange.

Rabbi Shindler said that "after over three happy years at Chigwell, we now feel it is time to move on and embrace the challenge of a senior rabbinic position. Rina and I are excited to be given the opportunity to lead the Richmond community."

At a "getting to know you" Shabbat, they had found the congregation "warm, friendly and inclusive". The Shindlers had also been impressed by the forward thinking board.

Selection committee chair Leonard Magrill said that "under Rabbi and Rebbetzen Hughes, we have made progress in outreaching and in attracting new members. We are looking forward to building on this sound platform with the arrival of the Shindlers, whose background and outlook so closely match the needs of the community." The couple start at the 250-member congregation early in 2016.