Leo Baeck College vice-principal Rabbi Michael Shire is leaving to become professor of Jewish religious education at Hebrew College, Boston.
Rabbi Shire will move with his wife Rabbi Marcia Plumb - who has been one of the rabbinic team at the Shaarei Tzedek North London Reform Synagogue and taught at Akiva School- and their two children.
He will also serve as dean at the graduate school at Hebrew College, which has been at the forefront of pluralist Jewish education in America.
Rabbi Shire has spent 10 years at Leo Baeck and previously 13 years with the Centre for Jewish Education.
"We have both contributed a great deal to the community in different ways," he said. "We're looking forward to new prospects."
He at one time held the distinction of being the only Jewish educator in the UK with a doctorate in Jewish education. He is also the editor of several illustrated Jewish books and his graphic novel on the life of Leo Baeck is due to be published by the college shortly.