Full house for Rabbi Joseph Dweck's lecture on Maimonides

Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of the S & P Sephardi Community, attracted a huge turnout to his new lecture series in North-West London – his first in the area since the controversy that erupted over his comments on gay love last summer.

The first of a nine-part series on Maimonides drew 200 people to the London School of Jewish Studies in Hendon on Monday night, with 80 having to be turned away because of lack of space.

Police were on hand because of earlier threats of protests from right-wing critics but the event passed without incident.

Rabbi Dweck’s popular lecture series at a Hendon synagogue last year was suspended after the uproar over his comments on homosexuality and other teachings.