Rabbi Elchonon Feldman is the unanimous choice of Bushey Synagogue's selection committee to replace long-serving minister Rabbi Meir Salasnik, who will be standing down in the autumn to make aliyah.
In a message to members, Bushey leaders wrote that Rabbi Feldman and his wife Jacqueline - who have served Belmont Synagogue for five years - had impressed the selection team as "dynamic, passionate, innovative, caring, inspirational and friendly". Their goal was to "lead from the front in turning Bushey into a flagship Anglo-Jewry community".
Rabbi Feldman was described by his current community as having an impressive skill set, "including a certification in addiction counselling, a knack for singalong guitar playing and an avid interest in eclectic culture. He has studied and taught in many of the foremost yeshivah institutions."
The appointment is subject to ratification by a members' vote later this month after the Feldmans have spent a Shabbat at the shul. Rabbi Feldman will deliver a sermon, the rebbetzin will give a women's shiur and the couple will participate in a Q&A.
If the 2,000-member community votes in favour, they will not join until November at the earliest as they are serving a notice period at Belmont.
Bushey chair Stephen Roston said this week that the Feldmans would be "an enormous asset, helping to enrich the Jewish lives of our members".
US president Stephen Pack observed that "the importance of great rabbinic leadership in building vibrant and engaged communities cannot be overstated". Although succeeding the Salasniks would be a huge task, the Feldmans "are the perfect couple to take on the spiritual leadership of the Bushey community".
Writing to Belmont congregants, shul chair David Lerner believed that Bushey had "made an excellent choice". Regarding a replacement, "as one of the few United synagogues with a growing membership, the executive is confident that we will once more attract outstanding candidates".