THE Jewish community has welcomed a new rabbi to the Bournemouth Reform Synagogue.

Rabbi Maurice Michaels, right, set about to meet various members of the congregation during a busy programme of services and events celebrating the week of Sukkot.

The inspirational rabbi had a first career in business and industry, during which he was involved in the leadership of the Jewish community.

He served on the Board of Deputies, the Zionist Federation and chaired both the Reform Synagogues of Great Britain, now the Movement for Reform Judaism, of which he is a vice-president.

Deborah Tendler, chairman of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said: “We are delighted that someone with the knowledge and experience of Rabbi Michaels will be leading us in the next stage of our growth and development.

“In a very short time he has already made a very favourable impression on the community.”

Throughout the week of Sukkot, Rabbi Michaels met children from the Netanya Nature Pre-School and the synagogue’s cheder, university and college members of the Jewish Society and seniors from the congregation.

Rabbi Michaels will be working at Bournemouth Reform Synagogue in addition to his commitments in London as the Van der Zyl head of vocational studies at the Leo Baeck College and as a member of the clergy team at Alyth North Western Reform Synagogue.

He said he had received a warm welcome from the congregation, which includes nearly 300 families, and is looking forward to spending more time in the area. “The people I’ve met so far at Bournemouth Reform Synagogue are very warm and friendly and I know that we can do great things together,” he said. “I shall be spending alternate weeks in Bournemouth and I look forward to becoming a part of the wider community.”