A transgender woman answered the call when Liverpool’s Princes Road Synagogue was struggling to achieve a minyan on the first day of Succot.

The shul – which recently suspended services due to falling numbers – could not form a quorum of ten adult males on the festival day.

Senior warden Saul Marks told the JC that a conversation ensued between the woman (who was born a man) and those who were running the service.

“They decided between them that halachically it would be acceptable to count her and count her they did.” 

The woman sits in the historic synagogue’s female section and has been “very supportive of the shul”, Mr Marks added. “She has a number of friends in the congregation and is very welcome.” She also had many supporters within Liverpool during “her very difficult journey”.

Mr Marks further reported that the Grade I-listed synagogue expected to resume services in the next few weeks.

“We’re just waiting for some of our refurbishment works to be finished.”