South London's largest Jewish community has gone Californian to fill its ministerial vacancy.

Recently ordained Rabbi Jason Rosner will be joining Wimbledon and District Reform Synagogue with his Parisian wife, Noemie, in the autumn.

During a five-day introductory visit, Rabbi Rosner led a Shabbat service and taught a class, as well as meeting those involved in the cheder, the Apples and Honey nursery and the Mosaic school, which operates from the synagogue building.

He looked forward "to getting to know the people one on one.

"Any success is going to be based around my relationship with the congregants."

Rabbi Rosner trained in America, and for five months in Israel. He was previously student minister for a community in Wyoming.

Since the rabbis who shared Wimbledon's spiritual leadership, Sybil Sheridan and Sylvia Rothschild, left last year, shul member and retired rabbi Tony Hammond has assisted the congregation part-time.

Wimbledon president Julian Samuels said the response from the 300 congregants who met Rabbi Rosner had been an "overwhelming wow".

He hoped the minister would go on to serve the 870-member shul for a long period.