Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis formally welcomed Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue’s senior rabbinic couple, Marc and Lisa Levene, and community rabbi and rebbetzen, Luis and Jodie Herszaft, at the shul’s “Shabbat of celebration”.

It began with more than 500 members attending a Kabbalat Shabbat service led by chazan Avromi Freilich. On Shabbat morning, around 1,000 members and guests were present for the inductions by the Chief Rabbi, with the service followed by a Kiddush lunch.

The Chief Rabbi said that with the new additions, “the HGSS community is now blessed with the ultimate dream team”.

Rabbi Levene explained that for him, “the goal of a community is not simply a shared belief system, or proximity or interests. It runs much deeper than this. In our hearts we must feel united with our members, so that we can be there to support every soul.”

Rebbetzen Levene said the couple felt “humbled by the outpouring of love we have received since our arrival”.

For HGSS chair James Kaufmann:“Shabbat represented the formal beginning of a new chapter. Our rabbinic team, together with chazan Avromi and Rochelle Freilich, is now complete. My wish is that their collective brilliance will bring much lustre to HGSS for many years to come.”