Gateshead's new president says his priority is 'keeping the community safe'

For example, yeshivah students from abroad who were required to quarantine after entering Britain would have to do so outside Gateshead before they could return to their institutions.

The community is also looking for a new Rav after Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman’s departure for London last year to become head of the Federation of Synagogues Beth Din.

Mr Schleider hoped an appointment would be made “within months rather than years”.

He also hoped one of the community’s biggest recent projects, a new mikveh and hall, would reach fruition “in a couple of months”. Costing more than £5 million, it required around £500,000 to complete.