Lubavitch rabbi Herschel Rader this week formally took up his duties as Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation’s full-time minister.

Rabbi Rader’s departure from Woodside Park Synagogue in 2007 split his former community. He has been officiating at BHHC’s West Hove synagogue on temporary contracts for the past 15 months. BHHC has been without a permanent minister since Rabbi Pesach Efune resigned in May 2007 for personal reasons.

In a letter to congregants, Rabbi Rader, 54, pledged to hold consultative sessions with members, comparing the relationship between a community and its spiritual leader to a marriage. “Both require care, understanding, sharing and patience.” His priorities were education, expanding the minyanim, creating warm relevant services and strengthening the community’s ties with Israel.

Chairman Martyn Cooperman complimented “his undoubted qualities of spiritual leadership. He will be a great asset to us and the Orthodox community in general.”

Rabbi Rader and his wife Perla have six children and five grandchildren.