The minister of Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation is fighting his synagogue executive, claiming he was unfairly dismissed.

Rabbi Binyamin Bar was told of his sacking - which the synagogue executive attributed to "an irretrievable breakdown in working relationships" - shortly after Shabbat.

Members of the 700-family congregation were surprised to learn about the decision through a post by Rabbi Bar on the community's unofficial Google+ page.

He said the dismissal was "completely unfair. I am challenging this sad decision through all means".

Speaking afterwards, Rabbi Bar said he was shocked and pledged to take the matter further. "It is very distressing. People must have wanted this to happen but I believe that this is not the wish of the majority of the community.

People must have wanted this to happen but this is not the wish of the majority

"I put my heart and soul into this community for the past eight-plus years and I have a lot more to do here. I don't have any intention to leave. Yesterday, I taught at the cheder. I plan to be leading the service on Friday. I don't know if I will be allowed to." A shul source said he would not be conducting services.

Rabbi Bar added: "The appeal at this stage will be to an independent expert", agreed upon by both sides.

In a statement, the synagogue executive said the decision had been taken with reluctance, adding: "Rabbi Bar has exercised his right of appeal and until that adjudication has been completed, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment.

"This statement is being issued because Rabbi Bar decided to make some of the circumstances public."

Supporters of the minister have criticised both the sacking and the lack of transparency surrounding it. A petition started by immediate past president Alan Gershlick for an EGM attracted 60 signatures in less than two days, comfortably exceeding the constitutional requirement.

"I'm astonished," he said. "We are dealing with our minister, our spiritual leader, who should be accorded our respect. The heart and soul of this community is at stake and I very much hope that the executive will take the appropriate action to ensure the continued rejuvenation of the community.

"He is a young rabbi who has been very inclusive and I would be very sorry to see him leave the community, as indeed would many of my fellow congregants. I've been bowled over by the feeling in the community for the rabbi."

Lifelong member Dennis Baum said the dispute was "very divisive and needs to be stopped as quickly as possible. We've historically been a warm, friendly close-knit community. Now it's becoming the opposite.

"There needs to be an EGM and the dismissal must be withdrawn. If the executive can't get on with the rabbi, maybe the executive should be dismissed, not the rabbi. This is not the way to treat a rabbi. It's very sad that it's got to this."

Fellow congregant Richard Bennett, a member since 2009, said: "I cannot imagine this community without Rabbi Bar.

"It's definitely the wrong decision. I see him not just as my rabbi but as a very good friend. He is so chatty, so helpful."