Kinloss synagogue has been deprived of its principal phone line for almost a week because of a mistake made by the United Synagogue’s procurement agency.

The chairman of the synagogue, Jon Mendelsohn, said that the phone service had been disconnected “due to an error by a service provider under contract by the US centrally”.

The problem emerged after the US asked its procurement company to find a phone provider for a number of synagogues, including Kinloss in Finchley.

A US spokesperson assured Kinloss members that “a team of engineers are working around the clock” to solve it.

Mr Mendelsohn said that he was “sure that the service will be returned to normal shortly”.

It is thought that the synagogue may have to accept a new phone number, potentially causing difficulties in communicating with members in the run up to Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur.