Chief Rabbi designate Ephraim Mirvis received the accolade of a standing ovation on Shabbat when he rose to address his Finchley Synagogue congregants at the weekend following his appointment to succeed Lord Sacks.
While his community had rooted all along for him to get the job, they are sorry to lose him.

But perhaps he will not be venturing too far. Although recent chiefs have held court in St John’s Wood, there is nothing to stop Rabbi Mirvis preferring to remain further out in the North-West London suburbs — and I understand that may be an option under consideration.