West London Synagogue spent £138,000 responding to a public row over allegations of bullying by its co-senior rabbi, it has revealed.

In November the shul announced it had appointed David Mitchell to be co-senior rabbi but he agreed to take "time away" in January after a backlash from whistleblowers who had previously raised concerns over his behaviour in 2016.

But an inquiry by former High Court judge Sir Michael Burton ultimately found in his favour and he took up his post on April 1.

Now a report, presented to WLS's AGM on Tuesday, says it spent £138,000 on "professional advisers" to address the issue.

It gives no further details but says "very generous benefactors" have covered £113,000, with WLS covering the £25,000 shortfall.

One of the whistleblowers told the JC: "Imagine how much good that [£138,000] could have done being spent on charitable purposes, especially during this crisis."

WLS did not reply to a request for comment.

The report refuses to "revisit the controversies" but cites Sir Michael's "unequivocal" findings that "there was no impediment to Rabbi David taking up his co-senior Rabbi position".

In March, whistleblowers voiced fears Sir Michael's inquiry had too narrow a remit.
The report also said WLS was in discussions with Reform Judaism, trying to "reconcile our differences".

The shul suspended its membership of the movement in February, criticising Reform for announcing a new code of conduct for clergy, saying this was "unconnected and unhelpful to our particular situation".