A rabbi hopes to bring “substance and insight” to the community when he takes up his new role.

Rabbi Oliver Joseph will take up the role of part-time rabbi of the Elstree and Borehamwood Masorti Community in September.

The 32-year-old qualified as a rabbi in Los Angeles in May, after having studied for five years in Israel, at Tel Aviv University and the Shalom Hartman Institute, followed by two years at the American Jewish University in LA.

He said: “I am very excited. It is an honour and a privilege to be able to come back to the country where I was born, and be close to the city where I grew up, and have a job that is both diverse and challenging.

“I feel very fortunate with the opportunities I was given. I hope to bring all that I have to offer to the job, and bring substance and insight into the community.”

Rabbi Joseph added: “I have been away for a long time. It is important for me to listen to the community and what their needs are. Whatever it might be, everyone has their own story. It is a young community, which has had tremendous success.”

He grew up in Dollis Avenue, Finchley and was a member of New North London Synagogue in East End Road, Finchley.

After finishing his A-levels at Woodhouse College, he studied political science at Leeds University, followed by stints working in the Canadian Parliament and the European Parliament.

Speaking of his time studying abroad, he said: “The American Jewish community and the Israel community are the largest two in the world.

“Having had the opportunity to study in both those places really took me to the heights of Jewish learning, in terms of academia and Jewish community life. Both have developed in unique ways, and there is a lot to learn from those communities.

“The learning I have done in different places will hopefully give me a lot of strength and vision to bring that to communities in Europe, and particularly in the UK.”

Rabbi Joseph will spend one day a week in Borehamwood, with the rest of his time spent travelling across the country, including teaching at universities.

He added: “I am interested in all the diverse parts of the job. There is nothing that does not excite me.

“Sometimes life for Jewish students can be a bit fraught, and I am looking forward to working with students to help develop their Jewish identity while living on campus.

“There does not have to be that feeling of isolation, particularly the dialogue on campuses about Middle East policies. I think there is good and important work to be done to try and bring people to a more mainstream and connected conversation about Israel and Palestine.”