Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue's Rabbi, Jonathan Black, will be making a cameo appearance in EastEnders tonight, Thursday.

Rabbi Black said he was delighted when producers of the soap, filmed at BBC Elstree in Clarendon Road, Borehamwood, asked him to take part in a Bar Mitzvah party scene.

"I think I was offered the role because the wife of the location manager is a member of my community," he said.

But the religious leader from the synagogue in Elstree High Street said in spite of the local connection, tonight's will be the first episode he has ever watched.

The scenes, he said, were thoroughly well researched and true to life, although there was room still for him to offer advice.

In the Walford simchah, Rabbi Silverstone (Jonathan Black) sits at the top table with the Bar Mitzvah, Josh Saunders (Jon Lee) and his divorced parents.

Rabbi Black said: "Ardent fans will know Josh did not want to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah but his father Elliot (Lawrence Lambert) and mother Julie (Karen Henthorn) felt it was important for him.

"So did his girlfriend who persuaded him to go ahead with it. Josh lives with his mother who converted to Judaism in a progressive congregation when she married his father, though now they are separated. They come together for a party, though there is a certain tension in the air."

As fans know, those who miss tonight's episode will be able to see it again in the omnibus edition on Sunday afternoon.

Rabbi Black added: "Bar or Bar Mitzvah is a great step in a young person's life. Judaism has a great deal to offer and at 13 teenagers can begin to appreciate the richness and wisdom of Judaism and the value of a Jewish framework in their life.

"I very much hope that Josh will now continue with our post-Bar Mitzvah course."

l For Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue, telephone 0181 953 8889.

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