The new rabbi at Kingston Liberal Synagogue has been inducted in a service attended by people from across the community.

On Saturday, October 14, Rabbi Dr Rene Pferzel told the congregation he would bring to the role his passion for the Jewish tradition, his interest in people and his desire to teach and learn.

He is French, coming from a Jewish family in Alsace.

Rabbi Dr Pferzel said: “Being born and educated in Alsace, I am quite comfortable between several cultures. My grandparents used to speak German and Alsatian, my grandmother Yiddish, and everybody some sort of French with a very heavy Alsatian accent.

“My parents did not teach me Alsatian or German, because they wanted to argue quietly without me understanding them. Of course, I understood enough of both languages to get the point of the argument!”

At the service were people from local churches, schools, Kingston University, councillors and Kingston and Surbiton MP Sir Ed Davey.