A NEW Chief Rabbi for Ireland's 1,200 strong Jewish community has been selected, ending a three year period during which the post has remained vacant. Mr Gavin Broder will be installed towards the end of the year, the Jewish Representative Council announced.

Mr Broder, who was educated at Jews' College in London and the University of London, has also studied in New Zealand and South Africa. He is currently rabbi at Newbury Park synagogue, London. Mr Broder and his wife, Danielia, have four sons.

Although the post of chief rabbi of Ireland is regarded as highly prestigious in the Jewish world, the community has experienced difficulties in finding a successor to Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis since he left in 1993.