Mayor Brian Schama of the London Borough of Barnet appointed Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet as his personal chaplain.

Born in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green, Schama became the Barnet’s 48th mayor May. Among his first official acts at the Annual Council at Hendon Town Hall, he named a deputy mayor and tapped the rabbi as chaplain.

Since then, Schochet, who holds the pulpit at the Mill Hill Synagogue, has been advising Schama and opening council meetings with a prayer.