THE Lubavitch movement has appointed a rabbi to work with students at Liverpool's universities.
But J-Soc leaders have declined to comment on the move by Chabad on Campus UK.
Manchester-born Rabbi Shmuly Brown, his wife Tzivia and family will be living in the city from the next academic term, offering a "home away from home" for students.
When the Jewish Telegraph contacted outgoing J-Soc chairmen Mickey Pearl and Gemma Nathan for their reaction to the initiative, they declined to comment.
The Browns will be offering a full programme of exciting events, including weekly Shabbat dinners, educational classes and social programmes.
Rabbi and Mrs Brown will be working in conjunction with Rabbi Avremi Kievman, director of Lubavitch Liverpool for the last 17 years.
Rabbi Kievman said: "This is an excellent appointment and Golda and I warmly welcome them to the team of Lubavitch in Liverpool."
The appointment has been welcomed by Liverpool's Union of Jewish Students' chaplain Rabbi YY Rubinstein.
He said: "I would like to commend Chabad on Campus UK for the way in which they have liaised and consulted with me about this new post and how it could integrate and work best with Liverpool Jewish student life and the chaplaincy.
"Their approach has been courteous and flawless and it has been a pleasure to deal with them.
"I recently met Rabbi Brown, who is an impressive young man and I look forward to working with him in the years to come.
Merseyside Jewish Representative Council president and chairman Gordon Globe said: "It is evident that a number of our Jewish students are valuable and enthusiastic ambassadors who can - and do - become involved with our community and report back to their own communities on the wealth of communal activities held in Liverpool.
"However, those students who are not affiliated and/or have attempted to retreat from their rich heritage require specialist attention in order to bring purpose to their lives."
This development follows the expansion of five Chabad centres on campuses across the UK in less than two years.
These have been backed by City financier and Jewish communal philanthropist David Slager.
Rabbi Eli Brackman, chairman of Chabad on Campus UK, said: "The rapid expansion of Chabad on Campus UK over the last few years reflects the urgent need to support Jewish students on campus at a time when they are facing unprecedented challenges and rising assimilation."
Rabbi Yeremiyah Angyalfi, executive board member of Lubavitch UK, said: "This is an historic development."