Presenters: S

Bianca Sakol

Bianca works for RSY-Netzer as youth and events manager. Having previously worked for Limmud and been a volunteer, she is looking forward to trying Limmud as a participant! She is passionate about raising awareness for carrier screening of Jewish genetic disorders after two affected pregnancies.

Gary Sakol

Gary Sakol works and volunteers in the community as executive director at Westminster Synagogue and trustee for Habonim Dror UK. But most importantly for Limmud, he is Scottish and loves a ceilidh!

Joel Salmon

Joel is the Parliamentary Officer at the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He is responsible for political and parliamentary engagement, domestic antisemitism and extremism. He is the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews.

Leonora Samuel

Leonora learnt to leyn with Victor Tunkel in the 1990s. She is an educator. She helps people to gain key skills in numeracy and ICT and to get new insights into the Biblical text.

Sassy

Sassy is the accommodation and bar chair and quizmaster for Limmud Festival. He is also a national tournament director for the card game bridge, and in his spare time works in the Medical School at King’s College London doing something-or-other, having previously been a university admissions Officer.

Sahar Sazgar

The UJIA & the Jewish Agency shaliach to Manchester, UK. Sahar is responsible to strengthen the feelings and the relationship between the community and Israel. Sagar finished her army service as a commander at 'Egoz' unite (special forces, IDF). Grew up at 'Maccabi Tzair Hadera' youth movement.

Rosalind Schogger

Rosalind is a travel writer and photographer. She journeys frequently to Ethiopia. By working with the Jewish community of Gondar and extensively exploring this huge, land-locked country, she has developed friendships, which have given her fascinating insights into how Ethiopia ticks.

Rosemary Schonfeld

Rosemary is a professional musician and composer now based in Devon. She has recorded and produced/co-produced six albums, co-run a recording studio, devised a teaching package for percussionists, and is currently working on a rock opera.

Amos Schonfield

Amos is the founder and director of Our Second Home, the youth movement for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. He is currently studying Migration Studies at Oxford University. Previously he worked at Yachad, who he represents at the Board of Deputies, and at Noam Masorti Youth.

Kevin Sefton

Kevin is a management consultant, former Limmud chair and amateur breadmaker. At one time, really amateur. His bread was awful. So he set about making it better. And he now enjoys not just baking his bread, but eating it too.

Nathan Servi

Nathan has been involved in Jewish Education for 20 years. He is head of education at Maccabi GB and manages Streetwise, the PSHE and RSE provider for Jewish Schools, which engages 23,000 young people across the community each year. In 2017 he created ‘Stand Up! Education Against Discrimination’

Sam Severijnse

Sam grew up in a small Jewish community in the Netherlands. He has lived in London since 2003. He is a volunteer for the Society for Jewish Study.

Peter Sevitt

Peter is a lover of informal Jewish learning and founder of Limmud Toronto. Peter is also an outdoor enthusiast and a thespian, and brings his passion, enthusiasm, energy and curiosity to all that he does. Originally from the UK, he immigrated to Canada over 45 years ago.

Mei-Tal Shabtai

Native Israeli, Tali recently moved to London. She created an innovative program to express creativity and gain insights into Jewish Texts. An experienced educator, she most recently taught History and creative writing in a Jerusalem High School. Tali has a BA in Jewish history & MA in NGO management from the Hebrew U.

Baraa Shaiban

Baraa is a MENA caseworker with Reprieve. He participated in the peaceful demonstrations in 2011 and served as a youth representative in Yemen's National Dialogue (a body charged with negotiating Yemen's new constitution). Baraa was involved in negotiations with the Houthi movement in 2014 and 2015.

Zahavit Shalev

Zahavit is on the rabbinic team at New North London Synagogue. A student at Leo Baeck College, she hopes to be ordained as a rabbi 2019. She enjoys seeing her students join the Jewish people (70+ and counting), feminist Biblical and Talmud criticism, 90% dark chocolate, and undignified dancing.

Dave Shaw

Dave is a founding trustee of KeshetUK – the charity ensuring that no person should have to choose between their Jewish and LGBT+ identity. He also chairs Gay Jews In London, a group with nearly 900 members, programming social activities for those identifying as gay and Jewish in London.

Marvin Shaw

Marvin Shaw is a poet and author. His five creative self-help books include Poetry for Health and Mindful Judaism. Marvin is currently working on a thrilling new book and project entitled Creative Starts, Creative Sparks - How to Liberate your Inborn Creativity and Bring Joy to Yourself and Others.

Clive Sheldon

Clive Sheldon QC is a leading barrister in the fields of public law and employment law, often appearing before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Clive is the chair of the New Israel Fund in the UK, having previously served as co-chair of Masorti Judaism in the UK and as a member of the JLC.

Ruben Shimonov

Ruben is an educator, community builder and social innovator focusing on Jewish diversity. His hybrid identity as a Bukharian, Sephardi, Mizrahi and queer Jew drives his leadership work. He’s the founder/director of the Sephardic-Mizrahi Q Network, a unique platform for LGBTQ Sephardim and Mizrahim.

Colin Shindler

Colin is the first professor of Israel studies in the UK, the author of numerous books on Israel and a frequent contributor to the national, international and Jewish press. He is proud to have been present at the very first Limmud in 1980.

Daniel Shine

Danny has been going to Limmud for so long despite attempts to ban him. His sessions are usually controversial so not really for the weak-hearted.

Michael Shire

Michael is dean of Jewish Education at Hebrew College Boston and founder of Torah Godly Play, a spiritual pedagogy for telling Bible stories. He is also a graduate of Jewish history and now interested in American Jewish history.

Beverly Shrand

Beverly is a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business. She facilitates adult learning in the areas of systems thinking, business ethics and marketing. She recently completed her doctoral thesis in organisational psychology.

Edwin Shuker

Edwin Shuker is Vice President of the Board of deputies and a member of the Limmud International Advisory Council. Activist and an international public speaker on Middle East issues especially on Jews from Arab counties, Edwin is a protagonist of the documentary “Remember Baghdad.“

Aaron Simmonds

Aaron Simmonds has been failing to stand up for 28 years: luckily he is far better at comedy than standing up. He has a unique perspective on life, which gives him stories to tell and a sore neck. Aaron was a finalist at the BBC New Comedian of the Year and won Jewish Comedian of the Year 2017.

Raymond Simonson

Raymond is CEO of JW3, London's JCC; sits on the Limmud FSU International Steering Committee, the advisory boards of Mitzvah Day and the London Jewish Forum; has a BA in Jewish History, MA in Applied Anthropology and Community & Youth Work, and was Limmud’s first full time Executive Director.

Chaya Singer

Chaya Singer is the Diplomatic and first Parliamentary Liaison for the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. Prior to joining the SAJBD, she served terms as Chairperson of the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) and thereafter as Chairperson of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS).

Naomi Soetendorp

Naomi is a qualified social worker employed as Practice Learning coordinator for an inner London borough. Co-founder of Wandering Jews and Grassroots Jews, Naomi coordinated Grassroots Jews 2018.

Mor Sofer

Mor is the Jewish Agency Shaliach to the northern universities via UJS. Mor lived the Israeli media. He was a member of the Israeli Journalists Association, reporter in the IDF's magazine "Bamahane", digital director for an marketing agency focusing on soldiers and was the FZY Shliach in Manchester.

Laynie Soloman

Laynie is a faculty member and the director of educational initiatives at SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva. Laynie has learned and taught in a variety of batei midrash, including at Yeshivat Hadar, where they currently serve as an adjunct faculty member.

Shira Solomons

Community director at the Jewish Community of Berkshire in Reading, Shira organises cheder, community events and Judaism talks at schools. She is passionate about practical spirituality, and Jewish education that enables children, women, and men to expand their intellectual and spiritual horizons.

Zvi Solomons

Zvi is founding rabbi of the Jewish Community of Berkshire based in Reading, UK. He and Shira reach out to unattached families as well as providing Judaism talks to schools and training to RE teachers all over the region. Zvi enjoys teaching and learning and is at his 20th Limmud this year.

Gary Somers

Gary is married to Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers. Gary has worked at SOAS for more years than he cares to remember. He is currently learning Issur v'Heter in Rabbi Landes' Online Kollel with a view to receiving Semicha as long as he can remember his sources.

Izchak Sonnenschein

Izchak is the head of the UK delegation of the WZO. Prior to this, he was head of the Programs Division of Israeli TV, head of the Israel Delegation for Eurovision and Ambassador for the Israeli Broadcast Authority. He was also CEO for the 40th Anniversary of the Unification of Jerusalem programme and Head of Israel Official Events and Ceremonies at Merkaz Hahasbara.

Jessica Spencer

Jessica is a programme manager at the Council of Christians and Jews, where she leads CCJ’s social action programmes, Jewish educational programmes, and CCJ’s partnership with Near Neighbours. She also edits CCJ’s award-winning journal, Common Ground.

Vivien Spevock

Vivien is a former primary and special needs teacher. She enjoys handicrafts, and sewing.

Yonit Spiegelman

Yonit is an NYC-based bassist, producer, composer and vocalist. Founder and leader of the music group Foreign Hues and Banot, Yonit has achieved widespread success amongst her fellow musicians with intimate and unique compositions, accurate bass lines and whole-hearted productions.

Jonathan Spyer

Jonathan is a journalist and analyst of Middle East affairs. He is the director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis (MECRA), and is a research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies and the Middle East Forum.

Judith Stanton

Judith is the CEO of Tzedek, the UK Jewish International Development charity. Her background is a doctor and educator. Her speciality is in population health. Judith joined Tzedek, as CEO, in 2017.

David-Yehuda Stern

David-Yehuda is a rabbinical student at Leo Baeck College. He holds a BA in Film and Television Studies from the University of Nottingham and an MA in Jewish Education from the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS). He leads the cheder team at New London Synagogue and blogs at hereiswonder.com

Helen Stone

Helen is a retired secondary teacher who has, for the past seven years been in regular demand as a second generation speaker at Holocaust events. In October 2018 she was the key speaker at the launch of the Wiener Library's "Shattered" exhibition.

Maurice Stone

Maurice is chairman of the Israeli Dance Institute (IDI) and works for UJIA. He has been teaching dance for many years at Limmud in the UK, Russia and Ukraine. He believes that Israeli dance is a fundamental educational tool promoting Jewish identity and a connection with Israel. So let’s dance!

Robert Stone

Robert is a political economist who advises governments on financial sector policy, particularly in low and middle income countries. He has a lifelong interest in cross-cultural influences in religion and philosophy and is a member of Finchley Reform and Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogues.

Yoni Stone

Yoni Stone is a proud product of the streets of Radlett. Having spent a year studying in Jerusalem at the Conservative Yeshiva, he now works full-time for Noam and Marom.

Claire Straus

Active in Limmud for many years, Claire works as a professional career coach, supporting jobseekers, graduates and those in mid-career transition understand and explore their career options and secure employment. She earned a Masters in Career Management and Coaching at Birkbeck, specialising in networking.

Wes Streeting MP

Wes Streeting is the Labour MP for Ilford North and a member of the Treasury Committee. He was first elected in 2015, having bucked the trend to defeat the Conservatives. A friend of the community since his time as NUS President, Wes co-chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews.

Simon Style

Singer, songwriter, accountant and key cutter, Simon Style has been leading singalong sessions for the last 150 years and knows most words to about a million songs.

Richard Sudworth

Richard is reverend and secretary for inter-religious affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and national inter religious affairs adviser for the Church of England. He is on a committee working on a proposed Anglican theology of Christian-Jewish Relations.

Daniel Sugarman

Daniel is a journalist for the Jewish Chronicle, covering social, political and religious issues.

Tali Swart

Tali has been teaching Pilates for 12 years with special care and attention for lower back pains and injuries. Tali runs her own classes in Finchley progressive synagogue Barnet U3A and Southgate, as well as running workshops and retreats in Kent.

Abi Symons

Abi is a freelance writer with a background in producing live comedy and events. She is an occasional Jewish community moonlighter who has coordinated Gefiltefest at Limmud this year. She thrives on good stories and good coffee and is a fierce feminist advocate and activist.

Joseph Symons-Smyth

Joseph has been a folk musician since he was twelve, and a Limmudnik since he was nineteen. This year he's going to try and make the worlds collide.

Moshe Szyf

Moshe is a professor of Pharmacology at McGill University Medical School in Montreal Canada and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Moshe has pioneered research in epigenetics and is recognized as a founder of the field of behavioural epigenetics.