Nathan Abrams

Nathan Abrams teaches film at Bangor University in north Wales, where he lives with his family and dogs. A popular presenter, he's been writing and lecturing about Jews and film, television and popular culture for many years and is currently writing a biography of the major Jewish director, Stanley Kubrick.

Thabet Abu Ras

Thabet Abu Ras, an author of the key 'Future Vision' documents on the status of Arab citizens, joined the Abraham Initiatives in 2014 as the co-executive director. Abu Ras sits on the general secretariat of 'A Land for All' Israeli-Palestinian peace movement, and has served as co-chair of the 'Hand In Hand' bilingual schools' board in Israel.

Emile Ackermann

Emile Ackermann is a student at the rabbinical school Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (23'). With his wife Myriam, he created AYEKA, the first Modern Orthodox organisation in France with the goal of building a community in Paris, opening in 2022.

Myriam Ackermann

Myriam is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Maharat (23") and is currently working on her PhD at the Sorbonne. With her husband, Emile, she created Ayeka, the first modern Orthodox organization in France with the goal of building a community in Paris.

Barbara Aiello

Barbara Aiello is the first female rabbi in Italy and served in Milan as the country's first non-Orthodox rabbi. She traces her roots back to Calabria where her father, Antonio, was raised in the small mountain village of Serrastretta, and where, in 2006, she organised Ner Tamid del Sud, the first active synagogue in the south of Italy in 500 years.

Rosy Akalawu-Ellman

Rosy Akalawu-Ellman is a 17 year old from Manchester, currently completing her A-Levels at King David High School. She is of Nigerian-Igbo and Ashkenazi-Jewish heritage. In 2020 she was one of the witnesses for the Board of Deputies Commission on Racial inclusivity. She is interested in History of Art and pursuing her own artistic practice.

Emma Alter

Emma is a professional musician and Feldenkrais teacher. She has 20 years experience of world-class performance and teaching, specialising in working with musicians. Clients include the Musicians Union, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and the British Army! They come from all walks of life and share a desire to improve their quality of life through how they move.

Lior Amihai

Lior is the Executive Director of Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization that monitors, researches and conducts legal and public advocacy regarding human rights violations inherent in Israel’s prolonged occupation. Lior co-headed Peace Now's Settlement Watch project and has a master’s in Human Rights from UCL and a BSc from City University.

Daniel Anderson

Daniel presents and facilitates thought-provoking lectures, discussions and workshops on Jewish ethics, philosophy and history. He aims to leave attendees with more questions than answers and runs the popular 'Lunch & Learn' programme at Cockfosters and N Southgate United Synagogue. He is a former Limmud programming chair, but that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Yonatan Arnon

A winner of the Be Wise Fellowship in Jewish entrepreneurialism, Yonatan is a dancer and rabbinical student. For the past five years he has integrated his spiritual and movement experiences, founding his signature 'MoveMeant - Embodying Sacred Texts', which integrates live singing, contemplative practices, sacred texts and diverse dancing techniques.

Charley Baginsky

Charley Baginsky is the Chief Executive Officer of Liberal Judaism and is responsible for setting the direction and priorities for the movement, fundraising, communities and communications. Charley was a congregational rabbi for many years and is the mother to Joshua, Eliana and Cassia.

Andrew Baker

Andrew Baker is AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs. Since 2009, he has been the Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism of the Chair-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In recognition of his work he was decorated by the Presidents of Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, and Romania.

Leanne Baker

Leanne is the Director of Programmes at Tzedek. Her work centres around two core aspects: supporting local non-governmental organisations in Ghana and India through partner-led, sustainable development to help people lift themselves and their communities out of extreme poverty, and harnessing the UK Jewish community's commitment to social justice.

Joanna Bakoń

Joanna is a Hebrew Studies graduate of the University of Warsaw and Center for Jewish Studies Heidelberg scholarship fellow of Paideia - The European Institute for Jewish Studies. She is a Hebrew language teacher and associate of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, who is interested in the Bais Yakov schools and contemporary Jewish literature and thought from a feminist perspective.

David Balsamo

David is the dean and professor of sociology at the University of Chester, specialising in the sociology of work and deviance. He has interests in Jewish life in London, drawing on his experiences of a predominantly working-class Jewish experience. Before entering academia, he worked as a painter and decorator and operating theatre technician.

Shira Baram

I am a counsellor and mindfulness therapist and work with adults and young people. I am interested in improving the mental health and well-being of those in the Jewish community. I feel it is important to encourage and increase access to counselling services within the community and reduce the stigma associated with mental health.

Julie Barnes

Julie Barnes is a facilitator, counsellor and soul midwife, supporting people in living their best lives, including facing their mortality and talking freely about their choices at the end of life. The poem ‘What would love do now?’ arose from this passion.

Aviva Ben-Ur

Aviva Ben-Ur is a historian specializing in Atlantic Jewish history, slavery studies and the Ottoman diaspora. She is the author of 'Jewish Autonomy in a Slave Society: Suriname in the Atlantic World, 1651-1825' (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020).

David Benkof

David (TheBroadwayMaven.com) is a Jerusalem-based teacher whose classes and videos help students find meaning in cultural products like Broadway shows, music, art, literature, and more. Favourite classes are: If you could see 'Cabaret' through my eyes, Mel Brooks' musicals, Debbie Friedman 101, Revisiting 'Fiddler', Saturday Night Live’s Jews and Philip Roth novels.

Jonathan Bergwerk

Having graduated in economics, Jonathan’s career has been in occupational psychology, now on a voluntary basis. Jonathan has given many presentations on Jewish history, which have been published in a series called ‘Audacious Jewish Lives’. The sessions outline an individual’s life, their contribution to society and their impact on Jewish life.

Sally Berkovic

Sally is the author of 'Under My Hat', a memoir outlining the challenges of raising daughters within Orthodoxy. In 2021, she published 'Death Duties' about her experiences as a member of the Chevra Kadisha that also reflects on loss, legacy and the impact of Covid-19 on mourning rites. By day, she is the CEO of the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.

Misha Beshkin

Misha Beshkin was born in Daugavpils, Latvia and lives in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a father of three, husband of a wife, has education in the humanities and works in IT. Serial Limmudnik. Passionate in development of various Jewish-related software.

Israel Bitton

Israel is the executive director of Americans Against Antisemitism, a non-profit that counters social hatred through data, media and education. He is the author of 'Who Will Remember You? A philosophical study and theory of memory and will' (Oct 2021) and the forthcoming book, 'A Brief and Visual History of Antisemitism' (2022).

Michael Black

Michael Black: born - Belfast 1949; educated - Belfast Royal Academy and Trinity College Dublin, graduated with Batchelor of Business Studies degree. Was MD of the family business until retiring in 2008. Michael was Treasurer and is now the Chair of Belfast Jewish Community. Michael was awarded the BEM in 2021 for services to the Jewish community.

Rebecca Blady

Rebecca Blady is the director of Hillel Deutschland, a pluralistic organization for Jewish students and young adults focusing on education, empowerment and community building. She received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Maharat in 2019 and has a degree in Politics and Journalism from Brandeis University. She lives in Berlin, Germany.

Yitzchak Blau

Yitzchak Blau is a rabbi and the rosh yeshiva (seminary head) at Yeshivat Orayta and also teaches at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Israel. He is an associate editor of the journal, 'Tradition', and the author of 'Fresh Fruit and Vintage Wine: The Ethics and Wisdom of the Aggada'.

Kira Blumer

Kira is the chief executive of Tzedek. Her work centres around two core aspects: supporting local non-governmental organisations in Ghana and India through partner-led, sustainable development to help people lift themselves and their communities out of extreme poverty, and harnessing the UK Jewish community's commitment to equity and social justice.

Carolyn Bogush

Carolyn Bogush is Chair of the Limmud Trustee Board, having volunteered in various roles for Limmud for more than 25 years. In addition she is Vice-Chair of UJS, and volunteers in a number of other capacities. In her 'day job' she is an Organisational Psychologist

Menachem Bombach

Menachem Bombach was born and raised in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community of Mea Shearim. He is a rabbi and founder and CEO of Netzach Yisrael, a network of Charedi schools that provides a Charedi and secular education, empowering its graduates to create financially viable futures, while remaining strongly connected to their Torah observance.

Harris Bor

Harris Bor is a fellow and lecturer at the London School of Jewish Studies and a barrister specializing in international arbitration and commercial litigation. He holds a PhD in Theology from Cambridge University, is a rabbinic scholar with the Montefiore Endowment, and has been a visiting scholar at Harvard University and University College London.

Jeremy Borovitz

Jeremy is from New Jersey. He served for two and a half years in the Peace Corps in Boyarka, Ukraine, and for the Joint Distribution Committee in Kiev. Jeremy later studied at Pardes and was European director of Jewish education for Moishe House. He received semichah (rabbinic ordination) from Daniel Landes. Jeremy is the director of Jewish learning of Hillel Deutschland.

Barbara Borts

Barbara is a rabbi, musician, cantor, singer of Yiddish songs and lecturer. She has published ‎on topics such as Jewish ‎culture, feminism and music, and is co-editor of a book of ‎sermons by UK women rabbis. She studied Yiddish at McGill University, is a graduate of the ‎YIVO Summer Institute, and now studies with the Workers Circle and Medem in Paris. She ‎chairs the YOMC committee.‎

Giovanna Bossi

Giovanna Bossi Rosenfeld is a Florentine historian and licensed Tour Guide specialising in tours of Jewish Florence and founder of “Jewish Florence Walking Tours“. Since 2020 she has given webinars on history of Jewish Florence (at Limmud MED, Maccabi GB and others). She is the co-author of the book Jewish Florence. Illustrated itinerary, ASKA ed. 2019.

Amanda Bowman

Amanda is the Deputy for Hampstead Synagogue and Vice President and Chair of the Defence and Interfaith Division at the Board of Deputies. Amanda's professional work centres around designing and delivering learning and volunteering programmes for companies that solve challenges faced by a charity or social purpose organisations.

Cliff Braverman

Cliff is a United States-based media producer and has held various positions at television stations, film companies, and U.S. government agencies. His work has been seen and heard across the U.S. and in numerous countries around the world. Cliff also produces videos as a volunteer for various organizations, including Kolot HaLev, Shalshelet and others.

Nardo Bonomi Braverman

Nardo studied and graduated in Florence. For years he researched local history and dealt with the applications of information-technology to social sciences. He was contract lecturer for the Universities of Venezia and Torino to research in archives for resources for Jewish demography: censuses, tax declarations, lists of names.

Esty Bruck

Esty is the Programme Director of the Friendship Circle and has worked for the charity since its inception in 2008. Building and running the programmes and initiatives and directing the team to ensure that each member is impacted and supported through whatever is needed.

Edith Bruder

Edith Bruder is the author of The Black Jews of Africa, History, Identity, Religion (Oxford University Press, 2008 and 2012) and of various books and scientific articles. She is the founding President of the International Society for the Study of African Jewry (www.issaj.com).

Lydia Burman

A long-term Limmudnik, my affiliations span the community from Ruach Chavurah to Muswell Hill United. I am committed to expanding women's involvement in Judaism.

Stephen Bush

Stephen Bush is the political editor of the New Statesman and is soon to be a staff columnist and Associate Editor of the Financial Times. As well as being a journalist, political commentator and podcaster, he Chaired the Board of Deputies' Commission on Racial Inclusivity in the Jewish Community.

Daniel Cainer

Limmud favourite, multi-award-winning musical storyteller, master songwriter, composer, performer and broadcaster. Writer of music and songs for TV, radio, theatre, temples and the occasional car-launch. Veteran of five solo off-Broadway runs and performances, real and virtual, all over the world. 'An hour in his company is pure pleasure' The Stage

Juan Caldes

Juan Antonio Caldes Rodriguez is the president of Public Affairs in the Federation of Young Jews of Spain and an active member of Limmud Mallorca and the Jewish community of the Balearics. As an undergrad in Boston, Juan majored in Political Science and minored in Finance. Juan is currently finishing law school at the University of Edinburgh.

Carol Cambers

Born in Leicester, I read geography and then went into teaching. I studied the Jewish section at Gilroes Cemetery for an MA in English Local History, and was fascinated by its history. Further research has been driven by two HLF-funded projects involving the cemetery and a new education centre at the synagogue.

Jewish Care

Jewish Care is the largest health and social care organisation in the United Kingdom providing a range of care and support services to the Jewish community. Our warm and friendly team are here to support you through the most difficult times. We provide a wide range of residential, day care and outreach services in London and the South East, as well as offering information, support and guidance to individuals and families across the UK and abroad through our Jewish Care Direct helpline and our Social Work and Community Services Team. For more information call 020 8922 2222 or email helpline@jcare.org or visit www.jewishcare.org/helpline

Carl Henrik Carlsson

Carl Henrik Carlsson is a researcher at the Hugo Valentin Centre, Department of History, Uppsala university, Sweden, previously also at The National archives. He has written several articles and books about Swedish-Jewish history in various aspects. He was also cofounder and the first president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sweden.

Aharoni Carmel

Aharoni Carmel is a rabbi and a veteran principal of educational institutions both in Israel and the US, with over 20 years of experience in the field of education. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Oral Law and Bible along with a teaching certificate from Herzog College, and a Master's degree in Bible.

Joel Carmel

Raised in London, Joel Carmel moved to Israel aged 18 and went on to serve as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces' Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit. In 2019 Joel joined Breaking the Silence, an organisation of ex-IDF soldiers who work to shed light on the daily reality of Israel's military rule in the territories.

Graham Carpenter

Graham is the UK Community Manager for OLAM and JDC Entwine and an executive board member for the World Union for Progressive Judaism. He previously worked for Tzedek (an OLAM partner), New Israel Fund, Limmud and as vice-chair for Liberal Judaism. Outside of work, he is an avid cyclist and guitar player, but not at the same time.

Liz Cashdan

Liz lives in Bristol. She teaches creative writing at Bristol Folkhouse and the Open College of the Arts. 'Things of Substance: New and Selected Poems' was published in 2013. She has led writing workshops for Limmud, is poetry editor for 'Jewish Renaissance' magazine and is the former chair of the National Association of Writers in Education.

Marc Cave

Director of The National Holocaust Centre & Museum — family home of Christian founders the Smiths and for 25 years a home from home for Holocaust survivors. It is the home of reconciliation and immersive learning, fusing rural beauty with experiences The Forever Project, The Journey and The Eye As Witness that will keep the truth alive forever.

Rachel Century

Rachel has completed a doctorate in Holocaust Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London, and published a book based on this research in 2017, entitled The Female Administrators of the Third Reich. She is currently head of research for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and is also an educator for March of the Living UK.

Rachael Cerrotti

Rachael is an award-winning author, photographer, educator and audio producer and the inaugural storyteller-in-residence for Steven Spielberg's USC Shoah Foundation. For over a decade, she has been retracing her grandmother’s Holocaust survival story. Her critically-acclaimed podcast and memoir, both titled 'We Share The Same Sky', are taught worldwide.

Michelle Charles

Michelle's work has been exhibited internationally, including shows at Jane Lombard Gallery, Anthony Grant, John Weber Gallery and the Neuberger Museum, New York; Weatherspoon Museum of Art, North Carolina; The Harris Art Gallery, Preston, and the Lodz museum in Poland. The most recent retrospective of her work was at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge.

Alina Cohen

Alina has been involved in Limmud since 2017 and has never looked back. Starting out on site decor, now on the programming team, she is so excited to be involved this year.

Emily Cohen

Emily Cohen leads the West End Synagogue in NYC. A 2018 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she crafts inclusive, expansive spaces for people to meet themselves, community and the sacred. Side projects include 'Hamilton Haggadah' and the podcast '#Jew Too?' In 2021 Emily was one of New York Jewish Week's '36 Under 36'.

Ilan Cohn

Ilan Cohn is based in Brussels and is the Director of HIAS Europe. For the past two decades he worked on migration at the international level through a number of intergovernmental organizations. This is the first time he works for refugees on behalf of an explicitly Jewish organization.

Ben Combe

Ben Combe is the chair of Limmud Festival 2021 and the digital communications lead at the New Israel Fund UK. He enjoys Jewish community organising, writing and designing games and puzzles in his free time.

Mark Creeger

Currently working in corporate ethics and compliance software, Mark has taught Jewish education and IT at multiple levels. He is a regular speaker and prayer leader at Barnet Synagogue and has taught bar mitzvah for over 30 years. He is married to fabulous comedian, Rachel Creeger, with whom he shares two wonderful boys and a marvellous daughter-in-law.

Rachel Creeger

Rachel Creeger is a multi-award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and director, co-host of “Jew Talkin’ To Me?” podcast, and the only practising Orthodox Jewish woman on the UK comedy circuit. As seen on BBC1 (Sunday Morning Live) and NextUp Comedy (Being Jewish), and heard on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio London, BBC 3 Counties Radio and Radio Essex.

Savannah Dable

Savannah Dable will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

David Davidi-Brown

David Davidi-Brown is Chief Executive of the New Israel Fund UK, has previously worked for the JLC, UJS, UJIA, and Jewish Care, has volunteered with Limmud and KeshetUK, and is a Schusterman Fellow.

Eleanor Davis

Eleanor is a student rabbi at Leo Baeck College, with a particular love of Rosh Chodesh (the Jewish New Moon), music and baking (not always separately). Originally from Gloucestershire, she now lives in Edgware with her husband, Robert, a singer.

Ruth Deech

Ruth was Principal of St Anne’s College Oxford, chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, BBC Governor, Rhodes Scholarships trustee, independent adjudicator for Higher Education, chair Bar Standards Board and trustee, Roth Institute for the Study of Antisemitism. From 2005 she has been a crossbench peer in the House of Lords.

Carla Denyer

Carla Denyer is co-leader of the Green Party, a local councillor in Bristol and the Green Party’s MP candidate for Bristol West. As a Bristol councillor she was the author of Britain's first climate emergency declaration.

Jim Diamond

James A. Diamond, Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo has published on all areas of Jewish thought including Maimonides and the Shaping of the Jewish Canon and Jewish Theology Unbound. His articles appear in leading peer reviewed scholarly journals as well as the Jerusalem Post, Mosaic and Jewish Review of Books.

Boaz Dorot

Nigunim Ensemble was founded by Boaz Dorot and Rabbi Cantor Shani Ben Or. Both born and raised in Jerusalem, Shani and Boaz founded the ensemble to express their love of t'filah and live music. They have composed new settings for the liturgy, incorporating old and new text and tunes from Israeli, Western and Eastern Jewish traditions.

Alf Dubs

Alf Dubs arrived in Britain in 1939 as a six-year-old refugee fleeing the Nazis in Czechoslovakia. He has since become a Labour politician, an Member of Parliament, the director of the Refugee Council and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1994. He is a leading advocate of refugee rights within British politics.

Noelle Duckmann Gallagher

Noelle is a longtime Limmudnik and senior lecturer in Eighteenth-Century Literature and Culture at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on health in popular culture, and her second book, Itch, Clap, Pox: Venereal Disease in the Eighteenth-Century Imagination, was published by Yale University Press in 2019.

Joseph Dweck

Joseph Dweck is the Senior Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community of the UK. He is the Deputy President of the London School of Jewish Studies, a President of The Council of Christians and Jews and Ecclesiastical Authority of The Board of Deputies of British Jews. He also serves as a member of the Standing Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis.

Claudia Edelman

Claudia lived in Glasgow until 2017, then moved to Manchester and joined the Friendship Circle. She worked as an educational support assistant in Glasgow and now in Manchester. She joined the Friendship Circle in 2017 working with them with their education in school projects that teaches about disabilities and speaks about disability awareness.

Simon Eder

Simon Eder is Editorial Director of Jewishquest.org, a place where people of different Jewish backgrounds, discover new dimensions of Jewish thinking. He writes regularly for the site on contemporary moral issues and areas of theology. He also hosts a weekly podcast on the parasha with leading thinkers from around the world.

Lucas Espinosa

Lucas is a photographer by vocation, a design anthropologist by profession and a Talmud aficionado. He holds Colombian and Spanish passports and is a Danish resident. Lucas has worked in the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden.

Zachary Esterson

Zachary Esterson holds a PhD from Cardiff University in the translation of and commentary on Victorinus of Pettau's commentary on the Apocalypse.

Itzchak Evan-Shayish (Marmorstein)

Itzchak is a rabbi and passionate student and teacher of the illuminated teachings of Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook zt"l. As gabbai/educator at Beit HaRav Kook Synagogue in Jerusalem and as chairman of Ohr LeRayah, he is devoted to introducing and sharing Rav Kook’s universal and enlightened teachings with the world.

Michael Even David

Michael was born in Chile and made aliyah in 2005. He served in the Israel Defense Forces and studied in the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary in Jerusalem. He served several communities in Israel and for four years was the rabbi of Edgware Masorti Synagogue, where he fell in love with Limmud. Currently he serves the Eshel Avraham congregation in Beer Sheva, Israel.

Lievnath Faber

Lievnath Faber was born in the Netherlands to an Israeli mother and a Dutch father. She is founder of Oy Vey, an outward-facing, inclusive, and unapologetically Jewish hub located in the former Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam. An activist on multiple fronts, Lievnath is committed to making social justice a central part of her Jewish identity.

Sonia Feiger

Sonia Feiger has long been active in the Vienna Jewish Community. Today she is the co-chair of Shalom Alaikum, Jewish Aid for Refugees. Inspired by Jewish history, the volunteers of Shalom Alaikum started their activities in Vienna in 2015 following the influx of mostly Syrian refugees.

Miriam Feldmann Kaye

Miriam Feldmann Kaye, is a lecturer in Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University, and Associate Professor at Jewish Theological Seminary, New York. Her publications include her book Jewish Theology for a Postmodern Age, published by Liverpool University Press in association with the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, in 2019.

Leon Fenster

Leon is an artist from London living in Taiwan. His joyous art tells stories of cities, families, dreams and, currently, the Haggadah. He creates ketubot (marriage contracts) and murals, and writes about and speculatively designs Jewish architecture. Leon leads tefillah (prayer) and learning at the Taiwan Jewish Community, an independent, broad-tent shul.

Iris Ferreira

After completing a degree in Hebrew and Jewish studies in Paris, Iris Ferreira studied at Leo Baeck College in London to become a rabbi. She was ordained in July 2021 and is now rabbi at Union Juive Libérale de Strasbourg, which is the progressive community in Strasbourg, in Eastern France.

Moriah Ferrus

Moriah Ferrús has a Bachelor Degree in Hebrew Philology and is a PhD Candidate in History of Art and Musicology with the research project "The Liturgical and Musical Legacy of the Scuola (synagogue) Catalana of Rome 1532-1908". She is the Founder and President of the Nova Escola Catalana, Association for the Preservation of Catalan Jewish Legacy.

Ellen Flax

Ellen Flax is a philanthropy consultant who aids both foundations and grant seekers, and is a partner at Amplify Partners, which provides strategic support to nonprofits, foundations and social ventures. She received her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Pam Fox

Pam is a researcher and writer specialising in Jewish History. Over the last seven years she has written six books, including her recent history of the Jewish hotels and guest houses of Bournemouth. Pam has written many articles and is much in demand as a speaker.

Jon Freedman

Jon Freedman is Deputy Director of Limmud and a member of Finchley Reform Synagogue. His amateur musical career has taken in song-leading at RSY-Netzer camps, synagogue services and reached its peak with an honourable 4th-place ranking at JW3's Battle of the Dad Bands. He lives with his wife and daughter in Enfield, North London.

Nina Freedman

Nina Freedman is the elected President of the Union of Jewish Students, representing 8,500 Jewish students, spanning over 69 Jewish Societies on campuses across the UK and Ireland. Nina recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in English.

Ben Freeman

Ben M Freeman is a Jewish leader, a Jewish thinker and a Jewish educator Ben is a gay Jewish author, internationally renowned educator and diversity, equality and inclusion specialist focusing on Jewish identity, combatting Jew-hatred and raising awareness of the Holocaust. His first book, Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People, was released in 2021.

Deborah Freeman

Deborah Freeman is a playwright and short story writer. Plays include Candlesticks, and The Song of Deborah - staged at the Khan Theatre, Jerusalem, 2016. Her article 'What is Jewish Theatre' features in The Age of Confidence, published by Jewish Renaissance. Her story collection, 'Tell it Not' will be published in 2022 by Red Heifer Press, USA.

Edie Friedman

Edie Friedman was born in Chicago and moved to the UK more than 45 years ago. Concerned to strengthen the link between social justice and Jewishness, in 1976 she founded the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE), of which she is now the executive director. Edie is a regular speaker and writer on race and asylum issues.

Zsuzsanna Fritz

Zsuzsa Fritz is the coordinator of the Jewish Knowledge Center of the JCC Budapest, Balint Haz, Hungary. She is a Jewish educator who has been active in the Hungarian Jewish community since the 1980s. She has also been involved in the JDC Szarvas International Jewish Youth summer camp, where she is the director for Jewish Leadership and Well-Being.

Stephen Frosh

Stephen is a professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck, University of London. He used to work as a clinical psychologist in the National Health Service but gave that up to be a full-time academic. Stephen has spoken at Limmud on many occasions but will try to say something new this time.

Zachary Gallant

Zachary Gallant is director of the "Values are One" project of the Global Ethic Foundation, funded by the German Federal Office for Migration & Refugees. He also serves as Director of Strategy & Development for the "A World of Neighbors" EU-wide migrant accompaniment network, jointly run by HIAS & the Church of Sweden.

Sara Garfield

Sara Garfield works as a research pharmacist as well as teaching on an international Masters course encompassing pharmacists from around the world. She co-organises several initiatives to facilitate female participation in prayer and Torah study in Orthodox Jewish settings, including the Global women's Hallel

Konstanty Gebert

Konstanty is a journalist with Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw. A democratic opposition activist in the 70s, and an underground journalist in the 80s, he is co-founder of the underground Jewish Flying University and the Polish Jewish monthly Midrasz. Konstanty has taught at the Hebrew U. and written books on Israeli history and commentaries on the Torah.

Nick Gendler

Nick Gendler is the chair of Mavar and former chair of Masorti Judaism. Outside of his Jewish community activity he is a therapist and career coach but mostly he likes to play double bass and ride his bike.

Benjamin Gerber

The self-titled Maggid of Gothenburg, Benjamin has been engaging Jews aged 4 to 98 in Jewish learning for over 20 years. Based in Gothenburg, he lectures and works with communities throughout Sweden, He has rarely met an opinion in which he didn't find something to disagree with, but is rarely disagreeable.

Sheila Gewolb

Dr Sheila Gewolb: Deputy for Cardiff United Syn, was BoD's Vice President and Senior Vice President 2015-2021. She is Vice Chair of the BoD’s Regional Assembly, representing Deputies outside the M25. Engages with regions to provide support for initiatives and raise their profile. She is the link between the BoD and the South Wales Jewish community.

Sara Gibbs

Sara is a UK-based comedy writer, author and notorious cat lady. Having been diagnosed as autistic at the age of 30 after a lifetime of being misdiagnosed as just Jewish, it’s now all Sara talks about. Her debut book, 'Drama Queen – One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels', is out now.

Esther Gilbert

Esther has been reading Martin Gilbert articles and books for 40 years; she corresponded with him for seven years. They met. They corresponded more. And here we are! Since Sir Martin became ill in 2012 she is keeping his work and his legacy alive at martingilbert.com. Subscribe to her newsletters for more on his work and approach.

Nechama Goldman Barash

Nechama teaches Talmud and contemporary Halakha at Pardes in Jerusalem, with an emphasis on gender and sexuality in Judaism. She has taught at many Limmuds around the world and hopes to come back to in person soon! In addition, she is writing a book on gender in Jewish law and she participates in Palestinian-Israeli dialogue in her spare time.

Mark Goldsmith

Mark Goldsmith is Senior Rabbi of Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue, a community of 3500 people in North West London. He gained Semichah (Rabbinic Ordination) in 1996 from Leo Baeck College in London. He teaches on Jewish Business Ethics, is a co-founder of EcoSynagogue. He loves the grassroots work of community building.

Michael Goldstein

Michael’s formative years were spent attending Ilford Synagogue and Ilford Jewish Primary School. After serving on the boards of the US communities of Chigwell and Mill Hill, Michael is now in his second term as the President of the United Synagogue. Professionally, Michael is currently chief executive of a large private property company.

Anna Goodman

Anna works as a consultant in infectious diseases and vaccines in particular. The last couple of years have therefore been an interesting time in her professional life. Anna will share tales of vaccine trials, from malaria to COVID-19.

Michael Goodman

Michael was formerly assistant professor in the University of Chicago (1976-1977) and a consultant gastroenterologist in the Pennine Acute Hospitals, Greater Manchester (1977-2009). He has published many research papers on ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. He moved to London for family reasons in 2017 and is a member of Muswell Hill Synagogue.

Kobi Goodwin

Kobi Goodwin is a multi-instrumentalist, High Holiday cantorial soloist and craft chocolate maker based in New York City. A graduate of Columbia University, he has performed in Chile, Panama, France, in the White House and across the U.S. with Pizmon, Columbia’s co-ed Jewish acapella group.

Karenna Gore

Karenna Gore is the founder and director of the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary. Her previous experience includes serving as director of Union Forum at Union Theological Seminary, legal work for Sanctuary for Families, and serving as director of Community Affairs for the Association to Benefit Children.

Itai Green

Itai Green, 28, born and raised Jerusalemite. Currently finishing a B.A at Hebrew U in Bible Studies and Jewish Philosophy, and moving on to a Masters in Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah. He is currently working part time as a both a high school Bible teacher and a teacher of Jewish Philosophy at The CY in Jerusalem.

Naomi Marmon Grumet

Naomi is the founder and director of the Eden Center, dedicated to improving the mikveh experience and using it to promote the physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual health of Jewish women and families. Naomi holds a PhD in sociology from Bar Ilan University. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and three children.

Ilana HaCohen

Ilana HaCohen is the director of global engagement at Pardes, where she cultivates partnerships, oversees recruitment and marketing for core immersive programmes, and crafts innovative educational experiences. An alumna of the Pardes Year Programme and a longtime Limmud fan, Ilana lives in Jerusalem with her husband and five children.

Tobie Harris

Tobie is a Jerusalem-based attorney working in the public sector, originally from Chicago. Tobie drew on her eclectic Jewish background, spanning from Beis Yaakov to daf yomi (learning Gemara learning), to undertake a year-long project writing a poem each week related to Parshat Hashavua (the weekly Torah portion).

Elizabeth Harris-Sawczenko

Elizabeth Harris Sawczenko is a consultant at Abraham Initiatives UK, The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Global Forum for Peace and the Good Faith Partnership. She is a British Israeli who worked as a Director at the New Israel Fund in Jerusalem and as Director of the Council of Christians and Jews in the UK.

Efraim Hazzan

Efraim Hazzan will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

Michael Heiser

Michael Heiser is an amateur singer and composer of Yiddish songs. He has written around 20 settings of Mordechai Gebirtig and other Yiddish poets, which can be found on his website. He lives in London.

Charles Heller

Charles Heller graduated from Cambridge University and for over 50 years has been a synagogue choir director, composer and teacher, working with major figures including Shlomo Carlebach and Marvin Hamlisch. He is on the editorial board of the 'Journal of Synagogue Music' and has been a frequent presenter at Limmud Toronto and 'Limmud On One Leg'.

Daniel Heller

Dan Heller works in the NHS in London and is a long-time Limmud volunteer, including as one of the co-chairs of Limmud Festival in 2019. He likes to present about Jewish themes in popular music.

Paul Heller

Paul is a bel canto baritone and member of the European Cantors Association. He is a dentist focused on music therapy. He has been the cantor in Bogota and at rabbinical seminars, the spiritual leader of the Ecuador Jewish community, and was at the Great Synagogue of Stockholm (2000-2011). Paul has been the cantor of Belsize Square Synagogue, London, since 2013.

Laura Hendy

Laura recently joined World Jewish Relief in the first position dedicated solely to climate action, as the charity steps up its efforts to reduce its own carbon footprint and to strengthen the climate resilience of its programme participants around the world.

Dov Hikind

Dov is the founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a New York State Assemblyman for 36 years. Dov's career in advocacy began as an activist fighting for Jewish emigration from Russia before the Iron Curtain fell. As the son of Holocaust survivors, educating the public on Nazi atrocities and combating antisemitism has remained his central mission.

Daniel Hirschfield

Daniel studied Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Oxford University. He is a member of the London Cantorial Singers, active in the European Cantors Association, and a member of the Education and Heritage working groups of the Community and Education Division of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. During the week, he is a financial services lawyer.

Ed Horwich

Ed was raised in the Jewish community of Southport, and by the time he returned it was just 8% of its more glorious days. After a career in the creative industries and broadcasting, Ed was sucked into community life, serving two synagogues. As CEO of JSCN he has been championing small communities for the greater part of the twenty-first century.

Shereen Hunt

Shereen Hunte is Learning Manager at the Jewish Museum London. She is responsible for teaching the museum’s award-winning learning programme, coordinating community-focused exhibitions and leading both the museum’s Inclusive Judaism Programme and Black History Programme.

Ernie Hunter

Ernie is founder and chair of Northern Holocaust Education Group. He is an accredited volunteer Holocaust educator, giving talks to schools, museums and civic groups in the UK and Germany. The son of German refugees, he is passionate about the relevance of Holocaust education today in standing up against antisemitism, discrimination and racism.

Ilana Hutchinson

Ilana is the education manager at Jewish Women’s Aid, working with young people in schools and youth organisations to explore issues such as sexual violence, consent and healthy relationships. Having both teaching and youth work experience, Ilana is passionate about prevention education and establishing a 'consent culture' for all our Jewish youth.

Jill Hyams

Jill Hyams is an archivist at Surrey History Centre in Woking where she has worked since 2004. She is a keen family historian and is interested in refugee history and the history of Jewish communities in Surrey.

Carol Isaacs

Carol is a musician working with Sinéad O’Connor and Indigo Girls, and is a founder member of the London Klezmer Quartet. Also known as cartoonist The Surreal McCoy (published in The New Yorker, Private Eye), she drew 'The Wolf of Baghdad' graphic memoir based on her own family and turned it into a motion comic with music, playing Arabic accordion on the soundtrack.

Edward Isaacs

Edward Isaacs is the President of Bristol Jewish Society and a member of the National Council for the Union of Jewish Students. He is currently studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol.

Igor Itkin

Igor was born in Ukraine, studied in Berlin University and Rabbinerseminar zu Berlin, and became a rabbi.

Hannah Jacobi

Hannah Jacobi is a London based online personal trainer specialising in health first exercise. This means simply that physical transformation is not the driving force of exercise, but rather the focus is on increased strength and confidence, education and health gains.

Yael Jaffe

Yael Jaffe (she/her) is a rabbinical student in Hadar’s Semicha Kollel. Yael graduated from Brandeis (2018) with a BA in Jewish Studies and Gender Studies. She loves teaching midrash and aggadah (Oral Law) and has done so for Hadar, Hillel and Noam UK. Though she lives in New York, Yael considers herself an honorary Brit, having married a Londoner.

Freya Jarman

Freya Jarman (she/they) is a reader in Music at the University of Liverpool. Freya's research is focused on the voice's cultural function in terms of identity politics. Freya is currently writing a book about vocal high notes throughout the western music history, and the complex ways in which they are gendered.

Lyn Julius

Lyn Julius is a journalist, author and founder of Harif, the UK Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa. Her book, 'Uprooted: How 3,000 years of Jewish civilisation vanished overnight' was published in 2018 by Vallentine Mitchell and has been translated into Norwegian, Portuguese and Arabic. She blogs at www.jewishrefugees.org.uk

Keith Kahn-Harris

Keith is a senior lecturer at Leo Baeck College and runs the European Jewish Research Archive at the Institute for Jewish Policy Research. The author of seven books, his eighth, 'What does a Jew look like?', a collaboration with the photographer Rob Stothard, will be published in 2022.

Andrea Kamens

Andrea tells traditional, original, Jewish and first-person stories. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, and Zooming everywhere, she’s a host at The Story Space, a religious school teacher and a mom of five. She is co-founder and director of Youth Standing Strong Camp, a global online camp where youth aged 5 to18 find their voice within the storytelling community.

Tamar Kamionkowski

Tamar Kamionkowski is Professor of Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Her most recent publication is Leviticus: A Wisdom Commentary, a feminist commentary on the Book of Leviticus. Kamionkowski is also the founder of the Kamionkowski Bet Midrash, an online platform for Hebrew learning.

Gabriel Kanter-Webber

Gabriel is in his final year of rabbinic training at Leo Baeck College. After ordination in July 2022, he will become rabbi of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue. He is father to Omri, who was born on the last day of last Limmud.

Agnes Kaposi

Agnes is a Holocaust Survivor who worked as a child labourer in the camps of Austria. She lived through Communist Hungary and in 1956 she escaped to Britain as a graduate engineer. She started a family and built a career as a researcher, educator and consultant. Agnes was the third woman to become a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Martin Kaye

Martin is a familiar face at Festival, having run Limmud's successful bookshop for over 17 years. At Limmud 2020 he presented 20 'must-read' books of Jewish interest and has spent many months engaged in online discussion ever since. For this year he has chosen 20 Jewish personalities. Some, if not many, of whom you may be blissfully unaware.

Lauren Keiles

Lauren Keiles is the communities manager for the Board of Deputies of British Jews. She is a trustee for Rene Cassin and a fellow on the United Nations EDIN project, seeking to use social media to counter extremist narratives. Lauren is a resident of Moishe House London Hackney and an ambassador for Chief Rabbi Mirvis' Ben Azzai programme.

Etienne Kerber

Recently ordained at the Leo Baeck College, Etienne Kerber is now working as the rabbi at the Communauté Juive Libérale de Paris. He teaches mysticism at the Ecole Rabbinique Libérale de Paris and recently published a book about his experience as a mystic in his rock 'n' roll band.

Mikhael Kesher

Mikhael is director of Israel Programs at Harvard Hillel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, former co-chair of the Limmud Chavruta Project and Limmud Publications Team, and a long-time chavrutah (study partner) of Robin Moss.

Loolwa Khazzoom

Loolwa Khazzoom (KHAZZOOM.com) is founder of Iraqis in Pajamas (IraqisInPajamas.com), a band combining Iraqi Jewish prayer with original conscious rock, with songs in English, Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic. Khazzoom's work has been featured in top media including the NY Times and Rolling Stone.

Anna Kislanski

Anna is CEO of the Israeli Reform Movement. She is an experienced educator and community-building specialist. During Anna’s tenure, the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism has more than doubled its congregational presence in Israel from 25 to 53. Anna and her family live in Even Yehuda, Israel, and are founding members of HaShachar, one of IMPJ's newer congregations.

Chaim Klein

Chaim Klein was born in Slovakia in 1947, moved with his parents to Israel in 1949. First they lived in a tent and then in a moshav. All the adults were Holocaust survivors and Hungarian was the primary language. Conditions were rough. Military service, wars, university, marriage to an English girl, children and a reluctant relocation to London.

Monika Krawczyk

Monika is director of the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw and chairperson of Auschwitz Museum Council. Previously CEO of the Foundation for Preservation of Jewish Heritage, Poland and lay leader in the Union of Jewish Communities of Poland. She headed her private legal practice, studied law in the Universities of Warsaw and Toledo, and studied Jewish Studies at Pardes.

Vivi Lachs

Vivi is a historian of the Jewish East End of London. Her book, 'Whitechapel Noise', tells a new history of Jewish ‎immigration to London through Yiddish poems and songs written before 1914. 'London Yiddishtown' translates stories of ‎Yiddish writers of the 30s and 40s. She performs with Klezmer Klub and Katsha’nes and leads the Great Yiddish Parade.

Rania Laham-Graveb

Rania Laham-Grayeb is the acting director and pedagogical advisor for the Shared Learning Project at the Abraham Initiatives, and a longtime advocate for an improved education system in Israel. As a teacher and international advocate, she supports the Arab education system, and raises awareness of the situation in the international community.

David Lammy

Labour MP for Tottenham and Shadow Foreign Secretary. Previously, as Shadow Justice Secretary, David built on his review of the criminal justice system, which explored the treatment of and outcomes for Black and minority ethnic people in British courts and prisons. He served from 2002-2010 as Culture Minister and Higher Education Minister.

Harry Lampert

Harry is a lifelong Limmudnik and has presented for the past five years. He is a passionate chef – although not professional – and was shortlisted for Season 10 of the Great British Bake Off before being accepted as a contestant on Netflix and Channel 4’s show Crazy Delicious. He loves all sorts of food from cooking to baking and even mixing the occasional drink…

Samuel Landau

Samuel Landau is the rabbi of Barnet United Synagogue and a clinical psychologist in the National Health Service and private practice. He is also a lecturer in clinical psychology at University College London and in Jewish thought at the London School of Jewish Studies.

Juliet Landau-Pope

Juliet Landau-Pope is a productivity coach and study skills expert. She coaches busy people to develop time management, organising and exam revision skills, and regularly speaks about procrastination in corporate and community settings. Juliet has written two books: Being More Productive (2017) and Clearing Your Clutter (2018).

Carolyn Landry

Carolyn is an ethno-psychoanalyst and retired professor of psychology. She is developing a continuing education forum for interfaith dialogue, working with unaccompanied refugee youth to help them navigate the transition to adulthood. Her approach is based on empowerment and the transformation of a churban (destruction) into a new level of spirituality.

Jennifer Langer

Jennifer Langer's recently published poetry collection is The Search (Victorina). She is founding director of Exiled Writers Ink and editor of five anthologies of exiled literature. She holds a doctorate in literature by exiled Iranian Jewish women and is a SOAS Research Associate.

Aliza Lavie

Aliza Lavie is a public figure, former member of the Knesset and writer. In the Knesset she served as chair of the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender-Equality and Combating Women Trafficking and Prostitution. Her public activity focuses on gender equality and strengthening the connection between Israel and the Diaspora.

Clive Lawton

Clive, one of the founders of Limmud and its executive director for more than a decade, is a world renowned Jewish educator. He is currently CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, an Appeals Chair for the National Health Service, lectures regularly at JW3 and works worldwide (when Covid allows) as an educational consultant.

Joanie Leeds

Joanie Leeds, based in New York City, is a GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter, early childhood educator and JKids Radio host. She has performed at Lollapalooza, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Wolf Trap and many synagogues. Her music is featured in The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, People Magazine, Parents Magazine, Billboard and SiriusXM Radio.

Lori Lefkovitz

Lori Lefkovitz holds the Ruderman Chair in Jewish Studies at Northeastern University, where she is a professor of English and director of the Humanities Centre. Her books include 'In Scripture: First Stories of Jewish Identities' and 'Shaping Losses: Cultural Memory and the Holocaust' (edited with Julia Epstein).

The Leo Baeck Education Center Haifa

Leo Baeck is considered one of Israel’s premier educational institutions, providing quality educational programmes for mainstream, gifted and special needs students of all racial, religious, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Ahmir Lerner

Ahmir is the executive director of Beit Issie Shapiro. He was a navigator in the Air Force, then served for 22 years in the Prime Minister's Office. Joining the social sector, he worked at Education Cities then joined the Mandel School for Educational Leadership. Ahmir holds a BA in Economics and Banking from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center.

Chaya Lester

Chaya is a Jerusalem-based psychotherapist, inspirational speaker and spiritual guide. She leads workshops, retreats and journeys through Israel, guiding VIP visitors such as Alicia Keys and Demi Lovato. Synthesizing ancient Jewish wisdom and cutting-edge psychology, Chaya’s work focuses on helping people THRIVE.

Jemma Levene

Jemma is the Deputy Director at HOPE not hate, the UK’s leading anti-fascist campaigning organisation. She holds an MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, and is a graduate of the Susie Bradfield Educational Leadership Programme and the Senior Faith Leadership Programme. She is a Trustee of University Jewish Chaplaincy.

David Levin-Kruss

"Judaism is technology that makes the world better," says David Levin-Kruss (DLK), Jewish Learning Director for Yesod-Europe, which works with professionals to sustain and strengthen Jewish communities. David loves text-life interplay. He also works for American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Previously David taught at Pardes and was community director of Stanmore Synagogue.

Luke Levine

Since leaving school, Luke has worked for a number of charitable organisations within the Jewish community, mostly focussed on youth work, including JLGB, a youth organisation, and KeshetUK, the Jewish LGBT+ charity. He currently works for BBYO as Head of Programmes, focussing on overarching strategy and new programmes.

Andrew Levy

Andrew Levy is a senior lecturer in law in London and author of a major new work on the Song of Songs, 'Love in the Time of Tyranny'. He writes for numerous Jewish publications and prolifically on Biblical texts. He is a member of Assif, a minyan at New North London Synagogue and a regular ba’al koreh (leyner) and giver of divrei Torah (sermons).

Mike Levy

Mike is a Holocaust educator, researcher and chair of the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial Appeal. He gives talks on Holocaust history and great Broadway lyricists. Mike's book, 'Get the Children Out! Forgotten Heroes of the Kindertransport', is due to be published by Lemon Soul in January.

Ruth Lewin-Chen

Ruth Lewin-Chen joined The Abraham Initiatives in 2018 and serves as Director of the Shared Cities Initiative. Previously, Ruth spent ten years facilitating dialogue groups of Arab and Jewish youth and developing knowledge on social movements in Shatil. In Mevaseret Zion, Ruth advocated for equal representation of women in the local council.

Ben Lewis

Ben is a long-time Limmud volunteer who chaired Limmud Festival 2019 and is now Events Lead on the Limmud Executive. Beyond the Jewish community, Ben is completing a PhD in Chemical Biology and works in the civil service.

Rebecca Lillian

Pre-pandemic, Rebecca was often on the bridge (of TV fame) between Copenhagen and Malmö as she serves as rabbi for progressive communities in both cities. She is on the Swedish-Danish Øresundslimmud team and part of Limmud Europe. Non-Limmud activities include World of Neighbours, an interfaith network working with refugees throughout Europe.

Cnaan Liphshiz

Born in Israel, Cnaan Liphshiz has been covering Europe from Amsterdam since 2012 for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. His reporting has focused on community life and politics at a dramatic period for European Jewry, when its very viability is being debated for the first time since the Holocaust.

Daniel Lobell

Daniel is an LA-based comedian, comic book creator and podcast host. He is the host of the 'Modern Day Philosophers' podcast and creator of the 'Fair Enough' comic book series. He has two albums out on Stand Up! Records: 'Some Kind of Comedian' (2013) and 'The Nicest Boy in Barcelona' (2017). Daniel has performed twice in the Edinburgh Fringe.

Jack Lubner

Jack Lubner will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

Sara Luria

Sara Luria is a rabbi, founder and, at her best, cultivator of ideas and dreams. She is currently leading Beloved, a network of spiritual leaders planting new projects and communities, after her four years as spiritual leader of Beloved Brooklyn. Sara lives with her husband, three kids and their pandemic puppy.

Yael Maayan

Yael Maayan joined The Abraham Initiatives in 2018 as the director of the Education and Training for a Shared Society department. Her expertise lies in diversity training in the workplace and academia. Previously Yael served as the co-director of the Education for Peace department at Givat Haviva - The Center for a Shared Society.

Naomi Magnus

Naomi is based in Glasgow, where she works for the Scottish Government. She is on the Board of 'Na'amod: British Jews against Occupation', having been a member since its launch in late 2019. She holds an MPhil in International Relations and Politics from the University of Cambridge, with a focus on the politics of the Middle East.

Natasha Mann

Natasha Mann serves as a rabbi at New London Synagogue and Mosaic Masorti, and works with Noam Masorti Youth. Natasha is from an interreligious, interracial, and intercultural family; her father’s parents immigrated from India due to their intermarriage (Muslim and Sikh). Natasha has worked in human rights advocacy.

Stephen Marcus

Stephen is a 58 year old primary school supply teacher and father who has been involved with Extinction Rebellion since April 2019. He has often volunteered for non-violence and de-escalation at their activities. He has also attended some XR Jews events. Stephen is a member of the Ruach Chavurah, a Jewish Renewal community in London.

Ezra Margulies

Ezra’s history of Limmud programming started in 2016. His ambition since has been to become Chief Programming Officer for Anglo-Jewry. He co-chaired the 2018 Festival Programming team; chaired the Limmud Together UK Programming team in 2020; worked on the Limmud/JW3 online series, 'It Says What?!?' and now leads the Programming and Jewish Content team on Limmud Exec. He chaired the programme for the Open Talmud Project in 2019 and volunteers in various capacities. He works for Student Beans.

Joshua Margulies

Joshua Margulies is a consultant in an energy boutique. Prior to his current position, Joshua read Jewish Studies at Oxford where he specialised in the political philosophy of the far-right in France

Shira Marili Mirvis

Shira Marili Mirvis is the rabbanit of the Shirat HaTamar congregation in Efrat. She was a certified at Midreshet Lindenbaum’s Institute for Halachic Leadership. She has a Vlog on the daily Gemarah portion with "Hadran" and a podcast about the weekly parsha (Torah portion) with Makor Rishon. Shira is a member of the Beit Hillel Rabbinical Organization.

Kayla Martell Feldman

Kayla is an Anglo-American writer and director currently based in London. She has been commissioned by JW3, Canada Water Theatre, Watch Your Mouth, and Vashti Media. Writing with a focus on themes of identity, family history, mental illness, and womanhood, Kayla recently published her debut poetry collection, TIKVA.

Johanna Marx

Johanna is 27, from North London and works in classical music. She is a volunteer with the Limmud Festival programming team this year. Johanna is a third-generation Holocaust survivor and granddaughter of Kurt Marx, with whom she will be presenting about Holocaust education alongside their friend and Cologne-based political scientist, Larissa Schmitz.

Kurt Marx

Kurt Marx is 96 years old and was born in Cologne. He came to London on the Kindertransport with the Jawneh School in 1939. Kurt has spoken about his experiences in schools both in the UK and Germany. He recently collected a British Empire Medal for services to holocaust education.

Cassie Matus

CEO of March of the Living UK. Our flagship programme is a 5 day educational journey in Poland culminating with the unforgettable March of the Living International event that brings people from all over the world on Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau.

Alex Maws

Alex is the head of educational grants and projects at the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), in addition to being the producer and host of the AJR’s Kindertransport podcast and a member of the UK's International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) delegation. Prior to joining the AJR, he was head of education for the Holocaust Educational Trust for ten years.

Ofek Meir

Ofek Meir is a rabbi, and the headmaster and managing director of Leo Baeck Education Center, Haifa. A teacher and educator, Ofek has an MA in Jewish Education, rabbinic certification from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, and a musician’s degree in classical guitar from London’s Royal College of Music.

David Mendoza-Wolfson

David is the Board’s youngest-ever Vice President. A Deputy for Reform Judaism, David previously sat on the Board’s International Division – which he now chairs. He has experience working to support the Jewish community in the UK and abroad, having previously worked as the Incident Analyst at CST, and as a Fellow at Geneva-based NGO UN Watch.

Helena Miller

Helena Miller is the Director of Degrees, co-Head of Teacher Training programmes and Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS). She has a PhD in Jewish Education and has taught, researched and written widely. Helena co-chaired Limmud International 2009-12.

Ross Milnes

Ross Milnes will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

John Minkes

John Minkes grew up in Birmingham but his family were all from South Wales and he has lived in Cardiff since 1990. He has been a trustee of the Jewish History Association of South Wales since its foundation in 2017.

Chava Mirel

Chava is an internationally acclaimed singer, musician, composer and prayer leader known for rich, luxurious vocals and rhythmic phrasing. She is the daughter of a rabbi and an opera singer, and the cantorial soloist at Temple de Hirsch Sinai, Seattle. Chava has recently been featured on two Grammy Award winning albums and headlined the Earshot Jazz Festival.

Gary Mond

Gary Mond is the Board of Deputies’ senior vice-president and chairs the Communities and Education Division. He is the Deputy for JNF UK. Gary is a trustee of the London Jewish Forum and serves on the advisory boards of Conservative Friends of Israel and the Jewish Weekly newspaper.

Rachel Montagu

Rachel Montagu teaches Biblical Hebrew and Jewish Studies at City Lit and to private students. She volunteers in the archives of the S&P Sephardi Community. She studied at Leo Baeck College London, Machon Pardes Jerusalem and Heythrop College London. She met her husband Francis Treuherz at Limmud and they live in London.

Amy Montague

Amy Montague will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

Robin Moss

Robin Moss is the Chief Executive of Unitas, Barnet's amazing youth zone, providing open-access activities for young people across the borough and beyond seven days a week. He previously spent 12 years working in the Jewish community in informal education and Israel engagement. He is also the Editor of 'Limmud On One Leg' and a trustee of KeshetUK.

Jane Myers

Jane Myers and Sara Garfield, both from Edgware, have been arranging an all female Hallel on Zoom for Rosh Chodesh and festivals since May 2020. It's become a global phenomenon, with attendees from all over the world including Finland, Australia and the USA. Join to learn about this unique project and how it's helped women over the last 18 months.

Haviva Ner-David

Haviva is the founding rabbi of Shmaya: A Mikveh for Mind, Body and Soul on Kibbutz Hannaton, where she officiates and creates immersion ceremonies and facilitates workshops. A spiritual companion with a specialty in dreamwork, she is the author of three spiritual journey memoirs, a novel and a guidebook for engaged couples.

Michael Newman

Michael is chief executive of The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), which represents and supports Holocaust refugees and survivors in Great Britain. He is a member of the UK delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) a director of the Claims Conference through his role as president of the Anglo-Jewish Association.

Stephen Ogin

Steve Ogin, from Liverpool, is the originator and co-founder (with Vivi Lachs and Rachel Weston) of the Yiddish Open Mic Café, co-founder of the London Yiddish Ukulele Group, and a graduate of Yiddish summer programmes in Tel Aviv University and YIVO (New York). He is an Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Surrey.

Chaya Parkoff

As a licensed clinical social worker, life coach and Torah educator, Chaya has devoted her personal and professional life to inspiring others to become the best they can be. Chaya loves to share the wisdom of Torah when she counsels, coaches, teaches or speaks! Chaya's goal is always to connect with her audience and make the ideas relevant and practical in our lives.

Anita Peleg

Anita Peleg is the daughter of sculptor and Auschwitz survivor, Naomi Blake. She is Chair of Trustees for Generation 2 Generation and a trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. She is committed to Holocaust education and presents her mother’s story to a range of audiences in educational, civic and community organisations.

Eliora Peretz

Eliora Peretz is a faculty member at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem where she teaches Talmud, Poskim and Mussar. She is finishing an orthodox smicha programme (Yoreh Yoreh) at Beit Midrash Harel under the supervision of Rav Herzl Hefter.

Efrat Perri

Efrat Perri is a diplomat for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the director of public diplomacy at the Israel Embassy in the UK. She was previously posted in China.

Uriel Perugia

Urial Perugia is the Secretary General of UCEI, the Union of Italian Jewish Communities with the vision of strengthening Italy's Jewish communities. Most recently, UCEI, under Uriel’s leadership, has led the Jewish community in sponsoring the integration of Afghan refugee families into Italian society.

Hugh Petrie

Hugh Petrie is Heritage Development Officer at the London Borough of Barnet, based at Hendon Library.

Denise Phillips

Denise Phillips has written seven cookbooks. She has regular 'hands on' and Zoom cookery classes that provide inspiration and new skills, plus "Date on a Plate" - online events for singles which are an excellent way of meeting new people. Denise runs corporate events suitable for companies entertaining clients or team building for staff through cookery classes.

Marcia Plumb

Marcia Plumb is senior rabbi of Congregation Mishkan Tefila, in Boston, Massachusetts. Passionate about Mussar, she has studied and taught it for many years. She leads a New England Mussar conference and teaches an international online Mussar group for Americans and Brits. She lived and worked in London for 25 years. She is on the board of LimmudBoston.

Stephen Pollard

Stephen Pollard is editor of the Jewish Chronicle, a London-based Jewish weekly newspaper founded in 1841.

Zeev Portner

Ze'ev Portner is a Law lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University. He previously qualified as an advocate in Israel and worked for ten years for former Labour MP, Louise Ellman, as her Parliamentary Assistant. Ze'ev enjoys reading books about history and politics and has developed a specialist interest in the history of the Jews of Barbados.

Owen Power

A deaf queer Jew with a passion for social action, inclusion and HIV prevention. A member of Liberal Judaism Board of National Officers with the inclusion brief, Beit Klal Yisrael Liberal Jewish Community, and LGBT+ officer for the Salford and Eccles CLP. For relaxation Owen likes coffee, murder dramas, cooking, conversation, ballet and social media! He/Him.

David Prager

David Prager was born in Manchester in 1952. A chemist by profession, he retired following a prestigious management career in BP Chemicals and its successor companies. He has studied the music and careers of the leading cantors of the world. In 2021 he was appointed a co-editor of the Jolles Encyclopaedia to advise on cantorial biographies.

Limmud Programming

Dana Pulver

As a cultural entrepreneur, Dana explores new genres to approach Jewish texts. She created a musical project, Talmudic Ballads. Another original genre of hers is Midrashirt or T-Midrash, on dresstelling.com. In this initiative Dana creates clothes that conduct a dialogue between Jewish heritage and pop culture.

Rebekah Quixano Henriques

Rebekah is the Communications Coordinator at Tzedek. Her work centres around two core aspects: supporting local organisations in Ghana and India through partner-led, sustainable development to help people lift themselves and their communities out of extreme poverty, and harnessing the UK Jewish community's commitment to social justice.

Sara Radivan

Sara Radivan is the regional manager for the Board of Deputies of British Jews. She is the first port of call for regional Jewish communities and supports the communities’ volunteer lay leadership and Deputies. Sara is originally from Liverpool but now lives in Manchester and has a good understanding of the smaller Jewish regional communities.

Esther Raffell

Esther Raffell is a campaign officer for René Cassin, the Jewish voice for human rights. She campaigns against modern slavery, immigration detentio, and hate speech. Her current focus is on community organising across British Jewry, from students and Moishe Houses to synagogue volunteers, combining grassroots work with political lobbying.

Michael Rainsbury

Michael Rainsbury is the Head of Adult Education at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS), the creator of the first dedicated English language tours of the Israeli President’s Residence in Jerusalem and a tour guide for Jewish heritage trips with JRoots.

Agata Rakowiecka

Agata Rakowiecka has been involved in informal Jewish education for over 15 years. In June 2012 Agata became the CEO of the Jewish Community Center in Warsaw, which was opened in October 2013 and since then has provided thousands of workshops and events connecting the Jews of Warsaw and building a modern, pluralistic Jewish community.

Sonti R Ramirez

Sonti is a London-based secondary school history teacher and alumna of University College London's Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies. She has trained in growth mindset and play learning and is a keen advocate for well-being in schools. Her spiritual practice is greatly inspired by the Jewish mystical tradition, having spent considerable time in Eastern Europe.

Daniel Randall

Daniel Randall is a railway worker and trade-union activist based in London. He is a supporter of the socialist group Workers' Liberty. He has written extensively about antisemitism on the left; his book 'Confronting Antisemitism on the Left: Arguments for Socialists' was published in September 2021 by No Pasaran Media.

Miriam Rappaport

Miriam is a supervisor, an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and a member of the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. She has been a therapist for 28 years. Previously she was a probation officer; she has an Honours Degree from the University of Toronto in Criminology/Sociology.

Manuela Rathaus-Alper

Manuela Rathaus-Alper is originally Italian and grew up in Israel. She moved to the UK to study 24 years ago, married +3. She is an architect, urban designer and developer of Independent Senior Living. She is active in the London Israeli community, being head of Tzofim (Israeli Scouts) in Łondon and an ambassador for Zikaron BaSalon.

Krish Raval

Krish Raval OBE is the Founder and Director of Faith in Leadership, Britain’s main leadership development organisation for senior religious leaders. Krish is the only practicing Hindu to have facilitated the College of Bishops; run the Muslim Youth Fellowship; and the Teach to Lead programme for the London School of Jewish Studies.

Samantha Reuben

Samantha Reuben holds degrees in Literature and Library Science, and is the librarian at the London School of Jewish Studies. Sam is a keen bibliophile, enjoying both literature and books as physical art forms. Sam has written and performed stand up comedy, and promises to bring a fresh, entertaining new voice to her literary presentations.

Dave Rich

Dave Rich is Director of Policy at the Community Security Trust where he oversees CST's work researching antisemitism and threats to the Jewish community, as well as CST's work with victims of antisemitism. Dave is the author of The Left’s Jewish Problem: Jeremy Corbyn, Israel and Antisemitism and writes regularly about antisemitism and extremism.

Benjy Rickman

Benjy Rickman is an experienced educator and religious broadcaster. He is considered a very relatable educator. He also serves as an educational consultant, advising and guiding parents. Benjy has a unique ability to understand his audience and communicate a message that is both timely and relevant.

Albert Ringer

Albert Ringer’s work as a rabbi in the Netherlands is informed by his knowledge of art history. Albert is a member of the board of Limmoed, a group of Limmud aficionados pledged to bring Limmud’s understanding of what it means to be Jewish to the Netherlands again.

Sarita Robinson

Sarita Robinson will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

Joel Rosen

Joel Rosen is a history student at Cambridge and is the President-elect of the Union of Jewish students which represents 8,500 students across the UK and Ireland. A former President of the Cambridge Union, he has interviewed speakers including Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May. He is a keen advocate of LGBT inclusion within Orthodox spaces.

Laurie Rosenberg

Laurie is a Jewish educator and teacher with a wide and varied professional background within and beyond the Jewish community in the UK. Following 'retirement', Laurie is now working part-time at Yad Vashem UK, promoting and developing their bar and bat mitzvah twinning programme.

Yonatan Rosensweig

Yonatan is rabbi of the Netzach Menashe community in Beit Shemesh and founder of the Maaglei Nefesh centre for halachah, community and mental health. He is the author of several books, including Nafshi Beshe'ealati - a guide to questions of halacha and mental health.

Dani Rotstein

Founder of Limud Mallorca (along with his wife), Dani has worked on community building and preserving the local Jewish history. He has worked to create open dialogue between members of all faith. He has helped create the documentary “Xueta Island” about Jews forced to convert to Catholicism and the sparking a Jewish renaissance.

Michael Rubenfeld

Michael Rubenfeld is a performance maker, cultural producer, playwright and actor, originally from Canada and now residing in Krakow, Poland. Much of his current performance work revolves around exploring contemporary Polish-Jewry. He is the co-director of FestivALT, a Jewish arts and activist organisation in Krakow, Poland, which he co-founded in 2017.

Jessica Sacks

Jessica is senior translator at Koren Publishers, leading the team who produced the new Magerman Edition Koren Tanakh. She studied Literature at Cambridge University and made aliya in 2004. Trained in aggadah (non-legalistic midrash) at the Hebrew University and elsewhere, Jessica joined Koren in 2008. She lives in Givat Shmuel with her husband, three children and one grey cat.

Dan Saks

A spin-off of the critically acclaimed band, The LeeVees, the Macaroons have spent over a decade creating kid-centric catchy pop-rock music. Parents love their songs as much as their kids for the Macaroons' refusal to pander, their commitment to rocking and their ability to present Jewish culture and values in their hallmark feel-good style.

Jonathan Samuel

Jonathan studied Physics at Oxford University and works as a software engineer. A veteran of Limmud and Yakar, he created a Makaton signed version of the Shema. He camped at Appleby Fair 2021 (the biggest traditional Gypsy Fair in Europe) where he met Sherrie Smith, who he has invited to present at Limmud about Gypsies, Romani and Travellers.

Leonora Samuel

A graduate of the Susi Bradfield Women Educator Programme, Leonora trained as an adult educator and taught key skills to adults with intellectual disabilities in the 1990s. Her youngest son, Micah, has now grown to be a young adult. He has Down's syndrome. Leonora leads a fortnightly interfaith group called 'Talk and Torah'.

Benzion Sanders

Benzion (Benzi) Sanders grew up in the Orthodox community on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. After making Aliyah in 2011 he served in the Sayeret Nahal special forces unit between the years 2012-2015, primarily deployed to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Benzi currently serves as the Jewish Diaspora Education Coordinator for Breaking the Silence.

Ian Sapiro

Ian Sapiro is Associate Professor of Music for Stage and Screen at the University of Leeds. His publications include 'Scoring the Score', 'Ilan Eshkeri’s "Stardust": A Film Score Guide' and 'The Screen Music of Trevor Jones’, as well as book chapters on John Williams’s orchestration, and the film-musical adaptations of Les Misérables and Annie.

Elli Sarah

Elli Sarah will appear on a panel led by Owen Power called ‘What might an accessible & inclusive Community look like?’.

Sassy

Sassy is the pub quiz master for Limmud Festival - back for the 12th year running! He is also a longstanding Limmud volunteer, member of the Board of Deputies, National Tournament Director for the card game bridge, a magistrate in his local area, and in his spare time works as a University Admissions Manager for a London university.

Larissa Schmitz

Larissa Schmitz, political scientist and journalist, lives in an old house in Cologne. Stolpersteine (literally 'stumbling stones' commemorating people persecuted by the Nazis) are just outside her front door. While searching for traces of the family who once lived in her house, Larissa met Kurt Marx, who grew up around the corner and left Cologne aged 13 on the children's transport.

Amos Schonfield

Amos is the CEO of Mavar, a confidential support service for people who have grown up within the Charedi community and have now chosen to explore the modern world. He founded Our Second Home, a youth movement for refugees and asylum seekers, and has worked and volunteered across the community, including at Yachad and the Board of Deputies.

Martin Schubert

Martin Schubert guides the Nefesh haShavua Jewish Meditation group at Hillel Base Berlin. His mission is to integrate the Feldenkrais method into a spiritual Jewish experience.

Pavlina Schultz

Pavlina was born in Prague, made aliyah and relocated back after ten years in Tel Aviv. As director of JCC Prague, Pavlina stands behind projects such as ‘Are We There Yet, Moses?’, ‘Don’t Be Afraid of Gefilte Fish’, animated videos about Jewish holidays, podcasts, pre-cooked Bible, j-cast and the mural by Tel Aviv street artists in the Prague 7 Art District.

Jan Schwarz

Jan Schwartz is a professor of Yiddish at Lund University, Sweden, and a farbrenter limudnik.

Hagai M. Segal

Hagai M. Segal is a multi-award winning academic and expert on geopolitics, terrorism and the Middle East. He has worked with institutions in over 30 countries and has participated in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Hagai lectures at New York University London, and served for a decade on the London First Security and Resilience Advisory Board.

Danny Seidemann

Danny is an Israeli attorney specialising in Israeli-Palestinian relations in Jerusalem. He is the founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, an non-governmental organisation that works towards a resolution to the question of Jerusalem that is consistent with the two-state solution. He is frequently consulted by the international community on developments in Jerusalem.

Silvia Bemporad Servi

Born in Florence, Italy, Silvia is a glottologist, freelance translator, Talmud student, and teacher at local Talmud Torah. A previous participant at Limmud Festival and Training on Tour and one of the founders of Limmud Italia. Married with two sons and four grandchildren, Sylvia loves the Feldenkrais Method.

Limmud Shabbat Team

The Limmud Shabbat Team has been working to create the Limmud Shabbat experience at Festival this year. Shabbat Shalom!

Nachman Shai

Nachman Shai is Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs. He took on this position after many years of service strengthening of the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people. The Minister served as a member of Knesset representing the Labour Party from 2009-19.

Ben Shapiro

Ben Shapiro is a former Moishe House resident in London. He is passionate about creating shared spaces for people to connect with their identity in their own way. During his time as a resident he enjoyed welcoming people to Shabbat dinners, celebrating festivals, running a book club and hosting interfaith events.

Carole Shaw

Raised in a London Jewish family of serial joke-tellers, started performing at six for local children. Presenting solo musical comedy cabaret-style shows since 1992 at Edinburgh, Brighton, Boulder USA, Whangarei NZ, Perth and Adelaide Fringes, S Africa's National Arts Festival, Limmud 2020 and in Yiddish at YIVO and in Germany. Soberly, a linguist.

Natasha Shaw

Natasha joined BBYO as Executive Director in December 2020. Youth movements, youth empowerment and advocacy are truly important to her since she started out as a madricha (youth leader) and movement worker herself. Natasha is passionate about providing meaningful Jewish experiences for young people in the UK and Ireland.

David Shilling

In the words of the V&A Museum: “David Shilling continues to amaze with his inventiveness". He bakes chollas, revolutionised hats, 200 million watched his Moscow TV show live, he's had work shown in the Louvre, works with government agencies and now offers a world first: a chance to buy your own space craft! Is six days work a week enough? What do you think?

Penina Shtauber

Meet Penina Shtauber, author of #ShidduchCrisis and #ShalomBayis, humorous and poignant short story collections on Orthodox Jewish dating, marriage and life. You can find Penina teaching courses on art and storytelling, allowing participants to write and publish their personal stories (see My Jew-ish Story). She has a BFA from Bezalel.

Adrian Sieff

Adrian Sieff has been involved in the Jewish community's environmental work through the Noah Project, and social justice issues through Tzedek and Jewish Support for the Homeless. Adrian and Simone retrofitted their home to an ultra-low energy standard and Adrian advised Finchley Reform Synagogue on the environmental design of its new building.

Hana Siková

Hana Šiková is a resident of Moishe House Prague. To her, Moishe House is an open Jewish living room, where everyone should feel at home. In her events she likes to explore contemporary topics through a Jewish lens. Outside of Moishe House she is a Scout leader, studies sociology and writes for an online magazine about sustainability.

Alan Silman

Alan is an epidemiologist at Oxford University, previously medical director of Arthritis Research UK. He has a wide-ranging research career spanning several areas of medicine, with current interests in global health, medicine safety and frailty. He is also a trustee of Limmud and has led tours to sites of Jewish historical interest in Europe and Asia.

Judith Silver

Judith has been composing, leading, performing and teaching music for 26 years, much of this happening within the Jewish community. Whichever facet of the work she’s exploring, she always brings to it her own deep experience of the power and potential of music, and her passion to share these with others. She founded Companion Voices in 2014.

Daniel Silverstein

Daniel teaches Chasidut at the Conservative Yeshiva. He has served as director of Jewish Life and Learning for Hillel at Stanford University and as Director of the UJS-Hillel Culanu Centre for Cambridge University. Daniel is the founder of appliedjewishspirituality.org, an online platform for the exploration of Jewish spirituality.

Avigail Simmonds-Rosten

Avigail Simmonds–Rosten, CCJ Jewish Programme Manager James Roberts, CCJ Christian Programme Manager

Jake Wallis Simons

Jake Wallis Simons is an award-winning British journalist and novelist. In December 2021, he was appointed Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, where he has become known for publishing a number of world exclusives about the Mossad, including the inside story of the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and a major three-part sabotage operation in Iran.

Sherrie Smith

Sherrie Smith is a Romany Gypsy from North London and a community activist involved in health research, social inclusion and challenging prejudice as well as widening participation. Sherrie is co-founder of Drive2Survive, a community-led organisation of ethnic Romanies and Travellers to challenge the policing bill and prejudice social issues.

Yiscah Smith

Yiscah is a spiritual activist, Torah educator, mentor and meditation guide who teaches various practices of encountering the Divine Presence within one's inner self. In fact, Yiscah views Judaism as a spiritual practice. As a spiritual trailblazer, while carving her own path, Yiscah encourages, ennobles and empowers others to do the same.

Limmud Social Programming

The Limmud Social Programming Team are here to make your Limmud experience a more social one. Look out for a range of activities and sessions that will help you to meet new people, try out new skills, have some time to relax and much more.

Daniel Sokatch

Daniel J Sokatch is an American activist, serving since 2009 as CEO of the New Israel Fund. In recognition of his leadership and influence, Sokatch has been named multiple times in The Jewish Daily Forward's “Forward 50,” a yearly list of the 50 leading Jewish activists who have had a significant impact on the Jewish community.

Tommer Spence

Tommer is a founder of Na'amod, the movement to end British Jewish support for the occupation, and a representative of Jewish students on the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He has previously served as a trustee of Yachad and a New Gen Fellow at the New Israel Fund UK. He is currently completing a PhD in health sciences at the University of Warwick.

Chlo Spinks

Chloe Spinks is the Marcomms Chair for Limmud Festival 2021 and business student at Oxford Brookes University, where she is president of Brookes Quiz Society.

Eva Srut

Eva Srut is an accomplished PR specialist and Jewish educator who currently lives with her husband and daughter in Prague. Eva is the Director of Global Communities at Moishe House and loves reading poetry, DIY projects and painting, spending time with her loved ones, and cooking.

Amir Stein

Amir Stein works as a mental health advocate and is a Literature and Jewish philosophy student. He is originally from Bnei Brak, having spent a year studying in the Gateshead old Seminary. He is also active in Hillel, an Israeli organisation for Yotzim.

Sarah Abrevaya Stein

Sarah Abrevaya Stein is the Sady and Ludwig Kahn Director of the Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies, as well as Professor of History and the Viterbi Family Chair in Mediterranean Jewish Studies at UCLA. She is the author or editor of ten books, including 'Family Papers, a Sephardic Journey Through the Twentieth Century' (2019).

Helen Stone

Helen Stone is a founder member and co-chair of Generation 2 Generation, a Holocaust education charity that enables the children and grandchildren of survivors to tell their stories. Before retirement she was head of English in a pupil referral unit. She currently teaches English to refugees and tells her mother's story in schools.

Maurice Stone

Maurice is Chairman of the Israeli Dance Institute (IDI) and works for UJIA, the UK’s leading Israel charity. 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 Stothard

Rob is a teacher and photographer, currently working at a secondary school in south London. He has photographed elections in Egypt, conflict in Ukraine and travelled the length of the Irish border. He is the co-author of two other publications, 'Tilbury' (2018) and 'Removal: A Short Guide to the United Kingdom Immigration Detention Estate' (2017).

Katja Stuerzenhofecker

Katja Stuerzenhofecker is Lecturer in Gender Studies in Religion and a Fellow of the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Manchester. She has a special interest in contemporary Jewish practices and their relation to thought and tradition. For entertainment, she organises the ‘Screen & Talk’ film club at the Centre for Jewish Studies.

Adam Sutcliffe

Adam Sutcliffe is Professor of European History at King's College London. He is the author or editor of six books, including, most recently, 'History, Memory and Public Life: The Past in the Present' (2018); 'The Cambridge History of Judaism, Vol. VII: The Early Modern World' (2018), and 'What Are Jews For? History, Peoplehood and Purpose' (2020).

Abi Symons

Abi is a writer and informal educator. She has a background working in theatre, comedy writing, performance and production. She is on the Limmud exec team for Volunteers and she is training to be a therapist.

Yali Szulanski

Yali Szulanski is a writer and spiritual educator. She is the youth director at The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, and is enrolled at Yeshivat Maharat. She founded the "I Am" Project, which brings spiritual, emotional, mental and physical wellness to the classroom. Yali creates engaging, inclusive and evolving spaces for people going through life’s big changes.

Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz

Lindsey is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Jewish Studies, Manchester University. In 2021 she received Orthodox rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Maharat, and published 'Challenge and Conformity: The religious lives of Orthodox Jewish women'. She is a Research Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies, founded the Pop-Up Beit Midrash in 2019 and is a co-founder of Azara.

Philip Tomlinson

Phil Tomlinson is a founder member of Kleznorth. He is a singer of both classical and Yiddish song, and a klezmer musician. He has recently retired from his job as an NHS Mental Health Service Manager.

Noru Tsalic

Jewish by identity, Israeli by nationality, Romanian by birth, British by current residence and an ardent Zionist, Noru is a former IDF soldier and serves as UK envoy for Reservists On Duty. He writes for the Times of Israel and Politically-incorrect Politics, is a regular Limmud UK presenter and has presented in Bulgaria and Mexico.

Adi Tufik

Adi Tufik is the Director of Donor Relations at the New Israel Fund in Israel.

Jami UK

Jami is a UK based mental health charity committed to providing practical and emotional support to the Jewish community, delivering services that educate, support and facilitate recovery. Through our sessions we aim to build community, support each other, and have some fun together, through a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Yael Unterman

Yael Unterman is an international lecturer, author, and Bibliodrama facilitator. She holds MAs in Jewish History and Creative Writing. Her books are "Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar" and "The Hidden of Things: Twelve Stories of Love & Longing". Her writings appear in many media, and she also created a solo performance, "After Eden".

Lesley Urbach

Lesley Urbach graduated with distinction as Master of Research (Mres) in Jewish History and Culture. Her dissertation was on Herbert Morrison’s changing attitude to the plight of the Jews She is co-chair and trustee of a Holocaust Education charity, Generation 2 Generation. But her presentation is not connected to this group

Yael Valier

Yael is the creative director of Theater and Theology. She is a graduate of Matan's Ayanot program and of the Ruti Tamir Physical Theater Workshop. She teaches drama and Bibliodrama. Yael is a member of Rabbi Dr Natan Lopes Cardozo’s think tank. You can read her paper on the challenges of mixing theatre with theology in the journal 'Perichoresis'.

Marie van der Zyl

Marie van der Zyl is President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. She has been at the forefront of the fight against antisemitism and rising hate from the far right. She is the Vice President of the World Jewish Congress and chairs the Council of the European Jewish Congress. Professionally, Marie is a partner at the law firm Ince.

Richard Verber

Richard is director of communications for the United Synagogue. A longstanding member of Golders Green United Synagogue and an even longer-standing supporter of Manchester United Football Club, he was previously the head of external affairs at World Jewish Relief and is the former senior vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Julia Vogl

Julia is American and British with an international social sculpture practice. Her art focuses on what things do we, as humans, share and what makes us distinct. Commissioned by Tate, ITV, Facebook, Hull 2017 City of Culture, Jewish Arts Collaborative and recently Reher Center for Immigrant Culture and History. Presenting with Gabriella Willenz.

Rachel Vogler

Rachel Vogler is the campaigns officer at René Cassin, looking after the Women’s Rights and Socio-Economic Justice campaign portfolios. She is currently completing her Masters in Gender Studies at SOAS and is a junior researcher in the field of sexual violence prevention.

Limmud Volunteers Team

The Limmud Volunteers Team exists to provide support to Limmud teams in terms of recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers, and to help Limmud volunteers to take one more step on their Limmud journeys.

Ben Vos

Sussex-born, Ben read History at King's College London (2002) while serving as a madrich (youth leader) and in the university branch of the Territorial Army. A qualified solicitor, Ben joined the United Synagogue where he is now communities and strategy manager. His interests include the overlap of Jewish history with communal memory, and the portrayal of Jews in war films.

Micha Wald

Micha Wald is an award-winning film director and screen writer and professor at the INSAS film school in Belgium. Son court-métrage "Alice et moi" a gagné 55 prix internationaux et a été sélectionné dans 115 festivals. Son long métrage "Voleurs de chevaux" a été sélectionné à la Semaine internationale de la Critique du Festival de Cannes.

Jacqueline Waltz

An American living in the UK, Jacqueline is a qualified dance movement therapist working all abilities to develop and integrate physical, emotional and cognitive wellness and capabilities. As a dance educator, she has presented at the University of Derby, Limmud, JW3 and in Europe and the USA. Her love for Judaism informs her work and provides themes for movement.

Wasiq Wasiq

Wasiq Wasiq is an Associate Fellow at Henry Jackson Society and a founding trustee for the charity Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS). Wasiq is a leading voice against all forms of antisemitism, hate and prejudice against Jewish communities worldwide.

Dawn Waterman

Dawn Waterman, Archives and Heritage Manager at the Board of Deputies, is back at Limmud to share more hidden treasures; images of the Jewish community throughout Britain, from Medieval times to the present day.

Sarah Waxman

Sarah Waxman, founder and executive director, has guided At The Well from a grassroots initiative to a global-reaching network for Jewish health and wellness. Under her leadership since 2015, At The Well currently serves thousands of women around the world enabling them to find wholeness and well-being rooted in ancient Jewish practices.

Michael Wegier

Michael Wegier is chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. He has worked as a Jewish educator, strategic planner and chief executive for Jewish organisations in the UK, Israel, and the United States. Most recently Michael was chief executive of the UJIA and a strategic consultant to the non-profit sector.

Jean-Pierre Weill

Jean-Pierre Weill is a painter, creator of 3D vitreographs on glass and author/illustrator of picture books for adults that explore spiritual ideas. He wrote 'The Well of Being' to critical acclaim and is releasing a follow-up called 'Evolve, a children’s book for adults'. He was born in Paris, raised in New York and currently resides in Jerusalem.

Amber Weinber

Amber is manager of the World Jewish Congress's Intel Unit. She has been actively involved in combating antisemitism and online hate since 2010 and has worked on various national and international projects in this field. Her expertise focuses on the topics of combatting antisemitism, Holocaust denial and conspiracy myths.

Josh Weiner

Josh is the assistant rabbi at Adath Shalom synagogue in Paris. He teaches at the Zacharias Frankel College in Berlin, and is involved in experimental informal education in the form of podcasts, online shiurim, WhatsApp groups and Shabbat dinners.

David Weis

David Weis was born and raised in Luxembourg, studied Classics in Germany and the UK and now works in human rights at the Council of Europe. He is president of Liberal Judaism Luxembourg and active in Progressive Judaism and Zionism, as well as environmental and LGBTQI rights across Europe.

Hannah Weisfeld

Hannah is the director of Yachad, established ten years ago to build support within the UK Jewish community for a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has worked with many Israelis and Palestinians both here and in the region, as well as with many British Members of Parliament representing the views of Yachad supporters.

Dena Weiss

Dena Weiss is the Rosh Beit Midrash and senior faculty at the Hadar Institute in NYC. She earned her BA in Religious Studies from New York University and her MA in Theology from Harvard Divinity School. She has taught at a number of regional Limmud festivals and is looking forward to being back for her second Limmud Festival in the UK.

Tanya White

Tanya is an international lecturer, writer and educator with a focus on Tanach (Bible) and contemporary Jewish thought. She is driven by a passion to exchange insights on the most pressing topics facing the modern Jewish world. She is currently completing a doctorate in Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University.

Gabriella Willenz

Gabriella Willenz works in photography, video and installation to probe the tension between the construction of reality and its representation as natural and neutral. A fellow at UC Berkeley, winner of the Eisner Prize in Photography and resident at Asylum Arts and Lincoln Center Directors’ lab, she works internationally.

Atira Winchester

Atira Winchester is the Director of Programming and Content at the New Israel Fund in the UK. Her previous roles include Head of Creative Learning at JW3. She is an active member of the egalitarian ASSIF community at New North London Synagogue. Atira lived in Jerusalem between 2000-2008.

Jonny Wineberg

Jonny has worked for the Association for Jewish Youth, Anne Frank Educational Trust and Manchester City Council. He is a Management Consultant for non-profit organisations and a Visiting Lecturer in Youth Work & Management. Currently, he is Director of Operations for #WeStandTogether, trustee of Jewish Action for Mental Health and JSense.

Jonathan Wittenberg

Jonathan Wittenberg is Rabbi of the New North London Masorti Synagogue and Senior Rabbi of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues UK. He is a co-founder of Eco-Synagogue and is closely involved in supporting refugees. He loves Judaism, literature, gardening, walking, running and dogs. He is married to Nicola Solomon; they have three children.

Sara Wolkenfeld

Sara Tillinger Wolkenfeld is the chief learning officer at Sefaria, an online database and interface for Jewish texts. Sara is also a fellow at the David Hartman Centre at the Hartman Institute of North America. She lectures on the intersections of technology and Talmud at synagogues, schools and university communities.

Hannah Wood

Raised as a secular Jew, Hannah has found her way to Judaism as an adult and gained a huge amount from her membership of Beit Klal Yisrael, the community for all Israel, an inclusive Jewish community in London. As a queer Jew it is important to Hannah to belong to a community where she can bring her whole self and not have to hide.

Tomas Woodski

Tomas Woodski will present a session entitled "The Amazing Possibilities of Yiddish in Sweden" with Jan Schwartz.

Tamra Wright

Tamra wears many hats. A passionate Limmudnik, her previous sessions have covered everything from “Television and Teshuva” to her specialist subject, the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas. This year she’s excited to be part of the spirituality and well-being track, drawing on her wide reading and her experience as a Tiny Habits® Certified Coach.

Mindi Yeger

Mindi Yeger is a proud Jewish mother of three adult children and grandma to four. Outside of her work as a life coach and legal research analyst, Mindi is a committed volunteer for Footsteps and is passionate about everyone creating and living a life of their choosing.

Oren Yiftachel

Oren Yiftachel teaches political geography at Ben-Gurion University, Beersheba. His research focuses on relations between space, power and ethnic and national conflicts, with a focus on Israel/Palestine. He is also a social activist and is member of several organizations working for social justice, equality and peace.

Adam Zagoria-Moffet

Adam Zagoria-Moffet is the rabbi of St Albans Masorti Synagogue. He was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York where he also received an MA in Jewish Thought. He often teaches about Sephardi halachah (Jewish law) and culture as well as mysticism, mythology and ethics. He lives in St Albans with his family.

Raphael Zarum

Raphael is dean of London School of Jewish Studies, the educational heart of Anglo-Jewry, and was recently appointed the Sacks Chair in Modern Jewish Thought. He lectures in Jewish education and new readings of ancient texts; as well as training teachers and rabbis. He has Semicha, a Physics PhD, an Education MA and teaches across the globe.

Tony Zendle

Coming from the small shtetl of Manchester, Tony has been collecting the arcane, the obscure and the forgotten for decades, so much so he was kindly called by the JC "a mine of information". He writes books (including 'The Definitive Guide to Jewish Miscellany and Trivia') and loves giving talks. He is a member of the Jewish Historical Society of England.