Nic Abery

Nic is a strategic educational innovator and has worked across the UK, Israel, Helsinki, Berlin, Dublin, Israel and most recently Istanbul. She is highly creative, fusing art, museums, objects and historical artifacts to analyse and delve into Jewish themes and texts.

Frank Adam

Frank Adam spent his last primary term in Paris. German and Latin were not so easy. A history degree, shnat sherut, Israeli family & Limmud helped him to make peace with his Jewish identity. 30 years teaching English, study leave for a DASE and a term of beginnners' German saw changes in languages teaching but the vocab still needs any help around!

Tal Adar Atias

Tal is a chief executive and holds a Bachelors degree in social work, specialising in trauma stress and emergency assistance, and holds a Master of Business Administration. She served for 10 years as an IDF commander in a variety of roles and as a Ministry of Defense envoy in India. Tal trains approximately 500 volunteers annually in different fields. She is married to Maya and mother to Rani.

Anoushka Alexander-Rose

Anoushka is a PhD student in English at the Parkes Institute for the Study of Jewish/non-Jewish Relations. Her research explores the Jewish theme in the works of Vladimir Nabokov. She also spends time teaching literature and history, advocating for refugee digital inclusion, developing Holocaust education and marketing for Limmud!

Matthew Anisfeld

Matthew is an educator based in Jerusalem. He teaches Talmud and Halachah (Jewish law) at the Fuchsberg Center and the Pardes Institute. He recently graduated from the Yeshivat Hadar kollel. Matthew is particularly interested in halachic pathways for navigating relationships between people with different beliefs and practices.

Jane Ansell

Jane is the founder of Sleep Scotland (charity developing sleep counselling services and education for schools), TEENS+ (post-school education for people with complex support needs), co-founder of Edinburgh Jewish Dialogue and Cultural Centre and is a sleep consultant as well as developing and leading Jewish learning sessions for teenagers and adults.

Tal Arrowsmith

From a peaceful village near Birmingham to a peace village in Israel, Tal is a charity executive and peace activist. At just 28, Tal is the executive director of Oasis of Peace UK, which supports a unique village of Jewish and Palestinian-Arab Israeli citizens. She has been nominated for her work in establishing interfaith initiatives.

Azara

Azara is a new yeshiva for everyone, creating cross-communal Jewish learning in the UK. We aim to be a space where Jews of all denominations, backgrounds and genders can gather to learn and to make religious meaning. We hold short courses and events, and last July ran our first, month-long beit midrash (study house) in Edinburgh.

Jessica Baker

Outside of a 9-5 working in International Development, Jess Baker is a Liberal Jew, Moishe House Clapham resident, and your Programme Co-Chair for Limmud this year!

Rina Barbut

Rina Barbut is a seasoned global business and tech leader with over 15 years of experience. Her background is in computer engineering. Rina has an MBA and is the digital sales manager at Microsoft. She is the founder of JConnect Forum, uniting young Jewish professionals from Israel and Europe, mentoring start-ups, conducting workshops and providing career guidance for new immigrants.

Allison Barclay

Avielah is the first woman certified as a Soferet STaM (Torah scribe) in 2003 and has been a judaica artist since 1994. She has taught Hebrew calligraphy, sofrut, religious feminism and midrash on the alefbet at venues such as the Conservative Yeshiva and Machon Pardes. Her areas of scholarship include the halakhah of scribal materials.

Eddie Bass

Eddie has an eclectic education, he is nearly in his 90th year and has become very interested in drama, comedy and especially the funny stories, which he writes himself. He digs deep from the legends of Chelm - the historic 'Village of Idiots'. He makes up stories about the Jews in modern Chelm - there's tales to get you laughing (or weeping)!

Tal Bassali

Tal lives in Venice, Italy and is founder of Zehud Jewish Online School, providing a high-quality Hebrew and Judaic education to children across Europe. Her story can be seen on www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRthPonOw6M and her blog is at blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/tal-bassali/

Michelle Bauernfreund

Michelle is the director of operations at the Office of the Chief Rabbi, where her remit includes initiatives relating to women’s involvement in the community. Previously, Michelle worked at Mitzvah Day and the Board of Deputies. Michelle is trustee of Mizrachi UK and a graduate of the Dangoor Senior Leadership Programme.

Sarit Baum

Sarit was born in London and made aliyah 3 years ago, following her studies at the University of London. After partaking in the Ben Azzai programme, she interned at OLAM and then began working at NALA. In her role as Head of Partnerships and Communications she looks to connect with like-minded people and create partnerships of impact!

The Ben Azzai Participants

Members of the 2023-24 cohort of the Chief Rabbi’s Ben Azzai Programme. The university students on the programme have been studying global issues and learning about why, as Jewish people, we have a responsibility to tackle them.

Jacqui Benson-Mabombo

Jacqui (they/them) is a life coach who considers their greatest strength to be a conversational disruptor – interrupting ordinary conversations/paradigms to give people space to access their superpower(s). Co-founder of Shemah Koleinu, they are married to Xoli Mabombo-Benson and live in Cape Town, South Africa.

Jeff Berger

Jeff is a trustee of EcoJudaism, is the rabbi of Wembley Sephardi Synagogue and volunteers as a chaplain for Hertfordshire Constabulary. He is a passionate advocate of interfaith dialogue and conflict resolution. Jeff has lived in the USA, Israel, Japan and the UK. He's married to the magnificent Michie and they have two grown children.

Jonathan Bergwerk

Jonathan is an occupational psychologist who talks and publishes widely on the lives of eminent Jews, both ancient and modern. His books, ‘Audacious Jewish Lives’ deal with individuals, their contributions to society and their wider impact on Jewish life.

David Berkley

David was born in Israel, grew up in Manchester and studied in Gateshead Yeshiva. He is a barrister and an amateur Talmudist.

Uri Berkowitz

Uri is a graphic designer with an unhealthy interest in Israel's Eurovision performances. He has been a Limmud volunteer in the UK and internationally for 20+ years, doing roles of various sizes.

Mihails Beškins

A native of Latvia, Misha pursued studies in humanities before relocating to Tallinn, Estonia. He is a proud husband, father of three and devoted dog owner. He excels as a software engineer, contributing as a board member and organiser at Limmud Baltics. Additionally, Misha is the visionary founder behind the 'Is it kosher?' project.

David Bilchitz

David is a professor of law at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Reading. He was a founder of Limmud SA, chair of Limmud International and a Limmud trustee. In 2005 he helped found a Jewish LGBT+ organisation in South Africa and, as legal advisor, helped bring marriage equality to South Africa.

Aimee Birnbaum

Aimee a figurative artist, depicting inter-war Jewish cultural life. Last year her exhibition based on inter-war Jewish culture in Kaunas toured Lithuania and was exhibited at the "European City of Culture 2022 Kaunas", in the National Gallery of Art and the Vilna Gaon Museum. She is a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and elected member of its Council.

Sarah Biskowitz

Sarah manages the feminist youth writing fellowship at the Jewish Women's Archive in Boston. Previously, she studied at Pardes and served as a fellow at the Yiddish Book Center. She has spoken about Yiddish culture at the Maine Conference for Jewish Life, the Association for Jewish Studies conference, and synagogue/Moishe House events.

Stephen Black

Stephen is a father of three children and now helps a friend selling antiques after running a textile store for 30 years. At 18 he spent a year in Israel, which he loved, then went on to Leeds Polytechnic where he gained a business degree. He enjoys swimming and jacuzzis, and has a deep appreciation of Jewish culture.

Dalia Blass

Dalia is Yachad's Youth & Student Worker. She's been involved in the Jewish community from an early age, including over a decade in Noam Masorti Youth. She's led youth programmes in both Jewish & non-Jewish spaces. She's passionate about social justice issues outside of the Jewish community, having volunteered abroad for NGOs that support refugees.

Vadim Blumin

Vadim is the head of the Jewish Agency for Israel's delegation to the UK and Western Europe. He is the co-author of 'Commonwealth of Tastes', an Israeli bestseller, and was named one of the Top 30 Executives of Israel by LGBTech and The Marker. He is a rabbinical student at the Hartman Institute. Vadim lives in London with husband Roman and daughter Danielle.

Carolyn Bogush

Carolyn has been an active Limmudnik for almost 30 years and is currently Chair of Trustees as well as Vice-Chair of UJS. She believes passionately in cross-communalism, the power of volunteering and developing and inspiring the next generation of future leaders. Professionally she is an Organisational Psychologist.

Harris Bor

Dr Harris Bor is a commercial barrister, research fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies, rabbi and author of 'Staying Human - a Jewish Theology for the Age of Artificial Intelligence'. He is also advisor to the US network, AI & Faith, and participant in the AI Faith & Civil Society Commission, which met ahead of the recent AI Safety Summit held at Bletchley Park.

Ariella Boyd

Ariella is a sixth-form student at JCoSS. She is experienced in teaching groups (including parents, teachers, youth movements and autistic individuals) about autism, based on her own lived experience of being diagnosed at the age of 12. She has also tutored and mentored numerous young people with autism and other neurodiversities.

Amy Braier

Amy Braier is Director of the Pears Foundation, leading the Foundation’s operations and professional team and overseeing £20m of funding annually. In 2018 she received the JJ Greenberg Memorial Award for leadership in Jewish philanthropy. She is Chair of The Miscarriage Association and a former trustee of Limmud and Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Jason Braier

Jason is a barrister specialising in employment and discrimination law and a Twitter/X addict who tweets mainly on employment law and whose summaries are relied on by lawyers and judges alike. Described in a recent directory entry as ‘A bit of an Employment Bar Hero’.

Robert Brody

Robert is a tenor soloist with the Zemel and other choirs, presenting both secular and cantorial music. He has recorded with the BBC Singers for BBC radio and television, and has acted as chazan in many countries. Earlier this year Robert was accompanied by the massed choirs at the European Jewish Choirs Festival in Vienna's Town Hall.

Sarah Bronzite

Sarah is Head of Education at KeshetUK. Outside of KeshetUK she is a primary school teacher and is conducting academic research about school-based sex education. In her ‘spare time’ she writes about gender-based violence, is a Trustee for Migdal Emunah and is learning to make focaccia. She has two religions: Judaism and choral singing.

Pini Brown

Ex-Hasidic Yiddish & blues singer, cantor, Pini takes you on nostalgic journey from the Hasidic Shtetl to the late night blues clubs of London.

Rich Brownstein

After a career in Hollywood, Rich Brownstein moved to Israel in 2003. He lectured for for six years at Yad Vashem about Holocaust films and their use in the classroom. In 2021 his book was published, "Holocaust Cinema Complete: A History and Analysis of 400 Films, with a Teaching Guide".

Tamas Buchler

Tamas is the Europe Programmes Coordinator at Minority Rights Group. Previously he worked for CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, the Israeli Cultural Institute in Budapest and the Jewish Agency. He holds an M.A. in Law and completed programs in Peace and Conflict Studies and Social Impact Strategies.

Felipe Burman

Felipe is the Founder of GLR Tech, a start-up with a solution to mitigate the climate crisis, and prized by The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN Global) as one of the Entrepreneurship World Cup Top 100. He was an advisor for the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection during Rio+20. Felipe holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Sciences from Tel Aviv University and is the president of sustainability at IBREI.

Alan Byers

Alan is the choirleader at Radlett Reform Synagogue since 1980 (in partnership with Andrew Blankfield since 2006), he has arranged about 150 sung prayers, and composed several pieces mainly for his Shul choir. He is a keen brass player on trumpet, trombone and horn, and plays in several bands, and also 2 'occasional' orchestras. He is also a retired GP.

Daniel Cainer

Daniel is a Limmud favourite and a multi-award winning songwriter, storyteller and broadcaster. He is a veteran of seven off-Broadway runs, 18 years at the Edinburgh Fringe and concerts all around the world, with his ever-evolving Jewish-themed 'stories in song'. He composes for TV, theatre, radio and synagogues. Daniel is also known as 'The comic Bard of Anglo Jewry' (The JC).

Rachel Century

Rachel is the Director of Public Engagement and the Deputy Chief Executive at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and an Educator for March of the Living UK. She has a PhD in Holocaust Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has published a book based on her research in 2017 entitled 'The Female Administrators of the Third Reich'.

Sarah Charak

Sarah is a lawyer, history nerd and Jewish educator from Sydney, Australia. Her Honours thesis analysed the impact of the White Australia policy on Australian Jewish identity. She has studied at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Nishmat and Drisha and worked in educational and leadership roles for Bnei Akiva, Or Chadash and Limmud Oz.

Michelle Charles

Michelle Charles has exhibited and taught in the UK and the USA for the past three decades. She has spent 20 years teaching at art institutions around the world including Parsons, Pratt, Long Island University, St Martins and Camberwell.

Shai Cherry

Shai is a rabbi, has a doctorate and is the author of 'Torah through Time: Understanding Bible Commentary from the Rabbinic Period to Modern Times' and 'Coherent Judaism: Constructive Theology, Creation, and Halakhah'. After many years as a university lecturer, in 2019 Shai made the leap to a Conservative congregation just outside of Philadelphia.

Anna Ciszewska (Betty Q)

Betty Q successfully introduced burlesque to Poland in 2010. Now she is not only Polish leading burlesque performer but also a well known feminist activist and TEDx speaker. MA in Education. Former Director of Education Department at Polish Office of Sochnut

Laliv Clenman

Laliv teaches rabbinic texts and Aramaic at Leo Baeck College and supervises PhDs at KCL. Her research explores themes in talmudic and midrashic discourse, including identity, violence and the interplay between halakhah and aggadah. She is passionate about Jewish literacy and building supportive, inclusive and challenging learning communities.

Allison Cohen

Allison is a JDC Entwine Jewish Service Corps Fellow working for OLAM, a network of Jewish and Israeli international development organizations. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and is currently based in Tel Aviv.

David Cohen

David is a retired civil servant (Ministry of Justice), has a social sciences degree from Leicester University and is a regular Limmudnik. His first book 'Battles of the Wars of the Roses', the turbulent period of English history in the Medieval period, was published by Pen and Sword in March 2023. His next project will be 'Israel's Early Wars of Survival.'

Jack Cohen

Jack received a BA in Philosophy from University College London before spending five years studying for rabbinic ordination at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel. He has served as the associate rabbi at Hampstead Synagogue and is currently the senior rabbi at the vibrant Mill Hill East Jewish Community in London. His greatest passion is learning and teaching Torah.

Shoshana Cohen

Shoshana Cohen is a rabbi, and senior faculty member and research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute. She teaches at Hartman's Hevruta gap year program and was a senior faculty member at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem where she taught Talmud, Midrash and Gender Studies.

Blu Cohen-Grazin

Blu is a committed film analyst, writer, reader, political activist and social critic of the world around her. She is proudly autistic and LGBT-identified. Brought up in New North London Synagogue, she loves the warmth and depth of community but is less convinced by the God part of Judaism. Aged 14, this is her 10th Limmud.

Ilana Conway

Ilana Conway is a London-based UX writer, working in tech. Her fiction writing has received honourable mentions and runner up placing in a number of competitions, and she is looking forward to sharing her love of creativity with Limmud attendees. Come along to her workshop and discover the power of the pen!

Belinda Copitch

Belinda is a qualified teacher whose PhD in Education was based on her Jewish Identity research. Her book on autism has been accepted by her publishers. Her previous published book, ‘Collaboration versus Competition’, was aimed at the business market and utilised many of the techniques she used growing up in Jewish youth movements.

Mark Creeger

Working in corporate risk, ethics and compliance software, Mark taught Jewish education and IT at multiple levels. He is a regular speaker and prayer leader at Barnet United Synagogue and a bar mitzvah teacher. He is married to the fabulous comedian, Rachel Creeger, and they share two wonderful boys, a marvellous daughter-in-law and fantastic grandson.

Rachel Creeger

Rachel is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and director, and the only practising Orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit. She is co-host of 'Jew Talkin' To Me?' podcast and has taken four critically acclaimed shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. As seen on BBC1, Amazon Prime and NextUp Comedy, and regularly heard across the BBC Radio network.

Ben Crowne

Ben is a forensic accountant and a partner at Vardags, one of London's leading family law firms. He lives and works in London, and has been a treasurer and trustee of several community charities (including Limmud!).

Tilla Crowne

Tilla is an artist, cartoonist, irrepressible forager and the creator and co-editor of 'Private Oy!', the UK’s foremost parody magazine of a parody magazine.

Daniel Daniel

Daniel is a filmmaker and playwright from London. He is currently studying for his Masters in Directing Fiction at the National Film & Television School. Daniel’s films have been selected and screened at a range of film festivals including the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica, SOUL Festival and the Iris Prize Festival.

Abi Dauber Sterne

Abi is co-director of 'For the Sake of Argument', working to create healthy arguments about Israel and more. Abi has had senior roles at Limmud New York, Hillel International and The Jewish Agency. She is a Schusterman Fellow and a rabbinical student at the Hartman Institute-Oranim program. Abi lives in Jerusalem with her spouse and four children.

Aviva Dautch

Aviva is the executive director of Jewish Renaissance, the UK's quarterly Jewish arts magazine. An award-winning poet, her commissions include The National Gallery, The British Museum and Bradford and Hay Literature Festivals. She lectures on modern Jewish culture at the London School of Jewish Studies and JW3 Jewish Community Centre and is a regular contributor to programmes on BBC Radio 4.

Greg Davidson

Greg has presented at Limmud in Birmingham and Southern California on topics as varied as Islamophobia and hiring a rabbi. A graduate of Swarthmore College and the Harvard Kennedy School, he co-authored 'Economics for a Civilized Society' and has worked on space telescopes. As retirement approaches, Greg has started writing novels.

Oli Davidson

Oli is the co-chair of Ohel Mo'ed in London, a co-founder of the Contemporary Women's Group in Leeds and a co-creator for Limmud's 2023 Young Leadership Programme in Birmingham. If there's a community that needs organising, Oli's co-there. Outside of outside of work, she's a product manager.

Eva de Haan

Eva de Haan is an anthropologist from Amsterdam with a specialisation in Jewish culture and peoplehood. She is an active member of Oy Vey, a Jewish cultural hub in Amsterdam. She currently lives in Berlin.

Rosella de Jong

Rosella likes to ask and answer (different) questions, travel and explore culture. Professionally, she is a language and literature teacher and a child and adolescent therapist. She has learnt a number of languages and received a bunch of degrees, including film and television studies/media and culture studies.

Arnold de Vries

Arnold is a member of the Hendon US and until it closed in 2003 was a member of Rabbi Mikey Rosen’s Yakar. He has also been affiliated, since a very young age, to the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogues, particularly at Lauderdale Road. He has been researching his Dutch Sephardi family and came across this very interesting branch of it!

Alison Dollow

Alison lives in a small village located in the South Downs National Park, four miles north of Worthing. Although she has been at Limmud for many years, this is the first time she has been able to attend sessions. Normally she can be found working in the nursery! She is looking forward to experiencing sessions.

Sophie Duschinsky

Sophie lives with her husband and daughters in London. After nearly 10 years in the NHS, she is now in private practice. Sophie specialises in supporting neurodiverse people, and particularly enjoys working with autistic women and girls.

Anna Dyson

Anna lives in Leeds and has worked in several settings, always aiming to build community around shared values and good conversations. Social enterprise community cafe, ToastLoveCoffee, won Anna a national interfaith award. Now Anna co-creates new Jewish spaces in Leeds and online and, since Sept 2023, is a rabbinical student at The Academy for Jewish Religion California.

Tori Egherman

Tori is a core team member of Oy Vey, studies with Ze Kollel, and co-leads The Jewish Manifesto, a collaborative project with Jewish and Jewish-adjacent folks in the Netherlands. She (co-) leads conversations that foster community and that will lead to co-creating a manifesto that captures the hopes, fears, dreams and demands of the participants.

Haggai Elkayam Shalem

Haggai Elkayam Shalem is a social and political psychologist, specializing in behavior research and design. He holds a PhD in political psychology from the Hebrew University. Haggai provides consulting services focusing on strategic communications, branding and messaging, measurement and evaluation, and public opinion research.

Louise Ellman

Louise Ellman was first elected in 1970 and was Labour/Co-op MP Liverpool Riverside 1997-2019. She resigned from the Labour Party after 55 years membership because of antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and re-joined in 2021. She represents JLM on the Board of Deputies and is a Board member of Labour Friends of Israel.

Neil Elton

Neil has been fascinated by stories and storytelling and drawn to wonderful Jewish stories through film, television, books and live events. He has always been very spiritual and believes he is on a journey of self discovery, which has drawn him to the Limmud Presenter Bootcamp, inspiring himself and other people to tell their own unique stories.

Ilan Emanuel

Ilan was born in the USA, raised in the UK and then returned to the USA to study to be a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ilan is the rabbi of Temple Concord in Syracuse, New York, and has previously served communities in Lincoln, Nebraska, Toronto, Ontario, and Corpus Christi, Texas.

Judith Valerie Engel

Judith Valerie is an Austrian concert pianist and musicologist, currently pursuing a DPhil in Historical Musicology at the University of Oxford, and on leave from the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of British Columbia.

Howard Epstein

Howard, a practising solicitor, has written books in four genres and two plays, which were performed live and on Zoom, writes a weekly column for the Jewish Telegraph and lectures for the Abraham Events and Lockdown University.

Jekaterina Erlich-Koren

Jekaterina is an active member of Jewish community of Estonia. She has also volunteered at several Limmud Baltic events. Jekaterina is an HR and crewing management professional with a legal background. In her free time she is a singer in the Jewish Duo Ma-s-Ka.

Leon Fenster

An artist from London, Leon’s work re-imagines the familiar: from cities to grand political narratives, for private and public art. Families, communities & organisations, from Taiwan to Mexico, commission Leon to tell their story in his dream-like style. He’s always looking for the next big story to tell or next big wall to use as a canvas.

Nathan Finkel

Nathan is a musician from London. As well as playing in the house band at Limmud, he plays his own psychedelic music with a combination of acoustic instruments and argumentative machines. His music ranges from the whimsical to the weird and is the perfect way to unwind at a busy festival.

David Finlay

David is a writer of songs and performance pieces on aspects of Jewish history including 'How Rich They Are', a performance which tells the life story of Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai through the words of Amichai's poems. In recent years David has also researched and spoken about diaries kept by those who lived through the Shoah.

Ellen Flax

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

Dalia Fleming

Dalia is KeshetUK’s first executive director, working to ensure no one is forced to choose between their LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) and Jewish identity. Responsible for the strategic direction of KeshetUK, Dalia has been involved in the UK Jewish and LGBT+ community for over ten years.

Yehudis Fletcher

Yehudis is a research fellow in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Kent and is undertaking a Masters in Religion and Theology at the University of Manchester. She is the co-founder of Nahamu, a think tank countering extremism within the Jewish community.

Alex Foley

Alex Foley is KeshetUK’s first Head of Community, working to ensure no one is forced to choose between their LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) and Jewish identity. Alex has a PhD in Molecular Biology from Oxford. They live in in Brighton & Hove where they teach oil painting and enjoy sea swimming, seeing gigs, and drinking coffee.

Helen Frais

The testimony of a hidden Jewish child in Paris in 1942 led to a research project and writing an illustrated play and film. As Director of Jewish Culture in Makor Jewish, Leeds, Helen created Jewish programmes including a variety of important archives, cultural activities and local history and drama projects.

Tony Frais

Tony is a researcher/writer on the topic of severe depression. He has had four papers published in leading medical journals and is the author of a book titled 'An Introduction To Coping With Depression For Carers'. He holds an MA in medical ethics.

Marc Frank

Therapist, Voluntary Community Facilitator and Mental Health Support Worker, currently in training to become a Jewish Mindfulness Meditation teacher with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. He is current chair of Devon Faith & Belief Forum, and is passionate about Interfaith unity and the authentic expression of spirituality in our everyday lives

Jodie Franks

Jodie is a passionate and proud Jewish woman, with nearly a decade of experience in informal education. She has worked in the university sphere, enriching Jewish students’ life on campus. Jodie is the assistant manager of Stand Up!, a project facilitating sessions in schools about antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate.

Paul Freedman

Paul studied Physics at Bristol, Education at Cambridge and for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College, where he has also taught Biblical Hebrew. He is senior rabbi at Radlett Reform Synagogue, final editor of the (first ever British) Reform Haggadah and co-editor of its new High Holyday Machzor.

Vanessa Freedman

Vanessa is the Hebrew and Jewish Studies librarian at University College London and was previously assistant librarian at Leo Baeck College. She is married to the senior rabbi of Radlett Reform Synagogue but is definitely not the rebbetzin! She has been an enthusiastic Limmudnik since 1995.

Madeleine Fresko-Brown

Madeleine is a vice principal and English teacher in a large secondary academy in London, in charge of teaching and learning. She has two children aged 4 and 6 and has been involved in running her local shul's youngest children's service for many years. She has been involved in YTL, nursery and Limmud families, on and off, since 2008.

Joan Friedman

Joan S Friedman is a rabbi and the chair of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Responsa Committee. She is a professor at the College of Wooster, Ohio and the author of 'Guidance, Not Governance: Rabbi Solomon B Freehof and Reform Responsa', a finalist in the 2013 National Jewish Book Award. Joan enjoys carpentry and native gardening and in retirement plans to cycle the UK with her wife, Nancy.

Mordechai (Motti) Friedman

Mordechai (Motti) is the director of the Institute of Research of Zionism at the JNF in Jerusalem and the author of the book: ‘Theodor Herzl's Zionist journey - exodus and return’ and ‘Moshe Sachs: A Yekke, a Charedi and an Early Zionist’.

Ben Fromson

Ben is a mental health worker with a healthy theological obsession. He has studied at Yeshivat Maale Gilboa, Pardes and Hadar and occasionally studies in monasteries with the Aquinas Institute of Ireland. When he is not developing a reasoned Jewish belief system, he can be found playing the guitar badly to his baby daughter.

Hadassah Fromson

A psychologist, sex therapist, and rebbetzin at Golders Green United Synagogue, Hadassah is one of the few Yoatzot Halacha in the UK. She expertly intertwines diverse Torah topics with psychological insights, making ancient wisdom accessible for modern living. Hailing from Gibraltar, this mother of four brings a unique perspective to every session.

Sam Fromson

Sam is a rabbi in Golders Green United Synagogue and co-founder of startup YuLife where he has led $200m in fundraising and built a team of 250 people. Sam studied science in Cambridge and completed semicha in Israel. He is married and a father of four.

Irene Fröhlich-Wiener

Irène, from Switzerland, is passionate about Qi Gong after realising how this 'moving meditation' is keeping her heathy, centred and creative. She discovered this form of exercise whilst studying at the European School of Shiatsu in London 35 years ago. Since 2002, she has been teaching QiGong to help maintain good energy in mind and body for any age.

Shahar Fuhrer

Shahar is the program coordinator of the The Tamar Golan Africa Centre at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She took an active part in establishing the African Sustainable Communites international MA program at BGU, that deals with international development in the African continent.

Noah Fulton Beale

Noah is an activist, writer and musician working at the intersection of creativity, spirituality and sustainability. In 2023, he founded T'Chiya, an organisation building the connection between Judaism and ecology in Europe. Originally from Colorado, USA, he lives in Barcelona. He's an alumni of Ze Kollel and an active member of Atid Synagogue.

Benjamin Gampel

Benjamin serves as the Dina and Eli Field Family Chair in Jewish History at The Jewish Theological Seminary. His published works include 'Anti-Jewish Riots in the Crown of Aragon and the Royal Response, 1391–1392' and 'The Last Jews on Iberian Soil: Navarrese Jewry 1479–1498'. His lectures on Sephardic history are available on YouTube.

Saul Gaunt

Saul is an advanced paramedic practitioner for the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. He undertook Paramedic Practice at Brighton University and extended his skills with a Masters in Healthcare Practice at St George’s University. He is dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations with the correct skills to deal with emergency situations.

Hannah Gaventa

Hannah is the chair of Limmud Festival 2023, and is excited to co-create the first ever EcoLimmud Festival. She is a humanitarian aid practitioner and has spent her career responding to climate emergencies around the world. Hannah currently works for Palladium managing portfolios for the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the USA's Agency for International Development.

Shoshana Gelfand

Shoshana is the director of leadership and learning at Pears Foundation in London. She also serves as the chair of OLAM (www.olamtogether.org) and vice-chair of IJCIC, the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations (https://ijcic.net).

Noa Gendler

Noa is a teacher, journalist, farm enthusiast and book hoarder. At Festival, more importantly, she is your Programming Co-Chair and DJ un-extraordinaire. You can find her in the bar, usually.

Gabriel Gendler Yom-Tov

Gabriel Gendler Yom-Tov is a London-based mathematician and rebbetzin. He has studied and taught at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem and Yeshivat Hadar in New York. He loves studying the bits of Torah that modern Jews often think of as kooky. He doesn't think they're kooky at all.

Benjamin Gerber

As the Maggid of Gothenburg, Benjamin has engaged children and adults ages 18 to 99 in Jewish learning for a quarter of a century. Based in Gothenburg, he lectures and works with communities throughout Sweden and conducts interfaith dialogue with Christians and Muslims. No longer young enough to know everything, he is always seeking the forest through the trees.

Elihu Gevirtz

Elihu is a rabbi and ecologist who works on land conservation and habitat restoration. He is the senior ecologist at BayWa Renewable Energy, working on endangered species recovery and habitat restoration at a wind farm in California. He is the author of a book about the spiritual significance of brit milah ('bris').

Holly Gibson

Holly, a qualified SEN Family Support Worker and Integral Development coach with 9 years of experience, specializes in supporting autistic young people and their families. Her approach focuses on nervous-system regulation and embraces neurodiversity, addressing a crucial gap in home-based support for autistic young people and their families.

Baruch Gilinsky

Baruch is a PhD student at the University of Oxford researching urban landscapes in 19th century San Francisco. He aims to understand how urban parks and cemeteries are used and abused by different communities. When not working on his DPhil, he enjoys crosswords and egal davening. He lives in London with his wife, R’ Yael Jaffe, and our ever-growing library.

Malcolm Ginsberg

Malcolm Ginsberg, now 81, was a Queen’s Scout and one of the first Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award winners. Since then he has carved out a career as a journalist, publisher and very effective PR man. A Limmud regular he will discourse on cruising and the Jewish element of the London docks and City Airport. Relaxing talks away from the mainstream.

Elliot Glassenberg

Elliot is an American-Canadian-Israeli Queer Jewish educator-activist based in Jaffa. Elliot is a senior educator at BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change and is an advocate for Jewish pluralism and inclusion, refugee rights, LGBTQ rights and human rights. Elliot’s passions include Torah, humanism and ice cream.

Victoria Godik

Victoria, a Kyiv native and Board Member of the Association of Jewish Organizations in Ukraine, aided the Jewish community's evacuation during the early war, collaborating with the World Jewish Congress. Holding a Master's in engineering, she serves as a global consultant for sustainability, energy efficiency, and green innovations.

Jessica Gold

Jess, a Jewish music and climate change education specialist, performs in schools and synagogues. After 6 years on the board of Friends of the Earth she created Project Earth Rock, a multimedia climate change education resource for primary school age children. The resource is grounded in the Jewish practice of using songs to teach ideas.

Micah Gold

Micah Gold is an old time Limmudnik, a part of a generation that helped Limmud inspire the Jewish world. Professionally he leads a social purpose consultancy, Mobilise Public, working with charities, local government and housing organisations to support communities and deliver change. A lifelong quest for spirituality & deeper meaning continues.

Melanie Goldberg

Melanie Goldberg is from Glasgow. She loves Scottish culture and wants to share a part of it at Limmud by hosting a ceilidh, which is traditional Scottish dancing. Absolutely no prior experience is required as instruction will be provided, so don your tartan and comfortable shoes and join for an evening of Celtic fun!

Daniel Goldfarb

Daniel Goldfarb (Boston-born lawyer/rabbi/teacher) was Director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem (2000-2013) and has taught at Limmuds around the world, including Conference 2000-2018, 2022.

Barbie Goldfoot

Barbie is the community engagement officer at Jewish Women’s Aid. She leads the Community Prevention Programme, engaging with synagogues and community organisations, educating about domestic abuse and helping to embed healthy attitudes and practices. Barbie is an experienced trainer, working in sexual health, mental health and neurodiversity.

Nechama Goldman Barash

Nechama teaches rabbinic text at Pardes and directs the Pardes Learning Seminar. She has expertise in the intersection between Jewish law and sexuality, intimacy and fertility and is training as an end-of-life pastoral counsellor. In her free time, she hangs out with her four daughters and two 'grand-dogs'. She also likes yoga, swimming and ice cream.

Mark Goldsmith

Mark Goldsmith is rabbi at Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue. He served synagogues in the Reform and Liberal Jewish movements since semichah at Leo Baeck College in 1996 where he teaches Homiletics and Jewish Life Cycle. He is a steering group rabbi at EcoJudaism and passionate about how being a Jew frames our making a difference in the world.

Nicole Gordon

Three years ago Nicole became chief executive of Jnetics, a charity which educates and tests the community for genetic disorders. Under Nicole's leadership, Jnetics has gone from strength to strength, and was recently appointed by NHS England to deliver the engagement campaign for the new BRCA testing programme. Nicole is married with three grown-up sons.

Daniel Grabinar

Daniel is a maths teacher in the city centre of Leeds. He has a history degree and is doing a Masters degree in education and leadership. He has lots of opinions and lots of excitement about it.

Natalie Grazin

Natalie is a Limmud Trustee, parent of Eden (15) and Blu (14) and partner of Samantha whom she met at Limmud Conference 25 years ago. Professionally, she is a coach and consultant, working with NHS organisations and Jewish charities on strategy, change and leadership. She has been a Limmud volunteer since first attending in 1994.

Bertie Green

Bertie is an indie pop singer/songwriter. His musical journey began singing songs around the Shabbat table and has taken him to shows at Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott's, as well as earning him over 140,000 streams and a Yamaha Music sponsorship. His distinctive voice, lyrical talent and love-filled shows make for a truly entertaining experience.

Michael Green

Mike founded the London Fungus Network to connect people with the urban Fungal Kingdom/Queendom. He is inspired by how wild mushrooms and plants connect us both with nature and our Jewish traditions. Mike is also a ranger with London National Park City, an initiative that aims to make the city a wilder, greener – and more mushroomy – place.

Joanne Greenaway

Jo is CEO of LSJS which seeks a vibrant, engaged community, nurturing excellence and expertise in Jewish education, running a plethora of teacher training, degrees and lifelong learning programs. She is studying for a halacha qualification through OTS. She is an experienced international lawyer and former Get Case Director at the London Beth Din.

Sam Greene

Sam is a researcher of climate adaptation – the process of transforming our world to help us survive the changes and the challenges posed by climate change. He works with governments and civil society to develop the tools, knowledge and technologies needed to manage the climate crisis in a way that is just, equitable and sustainable.

Talya Greene

Talya is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at University College London, specialising in trauma and mental health. In 2023 she moved back to the UK after 17 years in Israel where she lived in Modi'in and was head of the Community Mental Health Department at the University of Haifa.

Toby Greene

Toby is a visiting fellow in the Middle East Centre at the LSE and a lecturer in politics at Bar Ilan University. He researches identity and foreign policy in Europe and the Middle East and has extensive experience in policy research and political communications. Toby recently returned to the UK with his family after 17 years in Israel.

Daniela Greiber

Daniela is responsible for the Jewish Communal Life Programme at RFHE overseing grants and initiatives across Europe. Daniela has worked in the Jewish non-profit world for over 26 years in Israel, USA and the UK. She is fluent in English, Hebrew, Spanish and French and enjoys meeting colleagues in communities across Europe.

Robbie Gringras

Robbie is a UK-born Israeli writer, educator and performer. He is the co-director of 'For the Sake of Argument' and co-author of 'Stories for the Sake of Argument. Robbie coined the phrase 'Hugging and Wrestling with Israel' and now drives the 4HQ System of Israel Education. He has performed in theatres around the world for 30 years. Back in the 1990s Robbie was a Besht Teller, playing at Limmud!

Marika Guralik

Marika is heading the actuarial division of a pan-Baltic insurance company. She also takes an active part in International Actuarial Association in a variety of roles. Marika is a member of the board of the Estonian Jewish Community and a co-founder of Limmud Baltics. In her free time, she is a member of "Ma-s-Ka" vocal duo performing Jewish music.

Batsheva Haber

Batsheva is an educational consultant and content writer with over 10 years of experience in informal and formal education. She specializes in ed-tech, SEL (social-emotional learning) and experiential learning. Batsheva's experience includes being a Teach First Israel teacher, ed-tech specialist at Mekif Gilo, chinuch staff member at Camp Moshava IO, partnership coordinator at Appleseed and more.

Lara Haft Yom-Tov

Lara (they/them) is a rabbi at New North London Synagogue and in the Masorti movement. Originally from Washington, DC, they have learned at Pardes, Drisha, Hebrew College and Beit Midrash Har-El. Lara loves bringing liberation theology in conversation with halakha to confront the pressing issues of our time.

Caroline Hagard

Caroline has been teaching for many years in religion schools. A storyteller, songwriter and creator of children's services for the High Holy Days and Chagim, Caroline is passionate about Judaism and has been delighting young Limmudniks for many years with her fun sessions.

Louise Hager

Involved in Chai since its inception in 1990 Louise became Chairman in 2005, steering Chai’s strategic development from a small operation servicing the local community in NW London to a nationally and internationally renowned centre of excellence for specialised cancer support. Chai currently supports 4,000 cancer patients and their loved ones.

Naftali Haleve Sason

Naftali was born in Istanbul, gaining an MA at the Azrieli Graduate School, and Rabbinic Degree in RİETS. Worked as an assistant rabbi in New Jersey and at Yeshiva Univeristy. He's now a member of the spiritual council of The Turkish Rabbinate, a teacher in Jewish School, rabbi in Ets Ahayim, educator in Talmud Torah and has prepared a book on the Ethics of Judaism in Turkish.

Simone Halfin

Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Simone moved to London after university. She joined the BBC, first working in the drama department, then moving to BBC Education, writing and producing various programmes for schools. Simone also worked at Spectrum Radio and is now on the News Team of Radio Jackie, interviewing many celebrities.

Abdelmonim Haroon

Monim is advocacy manager for HIAS Israel, a global agency that provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world. He has a BA in Business Administration and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was in the leadership of African Students Organization in Israel.

Paul Harris

A criminal defence solicitor at Edward Fail Bradshaw and Waterson for over 30 years, Paul is the former co-chair of New North London Masorti Synagogue and with others set up Holocaust Yellow Candle Project in UK. He was married to Rina Wolfson, who sadly died in 2021. He is the father of Ava and Grace, and step-father of BZ.

Rachel Harris

Rachel worked for many years in Human Resources, focusing on Change and People Management. She took a "6 month career break" to study Torah at Pardes in Jerusalem and now finds herself halfway through her second year there. She would love to speak with you about studying at or collaborating with Pardes!

Samson Hart

Samson is a food grower, land tender, writer and earth-based facilitator/educator, currently living and tending land in South Devon. He is a collaborative associate at gentle/radical and co-founder of Miknaf Ha'aretz, a CIC (Community Interest Company)/collective building earth-based, radical,diasporist Jewish community in the UK.

Michael Hattin

Michael teaches Tanakh/Halakha at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem. He studied for semicha at Yeshivat Har Etzion and has a professional degree in architecture from the University of Toronto. He authored 'Passages: Text and Transformation in the Parasha', 'Joshua: The Challenge of the Promised Land' and 'Judges: The Perils of Possession'.

Caroline Hearst

Caroline is a late diagnosed autistic adult who trained as an art psychotherapist before discovering by chance she is autistic. She founded, and is a director of, AutAngel, a community interest company run by and for autistic adults. She offers autism education and designed 'Exploring Being Autistic', an innovative programme for autistic adults.

David Hochhauser

David is an artist, digital anthropologist and conspiracy connoisseur.

Miriam Hoffman

Board games geek. Strength: 2 Dexterity: 5 Constitution: 10 Intelligence: 17 Wisdom: 2 Charisma: 15 I came to Limmud with a car full of board games for all ages and number of players. Come and find me if you’d like to borrow some.

Marques Hollie

Marques Hollie (they/he) is a Philadelphia-based, operatically-trained theatre artist, maggid, rabbinical student and nascent aerialist, who believes that Jewish practice and ritual are expansive, resilient containers capable of holding and honouring the many identities each of us holds.

Shirel Horovitz

Artist and thinker Shirel turns everyday spaces into arenas of deep reflection. An alumnus of Bezalel Academy and Tel Aviv University, her works have been exhibited in major galleries and museums in Israel and USA. A true match made in intellectual heaven, her collaboration with CSP is amplifying her reach of unique, outstanding Jewish education.

Louise Howard

Professor Louise Howard OBE is Professor Emerita in Women’s Mental Health. She has led research programmes with a focus on perinatal mental health and the relationship between violence and mental health. She chaired the NICE Guidance on Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health.

Jonathan Hunter

When not at Limmud events, Jonathan spends a large amount of his leisure time at various Modern Jive dance events around the country, and is very much looking forward to sharing the joy of dancing again with all at Limmud Festival this year!

Hannah Hutchinson

Hannah Lives in Cheshire and is the winner of Poole Poets, 2010 and Marple 150, 2015. First collection poetry & haiku: Home Truths, 2015. Novels: Miss (2002) and The Pigeon Room (2015) set in Jerusalem. She has taught French and Spanish and is also a qualified counsellor and has an MA in Applied Linguistics: the revival of the Hebrew language.

Ilana Hutchinson

Ilana is the Schools Manager at Jewish Women’s Aid and has developed a Whole School Approach for consent education and sexual violence prevention, reaching out to 3000+ students and professionals annually. With 20+ years’ experience as a teacher & youth leader, Ilana is passionate about empowering young people to be positive drivers of change.

Joe Hyman

Joe is Limmud's Director of Innovation & Engagement. He is an LGBTQ+ activist, co-founder of DAVAR and previously worked at JW3. When Joe isn't at work he can be found at an exhibition, cooking for friends or searching for the perfect kiddush biscuit. If you want to volunteer for Limmud, speak to Joe (he may even get you a drink at the bar!)

Shirley Idelson

Shirley Idelson is a Reform rabbi, historian and journalist who has spent most of her career at the intersection of Judaism and higher education, with a focus on training the next generation of Jewish leaders. She is currently completing a book on Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, the Jewish Institute of Religion, and the reinvention of Liberal Judaism.

Samuel Isaac

Samuel Isaac has studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion in Israel and the University of Cambridge. Returning to London he presented a radio programme exploring the relationship of art and faith in the capital. In 2022 he studied at Tel Aviv University's Yiddish Summer Programme. He works as a trainee solicitor at Hunters Law LLP in Lincoln's Inn.

Margaret Jacobi

Margaret Jacobi loves sharing the inspiration of Jewish texts and their call for justice. She recently retired as rabbi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue. Trained as a medical doctor, she has a PhD in Talmud. She is joint Chair of the Liberal Judaism Bet Din and a trustee of Tzelem (the rabbinic call for social and economic justice).

Zoe Jacobs

As a Jewish educator, Zoe’s career highlights include supporting Education Scotland to improve the Religious Education curriculum, encouraging strong youth programming in the North of England, and bringing Makaton (a communication programme combining signs, symbols, and speech) to Shabbat services. She rejoices in good interfaith dialogue - handy as she swapped a job at Finchley Progressive Synagogue for the Church of England!

Nicole Jacobus

Nicole is a production manager and science communicator from London. You may have encountered her as one of this year's Festival volunteers chairs, hosting at the Kilburn Moishe House or dancing in the Butt Mitzvah cast.

Yael Jaffe

Yael Jaffe (she/her) serves as a rabbi at New North London Synagogue, as well as a community organiser and educator for Ohel Moed, a grassroots community in North West London. Originally from South Florida, Yael attended Brandeis University before studying at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City, where she was ordained this past summer.

Aleksandra Janus

Dr Aleksandra (Ola) Janus - researcher, academic, curator and change maker, president of the Zapomniane Foundation, co-leader of the Engaged Memory Consortium, member of a publishing council of a book series 'Exhibiting Theory' and co-founder of a working group ‘Muzea dla klimatu’ (Museums for Climate) and Culture for Climate collective.

Sharon Jason

Sharon is a neuroscientist turned executive coach helping professionals solve problems and become more successful leaders and communicators. She is an accredited performance coach, psychodynamic counselling trained, a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development associate and currently leading workshops to help people achieve better results in their personal and professional lives.

Alavari Jeevathol

Alavari is a founding trustee of the National Multifaith Youth Centre. He also serves as national coordinator of Young Humanists UK, and director of Humanists International. His particular focus is on youth personal development, on dialogue between faith and belief groups based on a shared humanistic spirituality, and apostate refugee support.

Lynn Joffe

Born in London, Lynn lives in South Africa. Her debut novel, The Gospel According to Wanda B. Lazarus, was published in South Africa in 2020. She is co-author of The Tale of Stingray Charles, a multimedia story that harnesses the power of imagination. Lynn has a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Christina Jones

Christina is the communication associate for CAMERA UK. Christina obtained her BA from Glasgow University and MA from Tel Aviv University and has previously worked at the Embassy of Israel in London. She then re-opened the Centre for Scotland and Israel Relations in 2020 and joined the CAMERA on Campus UK team in December 2022.

Anna Josse

Anna co-founded Prism the Gift Fund in 2005. Previously, she worked in high-tech and set up and ran the British arm of the New Israel Fund. Anna also acts as a trustee for several grant-making foundations. She is the director and shareholder of Regent Capital, which specialises in investment products.

Scott Kahn

Scott Kahn is the Founder and CEO of Jewish Coffee House, the host of the Orthodox Conundrum Podcast and co-host of Intimate Judaism, and a veteran educator. Scott is a Rabbi and was formerly a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah in Israel. He and his wife Aliza live in Ramat Beit Shemesh with their seven children.

David Zvi Kalman

David Zvi is a scholar, writer and entrepreneur working at the intersection of technology, religion and art. He serves as research fellow at multiple institutions. A serial podcast producer, David Zvi owns Print-O-Craft Press, an independent Jewish publishing house. He patented the 20-sided dreidel and blogs at jellomenorah.substack.com

Slavyan Kanovski

Slavyan Kanovski is from Bulgaria. He is very passionate about Israeli Dances! He has been dancing for more than 25 years, and teaching dances for more than 15 years. During this Limmud he will be happy to share his passion for Israeli Dances with all of you, so that we can have sessions full of joy and laughter!

Eli Kaplan-Wildmann

Eli is a creative director and designer from Jerusalem, reinventing Jewish ritual and craft through 'unbound' books. His varied creations exist in thousands of copies around the world. Upcoming, 'Sacrifices', is a complete musical based on the stories surrounding the destruction of the Second Temple.

Noah Katz

Noah is a member of the World Jewish Congress Diplomatic Academy, the chair of Lancaster and Lakes Jewish Community, a director and trustee of NUS and a deputy for UJS. Noah is an award-winning media host and advocate for the Jewish community. They speak and write about youth inclusion, DEI, the importance of education and pop culture!

Michelle Kay

Michelle has been involved in Jewish community life for over 25 years. A graduate of the Adam Science community leadership course, she has co-chaired Sussex Day Limmud. She sits on the Ralli Hall Community Centre board and takes an active role at Brighton and Hove Reform Synaogue. In her work she encourages service user engagement and involvement.

Martin Kaye

Martin is well known for his 10 years at the popular Limmud Bookshop and delivering a variety of interesting, light-hearted, diverse presentations. These include 'Books for the Jewish home', 'Jewish fictional characters' and 'Important Jews, some of whom you may be blissfully unaware'. Missing Limmud for far too long, Martin now makes a long-awaited reappearance.

Melanie Kelly

Melanie has worked in the Jewish community for many years and has been at UJIA for the last eight. However, her passion is working with yarn: knitting, crochet, embroidery. Her current life mantra is 'life is always better seen through a ball of yarn!' When not working, or yarning, she can be found, reading, cooking or angsting about the world!

Andrea Kelmanson

Andrea Kelmanson has spent 50 years working with Charities; creating young people's volunteering programmes; Deputy Directing the National AIDS Trust, and later being CEO of The National Centre for Volunteering. 27 years ago she set up a Consultancy Practice, specialising in Governance, Strategy and Organisation Development in charities.

Clive Kennard

Clive is an independent scholar with a PhD in 19th century Jewish art. He is on the new generation group of the Jewish Historical Society, where he runs the reading group, and the programming steering committee for the UK Jewish Film Festival. He is a tenor and a high anglican shul queen.

Marion Kinshuck

Marion is a relative newcomer to the world of cryptic crosswords who would like to spend some of each evening at Festival solving a crossword with fellow cruciverbalists. This year Marion coordinated the Limmud Presenter Bootcamp, Limmud's training course for budding presenters.

William Kunin

Bill is Professor of Ecology at the University of Leeds, with research focusing on insect-plant interactions, spatial scaling and conservation ecology. He was raised in Minneapolis (USA), is co-chair of Leeds Masorti congregation and a member of several other shuls. He met his wife at a Tu B'Shvat seder.

Danielle Landau

Danielle is a clinical psychologist and cognitive-behavioural therapist specialising in the treatment of anxiety. She is keen to apply cutting-edge psychological principles to wider societal issues such as tackling prejudice, and is interested in how religious and spiritual life can support psychological health.

Sandra Lawson

Sandra Lawson is a rabbi and serves as the inaugural director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Reconstructing Judaism in the USA. She works with senior staff, lay leaders, clergy, rabbinical students and Reconstructionist communities to help Reconstructing Judaism realise its deeply held aspiration of becoming an anti-racist organisation and movement.

Clive Lawton

Clive was one of Limmud's founders and for a long time its Director and then Senior Consultant. He is known worldwide as an educator (both Jewish and general) and has served in senior roles in education, community and urban development, health and policing. He is currently a magistrate and CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council.

Beth Levy

Beth grew up in London and now lives in Jerusalem with her husband Matthew, who she met at Limmud 2014 in a session about Swedish antisemitism! She received rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Hadar in New York. She now teaches at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem, where she specialises in Talmud and Jewish law.

Mike Levy

Mike Levy is a researcher, historian, playwright and author of 'Get the Children Out, Unsung Heroes of the Kindertransport'. His co-written play (with Anthony Clavane) 'Meet Me At Cantors', about the Leeds Jewish Community in the 1950s was presented as part of Leeds 2023 City of Culture. His talk on Stephen Sondheim was a sell out at Limmud 2022.

Sophie Levy

Sophie is an artist whose work is dedicated to innovating how we communicate with one another. Through one-to-one performances and intra-active sculptures, she seeks to create spaces where people can be vulnerable and simultaneously feel held and supported. Sophie takes inspiration from Jewish ritual, therapeutic approaches and new materialist theory. Sophie is a 2023 Limmud Microgrant recipient.

Charlie Lewin

Charlie is a creative visual artist and storyteller from London. They are currently completing their masters in Children’s Book Illustrations and Graphic Novels at Middlesex University.

Stuart Lewis

Stu Lewis, who lives in Prairie Village, KS (a suburb of Kansas City) has been attending Limmud UK since 2013 and has given presentations on a variety of topics. He is retired from his "day job" with the US civil service and he has tutored Bar/Bat Mitzvah students for several years at his congregation.

Babette Lichtenstein

Babette is a cellist and translator from Dutch and German into English. Growing up in Amsterdam, in the family of a Shoah survivor, she feels close to the subject of the Dutch Holocaust memoir which she co-translated and will be discussing at Festival. The book was published by History Press in October this year.

Limmud Families Programming

The Limmud Families team sessions

Limmud House Band

The House Band is a unique ensemble that provides a strong musical foundation for all visiting musicians at Limmud. Composed of versatile and talented musicians, they adapt their style to support a wide range of musical genres and artists. Their dedication and musical versatility ensure a seamless live music experience at Limmud Festival.

Limmud Shabbat

The Limmud Shabbat Team Programming is in charge of making sure you have a spiritual, relaxing and enlightening day; no matter your denomination or level of observance.

Limmud Social Programming

Ava and Nina are your Social Programming Team for 2023!

Amanda Lind

Amanda Lind works for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel as Director of the Gazelle Valley Urban Nature Park. She coordinated Jerusalem Community Gardens for two decades. From London, she found her love of plants working on Kibbutz. She holds the R.B.G Kew Diploma in Horticulture.

Miriam Lorie

Miriam is an Orthodox woman due to graduate as a rabbi from Yeshivat Maharat this June. She is the rabbi in training at Kehillat Nashira and a bnei mitzvah and pre-marriage teacher. Miriam has studied at Midreshet Harova and Pardes in Jerusalem, worked in inter-faith dialogue, community leadership development and is a BBC Pause for Thought contributor.

Asher Lovy

Asher is an abuse survivor and director of ZA'AKAH, which raises awareness about sexual abuse in the orthodox Jewish community, advocates for legislative reforms and operates a Shabbat and Yom Tov mental health peer-support hotline. In his spare time Asher also loves cooking and hosting large Shabbat meals.

Sixolile Mabombo-Benson

Xoli (they/them), a visionary leader, co-founded LGBTQIA business forums, fostering diversity, inclusivity and empowerment. With a rich background in financial advisory their expertise fuels positive change, shaping a more inclusive business landscape. Together with Jacqui Benson-Mabombo they co-founded Shemah Koleinu.

Rahima Mahmut

Rahima is a Uyghur activist, singer and translator. Rahima has led the movement in the UK to end complicity and secure action on the genocide taking place in her homeland. She is currently the UK Director of the World Uyghur Congress, Executive Director of Stop Uyghur Genocide and Advisor to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

Mo Makin

Mo (Moses) is originally from Liverpool and currently lives in West Hampstead. He has been involved in Limmud since the age of 5 and thinks it is the best Jewish organisation out there! It has given him great friends, shaped his Jewish identity and inspired his career. “Can't really complain,” he says, when speaking about Limmud.

Robin Makin

Robin Makin is a Liverpudlian, regular attendee at Limmud and member of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation. He is involved in organising the 2024 commemorative events to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Grade 1 listed synagogue at Princes Road, Liverpool.

Dania Mann-Wineberg

Dania is a final year medical student at the University of Manchester and has an MSc in Global Health and Mental Health. She has studied at MMY seminary and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, both in Jeruselam, and was Chinuch Worker for Bnei Akiva. She is currently Academic/Research Lead for the UoM Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society.

Daniel Marcus

Daniel is the Director of Campus affairs at StandWithUs UK. At StandWithUs UK he directs the Emerson Fellowship: recruiting and supporting the next generation of on-campus, Zionist leaders. Daniel brings a passion for psychology to his work and is currently undertaking a Masters in Psychology at The University of Exeter.

Sarah Marcus

Sarah Marcus is a Limmudnik since 2015. She has studied Jewish Studies, lives in Berlin and is a volunteer at the synagogue Fraenkelufer.

Patricia Eszter Margit

Patricia Eszter Margit is the founder of Art Kibbutz, Jewish artist residency program in New York. In her native Hungary she is a celebrated author of a novel called “The Jewish Bride”. She works as an editor, interpreter, PR/media advisor, non-profit manager and trainer to non-profit organizations as well as international governmental agencies.

Madison Margolin

Madison is a journalist of psychedelics and spirituality. Author of 'Exile and Ecstasy: Growing Up with Ram Dass' and 'Coming of Age in the Jewish Psychedelic Underground'. She hosts the 'Set and Setting' podcast and co-founded DoubleBlind Magazine and the Jewish Psychedelic Summit. She's written for Rolling Stone, VICE, High Times and Ayin Press.

Annette Margolis

Annette teaches on the Foundation Programme at the University of Birmingham and has a wide range of interests including pure mathematics, Italian literature and collecting bijouterie and Art Deco china.

Erica Marks

Erica is CEO of Migdal Emunah, Jewish sexual abuse support, supporting children, women and men across the UK Jewish community who have experienced sexual abuse. Erica is a specialist in child and adult safeguarding and services.

David Mason

David Mason is Executive Director of HIAS+JCORE. He served as rabbi of Muswell Hill Synagogue for over 14 years and at Kingston Synagogue prior to that. Born in Edinburgh, he studied in yeshivot in Israel for 7 years, as well as having Masters in both Econometrics from LSE and Conflict Resolution in Divided Society from King’s College London.

Rona Matlow

Rona (ze/hir pronouns) is a retired US Navy nuclear engineering officer, disabled veteran, educator, pastoral counsellor, trauma specialist and rabbinic Bible scholar. Ze identifies as an elder, genderpunk, non-binary trans woman. Ze is the Professor of Jewish Diversity at the Hebrew Seminary for the Deaf and Hearing in Chicago.

Sarah McCulloch

Sarah is an autistic occupational therapist, NHS manager and founder of the Autistic Empire. She hasn't missed a Limmud since 2012.

Natan Meir

Natan M. Meir is the Lokey Professor of Judaic Studies at Portland State University (Oregon, USA). A scholar of the social, cultural, and religious history of East European Jewry, he is the author of Kiev, Jewish Metropolis: A History, 1859-1914 and Stepchildren of the Shtetl: The Destitute, Disabled, and Mad of Jewish Eastern Europe, 1800-1939.

Caroline Mendelsohn

Caroline, special projects manager at Innovation: Africa (iA), leads initiatives across various departments. With almost four years at iA, she previously managed operations in South Africa, playing a key role in establishing solar water projects and showcasing her passion for international development and commitment to positive change in the region.

Rosie Mercer

Rosie is the newest resident of Moishe House Kilburn. She is from Manchester and moved to London to work on a city farm as a schools programme manager. She loves growing food, hiking and generally spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Marc Michaels

Marc is a Sofer STa"M (www.sofer.co.uk), author, designer and Marketing/Creative Director. He is studying for a PhD at Cambridge. He published Sefer Tagin Fragments from the Cairo Genizah, and has served communities in UK/internationally since 1996 as Mordechai Pinchas. He designed the MRJ siddur and has written books/articles on sofrut, bible & art inc. for children, the Dot on the Ot.

Midnight Specials

Based in Reading and London, The Midnight Specials are a rock band bringing their own energy to the genre. Started in September 2022, they have been playing to crowds in London and are gearing up to release their debut album in the new year.

Elhanan Miller

Elhanan is a Jerusalem-based rabbi, educator and social media entrepreneur. An Arabic specialist and former journalist covering the Middle East, in 2017 Miller founded People of the Book, an online initiative aimed at educating Arab viewers about Jewish faith and culture. He is a teacher and research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute.

Helena Miller

Helena is the Director of Degrees and Teacher Training programmes; Senior Research Fellow at LSJS. She has a PhD in Jewish Education and has taught, researched and written widely for many years. She leads the "Jewish Lives" study. Helena was co-chair of Limmud International (2009-12) and senior editor of the Journal of Jewish Education (2014-20).

Steve Miller

Founder of innovative social justice projects Steve is currently senior consultant to Faith Based Regeneration Network & Convener of London Boroughs Faiths Network. Steve works with organisations who share a vision of a more just, creative, connected, inclusive and sustainable society. Steve teaches in Jewish communities across the UK and Europe.

Samuel Millunchick

Sam, rabbi of Belmont United Synagogue, combines traditional yeshiva depth and rigour with scholarly acumen, delivering a multi-faceted approach to Judaism. His teachings marry time-honoured traditions with modern complexities. Expect intellectually engaging sessions that will both challenge and deepen your understanding.