Presenters: F

Leon Fenster

The artist behind the ‘London Jewish Mural’ @ JW3. From Taiwan to Mexico, Leon is commissioned to bring stories to life in his dream-like style, be it a history of political scandals, the global pandemic experience or a single family. He likes to be challenged and is always looking for the next story to tell. He’s also looking for an agent.

Dan Fenster-Simons

Dan is a Chemistry teacher by day and obsessed with the Jewish Stock Exchange by night. The Jewish Stock Exchange game is a labour of love, started 12 years ago and evolved into the beast that it is today!

Nicola Feuchtwang

After a professional lifetime as a paediatrician in the NHS, Nicola trained for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College. She was ordained in the summer of 2024, and is now one of the rabbis at Alyth Synagogue. Her dissertation was about the 'Language of Smell' in Biblical and rabbinic literature, and its possible relevance to modern communities.

Gila Fine

Gila Fine is a lecturer of rabbinic literature. She is the recipient of the Maimonides Award for Jewish Education, and has been described as “a young woman on her way to becoming one of the more outstanding Jewish thinkers of the next generation” (Haaretz). Her new book is The Madwoman in the Rabbi’s Attic: Rereading the Women of the Talmud.

Nathan Finkel

Nathan is a musician from London. As well as playing in the House Band at Limmud, he plays his own psychedelic-infused music with a combination of traditional 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 Jewish topics. He is particularly known for creating How Rich They Are telling the life story of Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai through the words of his poems and bringing Jewish Shoah diaries to a wider audience.

Joseph Finlay

Joseph Finlay is a musician and a historian. He is musical director of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue and the London Jewish Male Choir. In 2023 he completed his PhD on Jewish responses to race relations in Britain, at the University of Southampton. He continues to research issues related to Jews, race relations and the British empire.

Matty Fisher

Matty is a final year media student at the University of Leeds and Lauder Fellow of the World Jewish Congress. He previously served as the Union of Jewish Students’s Digital Engagement, Apprenticeships, and Careers Officer, Publicity Officer of Leeds Jewish Society and has produced multiple award-winning productions on student TV and radio.

Ellen Flax

Ellen Flax is a philanthropy specialist who currently supports the work of a graduate school of public health in NYC. She received her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and serves as the rabbi of several senior-care facilities.

Yehudis Fletcher

Yehudis is the co-founder of Nahamu, a Jewish organisation that counters ideologically motivated harms. There was a time when she had no academic credentials, and had to fill this bio with jokes. Now she holds a BSc in Social Policy and is undertaking a masters in Religion and Theology. Her memoir, Chutzpah will be published by Transworld in 2025.

Jodie Franks

Jodie is an ethusiastic educator, with a passion for all things Torah. Having previously worked at UJS and Maccabi GB, focusing on enriching Jewish student life and combatting antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate, she is now a maths teacher who is excited to learn with, and from, everyone at Limmud!

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 and has worked on liturgy for both Liberal & Reform Judaism. Final editor of the first ever British Reform Haggadah, and co-editor of its new High Holyday Machzor.

Vanessa Freedman

Vanessa is Hebrew & 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.

Sofia Freudenstein

Sofia is a fourth year student at Yeshivat Maharat and a Jewish Philosophy MA student at Yeshiva University. She has learned as a Senior Fellow at R' Aryeh Klapper's Summer Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Drisha, and was Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Stone. Sofia loves birdwatching, voice-noting, and listening to music.

Georgie Friend

Georgie is one of the co-chairs of the Limmud Young Leadership Program, and a Limmud Microgrant Recipient. Professionally, she is a Training Officer at Women's Aid Federation England, working primarily with children, young people, and school staff. She is also a trustee for Masorti Judaism, and has previously been a Moishe House Resident.

Eva Frojmovic

Eva teaches history of art and Jewish cultural history the University of Leeds, and is interested in art and museums. She is active in the British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies (do ask!). She is lucky to be surrounded by Cecil Roth's research library and amazing collection of rare books and manuscripts, and keen to share these treasures.