Michael Aarons

Michael is a retired Music and Instrumental teacher. Engaging with adults has always been particularly satisfying, and as a result he taught at a community college for several years. Music History has always been of particular interest, and he seems to collect obscure facts about composers, famous and otherwise, that he is happy to share with all.

Nic Abery

Nic is a creative and innovative educator who currently works on school improvement with Jewish schools in Zurich and Istanbul. She spends lots of time travelling and at airports.

Neil Abrahams

Neil played the ukulele in his skiffle group when he was a lad, and didn't pick one up again till he retired about 60 years later. He now leads the Dulwich U3A (University of the Third Age) Ukulele Group, which has a repertoire of over 150 songs and which performs at community centres, festivals, and care homes including the Nightingale Hammerson.

Ariella Abramowski

Ariella Abramowski, artist and facilitator, explores Jewish identity and its demystification. Her late father Robert Abrami, a Holocaust survivor and painter, was a key figure in France advocating for peace for Jews in the diaspora. Through the Abrami Academy, she unites communities with immersive, co-creative art and leadership.

Ibrahim Abu Ahmad

Ibrahim is a Palestinian peace activist from Nazareth, co-founder of the viral podcast The Third Narrative, where he brings his unique voice as a proud Palestinian and Muslim, whilst also having Israeli citizenship. Amid the ongoing devastation, he shares a firsthand look at the conflict’s roots and his vision for a better future for both peoples.

Shaul Adar

Shaul Adar is an acclaimed Israeli Journalist and author. His last book, On The Border: The Rise and Decline of the Most Political Football Club in the World (Pitch) tells the story of Beitar Jerusalem and the road to racism

Anoushka Alexander-Rose

Anoushka Alexander-Rose is a doctoral researcher in English at the Parkes Institute for Jewish/non-Jewish Relations. Alongside her thesis titled “Vladimir Nabokov’s Jewish Muse”, she works in interfaith, Holocaust, and Jewish heritage outreach.

Yoni Alon

Yoni Alon is an Israel educator based in Tel Aviv and a former JAFI shaliach to the Denver JCC. He is a graduate of the Haifa MA Ruderman programme and the Chicago iCenter - iFellows Master’s Concentration in Israel Education. The creator of David Cards - a tool for educators to foster open discussions about Jewish identity and Israel.

Emma Alter

Emma Alter is both professional musician and Feldenkrais teacher. She has twenty years experience of both world-class performance and teaching. She specialises in musicians and reducing anxiety. Her clients come from all walks of life and share a desire to improve their quality of life through how they move.

Michael Amdurer

Michael Amdurer, a retired psychiatrist and family therapist, had a special interest in abusive systems because of the numerous patients who felt safe and made first-time disclosures of sexual abuse to him, trusting him to fight for them.

Ali Amla

Mohammed Ali Amla is Solutions, Not Sides' Youth and Partnerships Director, leading on youth empowerment, strategic partnership development and community collaborations. Ali has dedicating his life to bridge building, interfaith, countering Islamophobia and anti-racism.

Arik Ascherman

Rabbi Ascherman has led Israeli human rights NGOs defending Jews and non-Jews since 1995. A role model for faith based human rights work, he endangers himself to defend others. (Google "Ascherman, knife"). Among recognitions, he received the Rabbi David Forman Memial Fund's human rights prize for 5779. .

Uzi Avner

From 1977 to 1999, Uzi Avner served as the District Archaeologist of the Southern Negev for the Israel Antiquities Authority. From 1999 to 2014, he taught desert archaeology at the Eilat campus of Ben Gurion University and at the Arava Institute. Since 2008 he has also been a senior researcher at the Dead Sea-Arava Science Center.

Hannah Azizollah

Hannah is a Psychologist, experienced in group relations and psychodynamics both personally and theoretically interested in looking beneath the surface when relating. She is also experienced in facilitating group processes and discussions in a work setting but a first-timer presenting at Limmud. She is a member of Finchley Reform Synagogue.

Eliaou Balouka

Eliaou is a PhD Student in Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck University. His PhD engages with Jewish-Muslim histories of minoritization in northern Africa and in the European urban diaspora. After studying for three years in yeshiva in Jerusalem and a master's degree in psychology in France, Eliaou worked as a clinical psychologist for several years.

Beejhy Barhany

Beejhy Barhany is an entrepreneur, and activist, born in Ethiopia, and raised in Israel she founded the Beta Israel North America Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating and including Jewish Ethiopian voices in the broader Jewish community. Today, she is the chef and owner of an eclectic Ethiopian restaurant, Tsion Café

Linoy Barokas

Linoy is the shlicha for the Union of Jewish Students. She studied Education and Political Science at Hebrew University. Linoy has worked with Jewish communities globally, including North America, Greece, and Australia. During her studies, she interned at the Israeli President's Office, and took part in Hillel International student cabinet.

Lisa Barrett

Lisa has been practicing meditation for over 30 years and is part of the team at HaMakom, the UK's Jewish Mindfulness organisation. A trained Spiritual Director, Lisa has most recently served Manchester Reform Synagogue and worked as a Chaplain at The Christie Hospital. She will also be starting as the new rabbi at Birmingham Progressive in January.

Danielle Barta

Danielle is a seasoned educator with 15+ years of experience with formal and informal Israel education who has built unique, creative, fun, engaging, & impactful Israel Education programs. Danielle is passionate about providing participants with a variety of approaches to create, deepen, & maintain their love for Israel.

Tal Bassali

Tal Bassali, is the founder of The Zehud Jewish Online School, which focuses on Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Tal travels throughout Europe speaking to audiences around the themes of universal Jewish education & Hebrew as the language of the Jewish people. She has supported hundreds of parents in determining their own ethos for Jewish family culture in their homes.

Jack Baum

Debra is a passionate advocate for community, history, heritage, and identity. As CEO of The Together Plan, she gives agency to Jews coming from a traumatic past, empowers them and gives them skills to rebuild and revive. She believes that together we can make a difference for a better, stronger and more cohesive Jewish landscape in Eastern Europe.

Shoshana Becker

Director of Western World Region at Naale Elite Academy, Shoshana brings 30 years of transformative leadership in global Jewish education. With a BA from the Hebrew University and an MA from Haifa University, her pivotal roles at the Jewish Agency, JDC and Israel Experience have empowered Jewish youth worldwide, leaving a lasting impact on future generations.

Michael Ben-Gad

Michael is Professor at City St George’s, University of London and former head of its Economics department. He has worked at the University of Haifa and the Bank of Israel and served on the US National Academy of Sciences Panel on Economic and Fiscal Impact of Immigration and the Technion's Economics of National Security Program.

David Benkof

David Benkof (TheBroadwayMaven.com) is a Jerusalem-based Jewish educator and Broadway-appreciation content creator who helps students think more deeply about musical theatre. He reaches thousands of Broadway fans weekly through Zoom classes, his substack ("MARQUEE"), and YouTube. Since 2015, presenter at 40+ Limmuds worldwide (in four languages).

Max Bentovim

Max Bentovim is a professional bureaucrat and an amateur tabletop game designer. His game about the Jewish experience in 19th-century Eastern Europe is a finalist in the Zenobia Awards, a competition for designers from underrepresented groups. Born and raised in New York, he's currently in Bratislava, Slovakia with his wife and five-year-old twins.

Marilyn Berg

Marylin was born, grew up and educated in Salford. After a BA in English Literature at Cardiff and a PGCE at UCL, she taught English for 29 years in the state sector. Now in comedy, she won the Fed "Laughter Factor" in 2014 and has appeared at "The Comedy Store".

Jonathan Bergwerk

Jonathan Bergwerk 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.

Sami Berkoff

Sami Berkoff is President of UJS (Union of Jewish Students) and a proud graduate of Durham University.

Adam Berlin

Adam regularly gives divrei torah at Golders Green Synagogue, where he is also the FR. He has been coming to Limmud for many years, along with his wife, Andrea and 3 children. For work, Adam is an equity research analyst at UBS. As a student, he led the J-Socs at both Oxford and Harvard Business School; and is an alumnus of Darche Noam yeshiva.

Rosalie Bernheim

Rosalie has recently submitted her PhD thesis 'Believing in Blood: Menstruation, Menopause, and Jewish-Christian Relations in Medieval Religious Texts.' After three years of intense research and both running and participating in academic conferences while living in Edinburgh, she has moved to London whilst waiting to defend her viva.

David Bilchitz

David Bilchitz is Professor of Fundamental Rights Law at the University of Johannesburg and the University of Reading. He served as an acting justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa between February and May 2024. He was also a founder of Limmud SA, chair of Limmud International and founder of Jewish Outlook: SA Jewish LGBTQ Alliance.

Ben Bilefield

Since 2021, Ben has been running weekly guided meditation sessions for colleagues across the UK Civil Service, reaching 1,000+ people in 25+ Government Departments. He has been meditating for the last nine years and has been on multiple retreats and courses. He is currently studying for a Master's in Environmental Policy at Cambridge.

Sharyn Bistre Dabbah

Veterinarian from Mexico and a specialist in dog behaviour, Sharyn completed a PhD in medical detection of dogs' behaviour at the University of Bristol. She is also involved in several other subjects such as history, arts, literature and theatre. She had several roles within the Jewish community of Mexico and has been a Limmud volunteer in Mexico and the UK

Dalia Blass

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

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.

Sharon Booth

Sharon Booth has master’s degrees from Cambridge in theology and from Kings College London in nationalism and religion. She taught English in Tunisia, worked for a publishing company in Jordan, and worked at the British Embassy before moving into Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution and founding Solutions Not Sides in 2010.

Gabriel Botnick

A US native, Gabriel met his wife, Rose, at Limmud, dancing at the Rebbetzin’s Disco. As the rabbi of Belsize Square Synagogue, which was founded by German refugees in 1939, he is committed to preserving the unique German Liberale tradition. Other rabbinic interests include shechitah (kosher slaughter) and creative tefillah (prayer).

Hannah Brady

Hannah is a former Limmud Festival chair and professional conference producer. A queer, deaf and disabled Jewish woman, she has founded multiple community and workplace inclusion initiatives, including the queer womxn and non-binary group Sapphic Shabbat.

Syd Braham

Syd Braham is a senior mashgiach who has been part of the Kashrut Team at Limmud for several years. He has officiated in several shuls across the UK on shabbat and chagim, including leyning. His interests include cricket, travel, landscape, the weather and Thomas Hardy novels. He is married to Sue with whom he has three sons and now five grandchildren.

Gareth Brahams

Gareth Brahams is an employment lawyer of 30 years standing. He is an ex-chair of the 6,000 member Employment Lawyers Association and is in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame and top ranked by Chambers Legal Directory. He is a member of Muswell Hill Synagogue and met his wife at Limmud!

Minna Bromberg

Founder of Fat Torah, Minna Bromberg is a rabbi who is passionate about bringing decades of fat activism to writing, teaching, and change-making at the nexus of Judaism and body justice. Her book, Every Body Beloved: a Jewish Embrace of Fatness, is forthcoming from Wayne State University Press. Minna lives in Jerusalem with her husband and their children.

Sarah Bronzite

Sarah is Head of Education at KeshetUK. Outside of KeshetUK she is a primary school teacher and is also conducting academic research about school-based sex education. In her spare time she writes about gender-based violence, is a Trustee for Migdal Emunah JSAS, and enjoys making mendiants. She has two religions: Judaism and choral singing.

Debra Brunner

Debra is a passionate advocate for community, history, heritage, and identity. As CEO of The Together Plan, she gives agency to Jews coming from a traumatic past, empowers them and gives them skills to rebuild and revive. She believes that together we can make a difference for a better, stronger and more cohesive Jewish landscape in Eastern Europe.

Emma Buggy

Emma has been facilitating Compassionate and Authentic Relating since 2016. She offers courses, retreats, and relational mediation to support conflict transformation. She co-organized the NVC Global Festival and empowers clear, compassionate communication to turn conflict into growth and connection.

Participant Care

Meet your co-chairs for participant care Gaia and Eden! You'll often see us running round the corridors of the Hilton assisting you with all kinds of matters. This year we also have the help from the one and only Raisel from JAMI! When not Limmuding, Gaia is in her final year as a Law student at the University of Birmingham and Eden is a singer songwriter! Come ask us any questions, or even just come for a chat - we’d love to hear all about the sessions you’re enjoying and how your Limmud is going!

Efraim Chalamish

Efraim Chalamish is an international law and economics professor at New York University in New York, a Senior Advisor with Kroll, the global risk management firm, and a leading media commentator. Efraim regularly contributes to many media outlets and platforms, including Israel Hayom, Jerusalem Post, i24, Global Finance, and more.

Ariel Chapman

Ariel is Executive Director of KeshetUK, working to ensure no one is forced to choose between their LGBT+ and Jewish identity. Ariel recently joined the organisation having worked in inclusion and diversity leadership for nearly ten years with a particular focus on Jewish and LGBT+ inclusion in higher education and the workplace.

Mohsin Choudry

Mohsin Choudry is an award-winning London GP and is passionate about addressing lifestyle in order to treat and prevent disease. He has trained in functional medicine, a holistic approach which seeks to address the root causes of disease rather than focusing on symptomatic management by delving into lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors.

Sam Clifford

Sam Clifford is the new CEO of Jewish Women’s Aid. She has had a varied career within the Jewish charitable sector, with Finchley Reform Synagogue and the Jewish Museum, and works as a freelance project manager. Sam has featured in The Jewish News’ “40 under 40” at number 22 and is a graduate of the JLC’s Dangoor Senior Leadership Programme.

Adrian Cohen

Adrian is Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Lay Chair of Labour Friends of Israel. A long-standing community leader, he’s a former Union of Jewish Students Chair and co-founded the London Jewish Forum. He is also a senior consultant in an international law firm with 35 years' experience in banking and finance.

Alina Cohen

Alina has been attending Limmud since 2017 and is so excited to be back! She loves to be creative, mythology and to learn from others. Her sessions are collaborative so come and have a chat!

David Cohen

David is a retired Civil Servant (Ministry of Justice) with a Social Sciences degree from Leicester University and a regular Limmudnik. His first book 'Battles of the Wars of the Roses' the turbulent period of English Medieval history was pblished by Pen and Sword in March 2023. His next project will be 'Israel's Wars of Survival'.

Howard Cohen

Howard Cohen is a retired GP and Mohel (Ritual Circumciser). He is an active member of the Progressive Jewish Community both in his local communities and nationally. He is currently studying for a PhD in Sociology at Birkbeck University of London exploring current attitudes towards circumcision amongst British Progressive Jews.

Josh Cohen

Josh is the campaigns and Jewish enrichment officer at the Union of Jewish Students and an LSJS Sacks Learning Fellow. He has been a West Wing fan since the age of 8 days, when he was named after a certain fictional deputy chief of staff. If you don't believe him, just ask his brother, Toby.

Thomas Cohen

Thomas is a current resident at Moishe House Kilburn, and you may have seen him around as Volunteers Co-Chair at festival this year!

Noah Colton

Noah Colton is volunteering as a member of the Limmud Festival Programme Development team.

Simon Colton

Simon is a barrister specialising in commercial litigation. In 2011 he was one of the junior counsel acting for Boris Berezovsky in the high profile Berezovsky v Abramovich trial. Simon continues to act for and against ultra-high net worth individuals from former states of the Soviet Union.

Zack Colton

Zack Colton is a final year student at the University of Bristol, and co-chair of YTL this year.

Zaki Cooper

Zaki is a communications professional, having previously worked for the Chief Rabbi and in the Royal Household as well as in the corporate sector. He is the co-founder of Integra Communications and is actively involved in inter-faith work.

Adam Corre

Adam runs pub psychology social events for young professionals in London. These events also include 'TED style' short talks from experts in the world of psychology. Topics include everything from the psychology of dreams, neurosis, decision-making, psychosis, narcissism and the psychology of psychopaths.

Ali Coy

Ali left a successful career as a software engineer to retrain as a nurse. Ali has volunteered in Africa, India and Palestine. Ali's Judaism informs a commitment to making the world a better place in whatever way possible. Having moved from London to Glasgow out of love for being in nature, Ali is happiest hiking, cycling and wild camping throughout Scotland.

Mark Creeger

Working in ethics and compliance, Mark has taught Jewish Education and IT at multiple levels. A regular speaker, parsha discussion and prayer leader at Barnet Synagogue, he has taught bar mitzvah boys for nearly 40 years. Married to fabulous comedian, Rachel Creeger, they share two wonderful boys, a marvellous daughter-in-law, and a fabulous grandson.

Rachel Creeger

Rachel is a multi-award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and director, and the only practising Orthodox Jew on the UK comedy circuit. She's 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 lives, volunteers and works in London. He is currently the Treasurer of the Board of Deputies, and the Bevis Marks Foundation, and was Limmud’s Treasurer 2020 - 2023. Unsurprisingly he is an accountant, and currently a partner at Vardags, a family law boutique. He is socially acquainted with the anonymous collective who produce Private Oy!

Tilla Crowne

Artist, founder and co-editor of underground satirical zine Private Oy! and serial mushroom-botherer Tilla Crowne will help guide you literally into and metaphorically out of the woods.

Avi Dabush

Avi Dabush is the executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights and a survivor of the October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nirim. Fiercely committed to the survival of Israeli democracy and to a Jewish state that is moral and upholds the essential tenets of the Jewish tradition, Avi has been a driving force in various social organisations and movements.

Yotam Dagan

Yotam Dagan is a former Israel Navy Seal Commander and a clinical psychologist with expertise in trauma and resilience. He operates globally to strengthen and promote individual, organisational and national resiliency in the face of crises and disasters. Yotam holds a range of international degrees in clinical psychology and public administration.

Georgina Daniels

Georgina is a creative chaos creature who is looking for new ways to make the conversation about neurodiversity meaningful, whilst holding space for the sheer absurdity of our existence. What are we doing here?? Is their shpiel convincing enough? Well, clearly! You're still reading.

Karina Datashvili

The Senior Matchmaker and Managing Director at Simantov International, Karina transitioned to matchmaking after 20 years of HR experience, and is certified by the Matchmaking Institute. Karina helps Jewish singles find love, blending cultural insight with personalized matchmaking, emphasizing a client-focused approach over algorithms.

Benajamin de Jong

Benjamin is an Assistant Headteacher at JCoSS and Head of Sixth Form. He has been teaching Jewish Education and Politics at JCoSS since 2011, has an MA from UCL in Educational Leadership and is a member of the Lira Winston Fellowship.

Jakob de Jonge

Jakob de Jonge is a graduate of Limmud's Presenter Bootcamp programme for new presenters and the son of two Holocaust survivors who survived in hiding in The Netherlands. Jakob was born in The Netherlands, lived in Israel and Turkey, before settling in Solihull with his family. He runs a company, supplying products to artisan cheese makers.

Daniel de Wijze

Daniel studied Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford. Since graduating, he has worked in the energy industry, looking at wind power and the electricity grid. He joined RWE in 2023 as part of the policy team, advocating for the development of offshore wind in the UK. He grew up in Manchester and now lives with his partner in London.

Leo Dee

Brought up in a Reform home in London, Leo studied at Cambridge and became a private equity investor before being ordained as an Orthodox rabbi. His wife and two daughters were killed by Hamas terrorists during Pesach 2023. His first book was “Transforming the World: The Jewish Impact on Modernity”. Today he is a passionate advocate for Israel.

Martin Devereux

Martin has worked in the cultural heritage sector for over 25 years. As a qualified archivist, Martin has worked with a range of organisations including universities, charities, museums, embassies and businesses. Martin is currently cataloguing Limmud's archive as part of a project funded by the Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe.

Martin Di Maggio

Martin Hasan Di Maggio is an Anglo-Italian-Albanian linguist, graduating from SOAS University of London, specialising in endangered and minoritised languages with a focus on translanguaging practices as a route to language maintenance (preservation). He has a keen interest in Jewish languages, and especially Ladino.

Rachel Dratch

Rachel Levitt Klein Dratch is director of global education at the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, Israel. Prior to making aliya last year, Rachel served as director of educational innovation at Prizmah, the Center for Jewish Day Schools in North America. Rachel is a sought after scholar in residence, educational consultant and coach.

Josh Dubell

Josh Dubell is the Education Director for Solutions Not Sides (SNS), overseeing the Youth Education Programme. Josh has worked in Israel-Palestine education for the past 15 years including working for LJY & RSY-Netzer, NFTY and UJIA. Solutions Not Sides is a British charity which educates young people around the country on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

John Dunston

John sang on Top of the Pops & in opera in Israel, conducted the Oxford Jewish Congregation choir and directs the Maidenhead Synagogue choir, including in Carl Davis' "Last Train to Tomorrow" in 2017. He lectures on music & the Jews, education, the Holocaust, and has led Jewish study tours to Israel & China. John was Head of two Quaker schools.

Anna Dyson

Interested in creating new Jewish spaces, interfaith and dialogue, hosting difficult conversations, building network and community, and self development through Jewish sources. Currently living in Leeds and studying (mainly remotely) with AJRCA (rabbinical student), and HUC's ZSchool (MSc in Organisation, Leadership and Innovation).

John Dyson

John has had a distinguished legal career culminating in appointment as Justice of the UK Supreme Court and master of the Rolls. Since retirement, has had a varied career including sports arbitrations (, international arbitrations and investigations. He has written his memoir A Judge’s Journey.

Noah Efron

Noah Efron serves on the Tel Aviv-Jaffa City Council, chairing the committees on Environment & on Pluralism. He teaches at Bar Ilan University, about the tricky meeting of science, technology, religion & politics. Efron hosts “The Promised Podcast,” has written lots of articles and three books so far. His biggest regret is that he is not Nora Ephron.

Maxine Elias

In 52 years, Maxine has experienced four sons, two dogs, highs & ohh's! She has excelled in the hair, food, events & charity professions, and has combined her talents, certified studies, innate wisdom & love of helping others, to create 'A Healing House' This has been a varied & unexpected journey of growth & transformation

Louise Ellman

Louise Ellman was the Labour and Co-operative Party MP for Liverpool Riverside between 1997 and 2019. She is the Joint Independent Chair of the Board of Deputies, a board member of Labour Friends of Israel, and Honorary President of the Jewish Labour Movement. She is a member of Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation and has spoken in its Heritage Season.

Neil Elton

Neil Elton lives in Welwyn Garden City and works in the environmental sector. Part of the Limmud First Time Presenters' course last year, he really enjoyed preparing and delivering his first ever Limmud presentation on The Five Love Languages and Judaism. He has always been interested in how people meet and form relationships.

Judith Valerie Engel

Judith Valerie Engel is a concert pianist and musicologist, originally from Austria. Her professional focus lies in rediscovering the (many!) forgotten women composers in history and bringing them both to the stage and into the academic and public discourse.

Alan Ereira

Alan is Professor of Practice, University of Wales, Trinity St. David and a graduate of the Limmud Presenter Boot Camp programme for new presenters. He is an award-winning BBC producer/director working for many years with Terry Jones (Monty Python). He works with a secretive indigenous people in Colombia, who place great emphasis on the connection between gold, humans and nature.

Kelly Erez

Kelly Erez, inspired by ’90s R&B, has performed at venues like the Royal Festival Hall. Featured on BBC One, Radio 1Xtra, and 6 Music, her music reached No. 11 in the Urban Club Charts. A trained vocal and life coach, she helps others build self-belief and express emotions through music.

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.

Marc Frank

Marc is a Jewish meditation teacher in training with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and Community Manager for Hamakom UK. He works as a Gestalt Therapist and Mental Health Support Worker, facilitates Totnes Jewish Community, and chairs a Devon-based Interfaith Forum. He's passionate about peace within our lives, and the awareness which makes this possible

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.

Joshua Garfield

Joshua is Deputy Director of Labour Friends of Israel and a Labour Councillor in Newham, East London. He is also on the National Executive Committee of the Jewish Labour Movement, a former parliamentary candidate and a member of the World Jewish Congress' Diplomatic Corps.

Sara Garfield

Sara Garfield is a Lecturer in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety at UCL School of Pharmacy and is part of a collaboration exploring three-d printing of medicines. She is also part of several Torah learning groups and graduated from the LSJS in-depth Halacha course on brachot last year.

Nick Gendler

Nick divides his time between being a psychotherapist, a clinical supervisor for psychotherapists, a career coach, and a wannabe jazz bassist. He's reasonably OK at the first three but doesn't do enough practice for the fourth. He also likes to ride his bicycle.

Noa Gendler

In this iteration, Noa is a secondary school English teacher and your Festival Programming co-chair for the second (and last) year in a row. She will, of course, be DJing the Silent Disco, as well as getting drunk in the bar, embarrassing herself on the inflatables and turning 30 on Monday.

Gabriel Gendler Yom-Tov

Gabriel Gendler Yom-Tov is a London-based mathematician and rebbetzin, and your Shabbat co-chair. He has studied and taught at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem and Yeshivat Hadar in New York. He tries to teach one serious shiur and one silly shiur every Limmud. Can you tell which is which?

Andrew Gilbert

Andrew Gilbert is vice president security resilience and cohesion of the Board of Deputies. He has previously held leadership roles in LJF, UJIA and RJ. He chaired 5 Limmud Conferences, spent 8 years as Limmud Chair and set up and built Limmud International.

Baruch Gilinsky

Baruch is a PhD student at the University of Oxford researching urban landscapes in 19th century San Francisco, exploring how urban spaces 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 an ever-growing library.

Malcolm Ginsberg

A long time ago Malcolm Ginsberg, now 82, 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, cruise & aviation specialist. He has been a regular speaker at Limmud for many years. A one-time Lotus PRO he was also a ten-pound pom.

Paul Ginsberg

Paul Ginsberg is an IT specialist. He volunteers with ADHD Aware, is a regular participant at Glasgow's Adult ADHD Peer Support Group and is studying to become an ADHD coach. On his blog he writes about the human side of IT, and neurodiversity matters. Sometimes these topics are strongly connected, other times less so!

Miriam Gitlin

Miriam Gitlin is a family law solicitor with the charity Not Beyond Redemption, which represents women prisoners in the family law courts. She is also a graduate of the Susie Bradfield programme.

Micah Gold

Micah Gold is an old time Limmudnik, 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. He is a co-founder of Kavanah - A Jewish Space for Psychedelic Preparation & Integration.

David Goldberg

David is a retired adolescent psychiatrist and amateur painter who is preoccupied, in the current moment, with how to be a secular Diaspora Jew supporting universal human rights and advocating international law in the constant presence of the violence of past history and webcam-ed visions of the blooded present.

Melanie Goldberg

Melanie is a Scottish Jew from Glasgow who loves to combine her love for both her Scottish and Jewish heritage. She hopes to share her culture with others at Limmud through traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing!

Daniel Goldfarb

Daniel Goldfarb (Boston-born lawyer/rabbi/teacher; Jerusalem resident since 1976) was Director of the Conservative Yeshiva (2000-2013) and has taught many times at Conference and Limmuds around the world. As they’d say in Boston when he was a kid - "that and ten cents will get you a cup of coffee." Not anymore!

Aviva Goldschmidt Kaufmann

Aviva loves grappling with Jewish texts. She set up one of the first women’s megillah readings in the UK and works hard to increase women’s engagement in Orthodox Judaism. She is on her synagogue council and teaches Maths to young adults who struggle with mainstream education. She and her husband, Andy, started dating at Limmud and have four children.

Eli Goldsobel

Eli is a rabbi and graduate of Limmud's Presenter Bootcamp. He is an Associate Minister at an affiliate US, a leader, and social entrepreneur. As director of Mitchambers Ltd, he drives strategic growth in boutique consultancy. Founder of Mit.Sip CIC, and on the path to becoming a barrister, he champions inclusivity for neurodivergent individuals, promoting equity, freedom of expression and social justice.

Sam Goldstone-Brady

Sam is a recent graduate of the University of Glasgow, completing a PhD about the historical development of sport wheelchair technology. He now works for the National Paralympic Heritage Trust as their collections manager and curator. He has also published about antisemitism and ableism in the Jewish Historical Society's journal, Transactions.

Susy Goldstone-Brady

Susy lives in Buckinghamshire where she works in local government. This is not her first Limmud rodeo, having attended in 2017, 2018 and 2019. This year, she is grateful to be attending Limmud as part of the Young Leadership Programme.

Jacob Goldwater

Jacob Goldwater is a a nivchar (elected volunteer representative) for Bnei Akiva and excited to be a madrich for YTL this year!

Alex Golub

Alex Golub, an entrepreneur in both social and business spheres, goes beyond IT project management and real estate. His passion for organizing Jewish-inspired seminars and mindfulness retreats reflects his dedication to personal growth and community empowerment.

Mark Gordon

Mark has attended Limmud for 18 years. Making aliyah hasn't stopped him. He is a travel writer for The Jerusalem Post and is the Executive Producer of The Post's Travel Podcast. In his spare time, he works at the British Embassy, where he has watched England beat Germany with Liz Truss on a beach and Prince William take penalties in Jaffa.

Rivka Gottlieb

Music therapist and Jewish community professional, Rivka is currently developing the exciting new Shema Koleinu tefillah (prayer) skills website for Masorti Judaism, and provides comms support to Leo Baeck College. She also sits on the board of directors of the national campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK.

Shoshana Gottlieb

Shoshana is a writer and Jewish educator based in Sydney, Australia. She spends her time watching and discussing film and television, reading Jewish books and making memes on Instagram, @JewishMemesOnly. When not posting on the internet, Shoshana is a Jewish Studies teacher, and is currently completing her Masters of Teaching.

Ayala Gottlieb Alter

Cantorial student, singer, cellist and Jewish educator, fresh from a year as cantor for The Great Synagogue of Stockholm, Ayala is currently lending her voice to the exciting new Shema Koleinu Tefillah (prayer) skills website for Masorti Judaism. She is passionate about empowering people to access the music of our tradition.

Steve Gough

Steve Gough is a Bafta-winning writer and director. His credits include the BBC Film Drama, Heartland, starring Anthony Hopkins; and the BFI Feature, Elenya, which was centrepiece film at the London Film festival in 1992. He has also written for theatre and radio and has published two novels.

Sarah Grabiner

Sarah is a cantor/aspiring academic. She is writing her PhD at UCL on how meaning is communicated via translation in siddurim. She has studied Hebrew, Sacred Music, and Linguistics, and was ordained as a cantor at Hebrew Union College. Sarah works as the Associate Director of the Year in Israel, HUC Jerusalem, teaching future rabbis and cantors.

Avi Grant

Avi Grant is a football culture enthusiast and content creator. He produced the documentary 'The St Pauli Way: Fans Against Modern football' and will manage to relate any conversation back to football. He graduated with a degree in Journalism from City, University of London. Avi is also the Co-Marketing Chair for Limmud Festival this year.

Natalie Grazin

Natalie is a Limmud Trustee, parent of two teens and partner of Samantha who she met at Limmud 25 years ago. Professionally, she is a coach and consultant, working with NHS organisations and Jewish charities on strategy, impact, change and leadership. She has been a Limmud volunteer since first attending in 1994.

Michael Green

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

Miriam Green

Miriam is an alumni of the Limmud Young Leadership Programme and was part of 2023's cohort.

Norman Green

Norman Green is a retired California lawyer, with a long-time interest in Passover and Passover seders. The last time he came to Limmud Festival, he presented an introduction to Karaite Judaism. He has also presented at Limmuds in Los Angeles, New York and Sydney.

Stevie Green

Stevie is a tutor and baal koreh in Los Angeles. He has studied at Shalhevet, UMD, UCSD, the Conservative Yeshiva, and Yeshivat Hadar, and is currently studying talmud at Yashrut. When not learning, he can often be found playing strategy board games.

Joanne Greenaway

Jo is a scholar, lawyer, linguist & educator. For 5 years she has led LSJS delivering education programmes & developing excellent teachers. She loves Jewish peoplehood and making Jewish law relevant. She is completing the 4 year International Halachah Scholars Programme. Formerly get director at the LBD, she is writing a bestseller on get refusal.

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 Greene is an analyst and lecturer in politics and foreign policy. He is a visiting lecturer at Bar Ilan University and has held positions at Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, LSE and QMUL. He provides research and consultancy services for a range of organisations. Toby recently returned to the UK after 17 years in Israel.

Ben Greenfield

Ben serves as a rabbi at deToledo High School in Los Angeles, where he directs the advanced Iyun track. His innovative writings in Jewish thought appear in Tablet and Lehrhaus and have been recognized with several national awards. A presenter at Limmud NYC & Limmud Stockholm, he trained at Gush, Hopkins, Oxford and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.

Batsheva Haber

Batsheva is a shlicha at the UJIA and JAFI. She has over a decade of experience in Education. She specializes in Israel education, ed-tech, and experiential learning. Her past experience includes educational consulting, Teach First Israel, Mekif Gilo ed-tech specialist, Camp Moshava chinuch staff, and partnership coordinator at Appleseed.

Joel Haber

Joel Haber researches Jewish Food History. He’s spoken in 7 countries, writes for various publications, and recently produced the podcast, "18 Jewish Foods." Joel published a free e-cookbook related to his first book (currently in revisions), about the history of Shabbat stews from around the world. He also works as a culinary tour guide in Israel.

Lara Haft Yom-Tov

Lara Haft Yom-Tov is a rabbi at New North London Synagogue. Originally from Washington, D.C., Lara received semicha from Beit Midrash Har’el and studied at Pardes, Drisha, Hebrew College, and SVARA. They love connecting ancestral Jewish texts to contemporary political movements, exploring world-building, land justice, and queerness in Jewish law.

Tal Hagin

Tal Hagin is an Open-Source Intelligence researcher specializing in information warfare at FakeReporter, an online watchdog group that works to combat malicious activity on social media.

Einat Halevy Levin

Senior public policy and diplomacy advisor, Einat advises Hostage Aid Worldwide, as well as leading "Religious Zionist Democrats." Married and mother of four, she lived for five years in Vietnam and headed the Israel-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce. Active in Gaza hostage efforts, she bridges diverse Jewish perspectives and advocates social involvement and tikkun olam.

Simone Halfin

Born in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Simone moved to London after University and joined the BBC, working in the drama department, and BBC Education, writing and producing Let's Join In. Simone worked at Spectrum Radio and currently on the News Team of Radio Jackie, interviewing many celebrities.

Avidan Halivni

Avidan Halivni is the Associate Director of Moishe House’s Jewish Learning Collaborative, a new platform that offers customized Jewish learning for professionals and lay leaders of Jewish organisations. He graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University and holds an MA from the University of Chicago Divinity School in the History of Judaism.

Kaley Halperin

Kaley Halperin is an American-born singer songwriter and community activist from Jaffa, Israel. Between Joni Mitchell and Rav Carlebach, Kaley strives with her music and workshops to bring people closer to themselves, one another, and their higher power.

Chaim (Harvey) Hames

Chaim Hames is Rector of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has a PhD in Medieval History from Cambridge University. Research includes Medieval & Renaissance Jewish, Christian & Muslim mysticism & philosophy, apocalypticism, inter-religious polemics, conversion. His book is titled: I (do not) Believe: Judaism & Israel, Past, Present, Future.

Joel Hamilton

Joel Hamilton is considered an expert in sustainability, holding a mechanical engineering Master's degree and a doctorate in sustainable energy. His career spans: low carbon infrastructure, renewable energy, energy efficiency, heat pumps, refrigeration and district heat networks across industrial, commercial, government and public sectors.

Jill Hammer

Jill Hammer is a rabbi and the Director of Spiritual Education at the Academy for Jewish Religion and the Director of Learning and Ritual at Beit Kohenet, and the author of The Moonstone Covenant, Undertorah: An Earth-Based Kabbalah of Dreaming, Return to the Place: The Magic, Meditation, and Mystery of Sefer Yetzirah, The Hebrew Priestess, etc.

Meesh Hammer-Kossoy

Meesh Hammer-Kossoy is a rabbi and the Rosh Beit Midrash at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, an open, co-ed and non-denominational Jewish learning community. Among the first cohort of Orthodox female rabbis ordained in June 2015, Meesh teaches Talmud and Rabbinics, Halakhah, Mussar, Social Justice and has a PhD in Talmud from NYU.

Paul Harris

Senior Partner at a leading law firm, Paul Harris is a highly renowned criminal defence solicitor, having worked on cases connected to the Hillsborough disaster, Extinction Rebellion protests, and the Post Office appeals. Serving as a Masorti Judaism Trustee and deputy on the Board of Deputies, Paul is an NNLS member and, most importantly, father to Ava and Grace and stepfather to Bz.

Rachel Harris

Rachel worked in human resources in London for over 10 years before moving to Jerusalem to study at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies for six months to learn Torah. She accidentally stayed for two years, and for some reason decided to make Aliyah during a war. She is now learning Hebrew in Ulpan and settling into life as an Israeli.

Christina Harrison

Christina has been the Communications Associate for CAMERA UK since 2022. She previously worked at the Embassy of Israel in London from 2017-2020. On behalf of the Embassy of Israel to the UK, she re-opened the Centre for Scotland and Israel Relations in August 2020 and managed all aspects of the Embassy's engagement in Scotland.

Josh Hartuv

A Tripadvisor award-winning tour guide in Tel Aviv, Shuki lives for Israeli music - where even pop songs can make you dance and cry. Made aliyah from Canada to Kibbutz Saad in 2011, served in the IDF, worked the fields and explored life in Otef Azza.

Zev Harvey

Zev Harvey is Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he has taught since 1977. He is the author of many studies on medieval and modern Jewish philosophers, e.g., Maimonides, Crescas, and Spinoza. He was an EMET Prize laureate in the Humanities in 2009.

Paul Heller

Paul is a baritone trained in Bel Canto, and a member of European Cantors Association as well as the Cantor for Belsize Square Synagogue. Having also trained as a dentist, he has studied at yeshivot in Israel and New York. Since 1996, he has been a spiritual leader in Colombia, Ecuador, Sweden, and England.

David Henkin

David Henkin is Professor of History at the University of California, Berkeley, where he teaches the social/cultural history of the U.S. In a separate life he also teaches traditional Jewish texts and is an active participant in a lay-led independent minyan in San Francisco, which he co-founded two decades ago.

Miriam Herschlag

Miriam Herschlag is Opinion and Blogs Editor at The Times of Israel, where she presides over the largest, most diverse hosting platform for content about Israel and the Jewish world. A veteran broadcast journalist who also put in a long stint in Israel’s medical tech industry, Miriam is a frequent panelist on “The Promised Podcast”.

Suzanne Higgott

Suzanne recently retired from the Wallace Collection in London, where she was Curator of Glass, Limoges Painted Enamels, Earthenware and Early Furniture. She is fascinated by the depiction of stories from the Biblical book of Genesis (B’reishit) in Renaissance art, especially for the decoration of Italian ceramics and French painted enamels.

David Hochhauser

David is a London-based artist and curator. His work mainly consists of sculpture and printmaking, and his works are held in collections in the UK and abroad. He recently co-curated the exhibition 'People of the Body: Contemporary artist explorations of the Jewish body ' which brought together 10 artists to exhibit on the theme.

Shirel Horovitz

Shirel is a multidisciplinary Tel Aviv based artist and thinker with works exhibited in galleries and museums in Israel and USA. She earned her BFA from Bezalel Academy and MA from TAU. An art teacher, lecturer and CSP’s creative director, Shirel weaves into teaching socio-politics, history and religion creating a nuanced image of Israeli reality.

Gil Hovav

Gil Hovav is an Israeli author, restaurant critic and tv presonality. He was born in Jerusalem in 1962 and lives in Tel Aviv with his partner and their 21 year old daughter. Recently, one of his memoires 'Candies from Heaven' was published in English and Chinese.

Robin Howard

Robin Howard is a senior physician based in London. He has extensive experience in treating neurological disease and disability. He is a regular Limmudnick.

Ernie Hunter

Ernie is second generation and a volunteer Holocaust educator in the UK and Germany. He chairs Northern Holocaust Education Group and is one of its speakers. Ernie is also a speaker for Generation2Generation. He is a member of the Education Advisory Group of the Manchester Jewish Representative Council, and his best job is being a grandpa!

Dilwar Hussain

Dilwar is an Assistant Professor at Coventry University and Chair of New Horizons in British Islam. Over the last 25 years he has advised government departments, provided policy analysis and training on faith issues. Dilwar was awarded an MBE for services to interfaith understanding and community relations.

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 mildly obsessed with creating meaningful Jewish gatherings. 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 rabbi and and directs the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management, a global virtual+ program training Jewish professional leaders. Author of We Shall Build Anew, she has devoted her career to building Jewish life in higher education and has taught at HUC-JIR, Brandeis University and Vassar College.

Zachary Igielman

Zachary is an alumni of the Limmud Young Leadership Programme and was part of 2023's cohort.

Magen Inon

Magen Inon is an Israeli-born London-based father of three, and an educator. Has worked to cultivate liberal values and leadership skills with students, military officers, young adults, and inmates. Since the murder of his parents in the Hamas attack on 7 October, he became a leading voice for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Judith Ish-Horowicz

Judith is co-founder of Apples and Honey Nightingale, the UK's first co-located nursery in a care home, and of AHN education & training, and is co-chair of GenerationAll. She believes in the transformative power of bringing generations together so we can, in Heschel’s words ‘live life in radical amazement’. Together we can make the world sparkle!

Margaret Jacobi

Margaret Jacobi loves sharing the inspiration of Jewish texts and their call for justice. She is the Chair of Tzelem, Rabbis and Cantors for Social and Economic Justice. Trained as a medical doctor, she has a PhD in Talmud. She is the Rabbi Emerita of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue and Associate Chair of the Liberal Judaism Beit Din.

Nicole Jacobus

Nicole is a producer, science communicator, and artist, and one of this year's recipients of the Limmud Microgrant fund. Find her lino prints in the print shop at jacobus.org.

Yael Jaffe

Yael Jaffe (she/her) is a rabbi serving the communities of New North London Synagogue and Ohel Moed, a grassroots minyan in Golders Green. Yael attended Brandeis University before studying at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City, where she received her ordination. Originally from South Florida, Yael lives in Finchley with her husband, BZ Gilinsky.

Shoshana Jakobovits

Shoshana often says she has three lives: she is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Maharat, a software engineer at Google Deepmind, and a spouse and mother. Does she have a better command of Aramaic, Python, Swiss-German or baby language? Well, it depends when you ask. What is consistent however, is her love of texts, people and where the two meet.

Shoshana Jedwab

Shoshana Jedwab is a percussionist, singer-songwriter, worship leader, and prize-winning Jewish educator at the A.J. Heschel Middle School in New York City. Shoshana Jedwab’s album, I Remember, and viral singles, Where You Go, Openings, Torah Orah and Life Is Born, nourish the soul and support our protests and prayers.

UK Jewish Film

UK Jewish Film is dedicated to developing an environment in which Jewish film entertains, educates and enlightens diverse audiences in the UK and internationally. At the core of UK Jewish Film’s values is the notion that film is universal. It crosses cultures and can unite audiences through the telling of cinematic stories that provide stimulating and unique views of Jewish and Israeli life and culture.

Ruchama Johnston-Bloom

Ruchama works for the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe, where she manages the Academic Jewish Studies Grants Programme. She has a PhD in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago, where her research focused on German-Jewish scholarship on Islam. She grew up on an organic vegetable farm in Vermont, and has called London home since 2013.

Billy Jonas

Billy Jonas is a songsmith, multi-instrumentalist, Jewish educator, and multi-faith advocate, and one of those rare performers who engages and delights both adults and youth. For three decades Billy has been "Bridging Divides," through concerts and workshops using voice, guitar and “industrial re-percussion” (instruments made from found objects).

Deborah Kahn-Harris

Deborah Kahn-Harris is a rabbi and academic who has served as Principal of Leo Baeck College since 2011, where she also teaches Megillot. Her most recent book is (Lexington Books, 2024) Polyamory and Reading the Book of Ruth. She has also recently contributed an article on Lamentations to the Visual Commentary on Scripture (https://thevcs.org/heartsick-with-woe).

Keith Kahn-Harris

Keith Kahn-Harris is a sociologist and writer. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Jewish Policy Research and a Senior Lecturer at Leo Baeck College. His ninth book, 'Everyday Jews' will be published in March 2025.

Zac Kamenetz

Zac Kamenetz is a rabbi and the founder of Shefa Jewish Psychedelic Support. Zac is leading a movement to integrate safe and supported psychedelic use into the Jewish spiritual tradition. He is a qualified instructor of MBSR, trained in ketamine-assisted care, and is currently training with the Hakomi Institute in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Tova Kamioner

Tova is a writer, performer, marketer, and speaking consultant based in Israel. Throughout the year she teaches Tanach and Jewish philosophy at Yakar Tel Aviv. Originally from the US, she has a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Columbia University and studied on exchange at UCL. Please pardon whatever accent comes out.

Slavyan Kanovski

Slavyan Kanovski is from Bulgaria. He works as a tour guide but he is also very passionate about Israeli dance! 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!

Sammy Kanter

Sammy Kanter is a rabbi serving as the Director of Jewish Life at the Mayerson JCC in Cincinnati Ohio. With rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, Sammy has worked with spiritual communities B'nai Jeshurun (NYC), IKAR, and B’nai Tikvah. Sammy lives in Cincinnati, OH, with his husband, Zvi.

Gabriel Kanter-Webber

Gabriel Kanter-Webber is a rabbi and has been minister to Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue since August 2022. He met his wife while babysitting at Limmud and offers best of luck to those who are, this year, babysitting his two children.

Elliott Karstadt

Elliott has been part of the rabbinic team at Alyth Synagogue since July 2020. He is passionate about teaching Jewish texts to all ages, abilities and experiences.

Noah Katz

Passionate about diverse involvement in political spaces, Noah is the Chair of the Board of Deputies' Under 35 Assembly & sits on the Board’s executive. Writing as much as they can, Noah's first book chapter was published in November. Noah serves on the National Union of Students boards as a Member Director of NUS UK and a Trustee of NUS Charity.

Isaac Kaufmann

Isaac studied Mathematics at Cambridge and is now a Software Engineer. This is his first Limmud presenting, but by no means his first Limmud.

Laurie Kaye

Laurie was founding Chair of the Abraham Initiatives UK, the Israel-based charity at the forefront of building a shared and equitable society in Israel between its Palestinian & Jewish citizens. In these tenuous times, he remains actively involved its vital work.

Melanie Kelly

Melanie is a seasoned Jewish community professional, currently evaluating impact and managing volunteers at UJIA. When she's not crunching numbers, she's likely to be found with a ball of yarn in hand, knitting, crocheting, or embroidering. Her motto? "Life's always brighter through yarn!"

Andrea Kelmanson

Andrea's last 'proper job' was CEO of The National Centre for Volunteering. For the past 25 years She has been a freelance Organisation Development Consultant. She belongs to a group of former charity CEO consultants called The Experience Network, and with a few of them, she regularly discusses the ghastly (for her) prospect of 'retirement'!

Clive Kennard

Clive co-runs the Limmud Presenter Bootcamp, which offers skills to new presenters hoping to teach at festival. He has a PhD in nineteenth-century Jewish art history, specialising in gender, late romanticism, queer stereotype, and national identity. He is also a tenor and High-Anglican shul queen.

David Kinshuck

An armchair climate activist, David is trying to learn to use visual art (painting, drawing etc) as a means of communicating climate and social issues to promote action.

Marion Kinshuck

Marion is a member of the Limmud Presenter Bootcamp Team, Limmud's training course for budding presenters and loves helping Limmudniks to share their stories. Marion lives in Littlehampton in West Sussex and is a member of the Worthing & District Jewish Community.

Barry Kleinberg

Barry is a PhD student at Haifa University, researching pluralism and universalism in Orthodox Jewish thought. He was part of the inaugural cohort of Sacks' Scholars and is a Teaching Fellow at the London School of Jewish Studies.

Ida Kochane

Ida has lived in Israel in Kibbutz Ketura since 1998. She teaches Zhineng Qigong Mingjue Gongfu (how to use consciousness to be wiser), and became an instructor of levels 1 and 2 of Zhineng Qigong at the Xi’an Lington Zhineng Science Research Center. She has a diploma of Inner Perceptions Instructor from the University of Rosario, Argentina.

Aaron Koller

Aaron Koller is professor of Near Eastern Studies at Yeshiva University. He has held visiting positions at Cambridge, Oxford, the Albright Institute, and the Hartman Institute, and taught at the Hebrew University. He is the author of books on Esther and the Akedah, among others. He lives in NY with Shira Hecht-Koller and their children.

Tomi Komoly

Tomi survived the Holocaust in Hungary, escaped during the 1956 Uprising. As a refugee, obtained a scholarship to study in Britain. He has a master’s degree in engineering, worked in the chemical industry, published a book on laboratory design and retired as a consultant. He is very active in Holocaust education and was awarded the BEM for this.

Lucie Kon

Lucie is a BAFTA and Emmy nominated Producer, currently Commissioning Editor on Storyville, where she commissioned Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again. Prior to joining Storyville, she was Executive Producer on Panorama. In 2018, Series Producer and Director of We Are British Jews, a two-part series for BBC Two, described at the time as “a timely exploration of what it means to be Jewish in Britain today”.

Chai-Yoel Korn

Chai-Yoel Korn is a Body and Trauma Relational Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor. His writing: ‘The Chicken Soup of Identity’ as part of a book ‘Non-Binary Lives’ made number one LGBTQ+ book in The Independent’s Best Book Buys of 2020.

Eden Kosman

Eden Kosman is a Jewish-German psychologist and PhD student specializing in sexology, focusing on female sexual dysfunctions. She runs a practice in Berlin, offering psychological counselling, couples therapy, and sex therapy. Additionally, she lectures at a university of applied sciences and conducts workshops on sexuality and psychology.

Harry Lampert

Harry has been attending Limmud for over two decades - he is only 29 years old. Now an adult (allegedly), he is a TV producer and science communicator creating documentaries for the UK and US all to fund his baking habit. He is looking forward to bringing more science content to Limmud this year.

Charles Landau

Charles is an international tour guide, historian, and lecturer on history, comparative religion and art. He is also a passionate speaker who has enlightened thousands in various fora such as the House of Commons, universities, Synagogues, and Churches. He is also a ghost writer, and advises on plays, and films.

Antonia Lassar

Antonia Lassar is a standup comedian/hottie based in Los Angeles. She's best known for her viral videos about Jewish life, as well as being one half of the world-famous queer/Jewish podcast "Yenta!". Antonia recently won the Mandel Fellowship for her Jewish standup comedy. She's currently on a world tour of synagogues, and it's very glamorous.

Clive Lawton

Clive, co-founder of Limmud, has been a Head, an NHS hospital board Chair, an advisor to the Home Office and on the Metropolitan Police Authority. He is CEO of the Commonwealth Jewish Council, a Presiding Justice, an NHS Tribunal Chair and a regular lecturer at JW3. His OBE, awarded in 2016, was for services to education and the Jewish community.

Rachel Lazar

Rachel Lazar is an Israeli by choice since 2006, a quattro-lingual, passionate, enthusiastic - and mostly unemployed in the last year- tour guide. Rachel is based in Tel Aviv, loves touring, nature and recently completed a wild plant foraging and cooking course.

Kate Lennard

Writer, researcher, production manager and furniture designer, Kate Lennard is Creative Director at ROCKMAN & ROCKMAN design studio, known for its original furniture designs influenced by its extensive 20th-century ephemera archive. Her Little Genius series of children's books, published by Penguin Random House, has been translated into 8 languages.

Carli Lessof

Carli is a Senior Research Fellow at JPR, the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, an independent research centre which examines contemporary Jewish issues across Britain and Europe. Carli is responsible for the JPR Research Panel and Community Statistics programme. She has a PhD from the Department of Social Statistics, University of Southampton.

Sara Levan

Sara Levan is Director of Jewish Life at JCoSS where she has been a member of staff for the past 11 years. Previously she has also worked in an Israeli high school and served as Youth Director at Masorti Judaism. She holds a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy which has nothing and everything to do with being a Jewish educator.

Luke Levine

Luke is a Jewish professional. As a gay, transgender man, he incorporates his identity into the work that he does with Jewish young people to build inclusive environments where they can thrive. His professional role is at BBYO UK. He is also a trustee and a volunteer and takes part in organised races to support charities that he cares about.

Daniel J Levy

Daniel J. Levy is a communications professional specialising in campaigns, media operations, and audience analysis. He has worked with and supported a range of Anglo-Jewish and Zionist organisations, and is currently Communications and Research Associate at BICOM. He is also a British Army veteran.

Natan Levy

Natan Levy is rabbi currently working as the Head of Operations for Faiths Forum for London and a lecturer at Leo Baeck College. Natan was the environmental liaison to Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z"l. He authored "The Dawn of Agriculture and the Earliest States in Genesis 1-11" and co-authored “Sharing Eden: Green Teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims.”

Sara Levy-Stevenson

Sara is a third-year rabbinical student at Beit Midrash Harel and an RN at Hadassah Hospital, specializing in internal and geriatric care. She has also studied at Hadar, Pardes, and Midreshet Lindenbaum. Sara is passionate about the intersection of Jewish law and real-world issues, particularly how halacha can inform decision-making in healthcare.

Charlie Lewin

Charlie (they/them) is a multifaceted visual artist based in London UK. They have studied Songwriting (BA) and Fine Art (BA) and have just completed their Masters in Children’s Book Illustration and Graphic Novels. Charlie is currently working on their first graphic novel about their life growing up in an insular ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community.

Toni Lewis

Toni has over 10 years of experience in the charity sector. Before joining Jewish Blind and Disabled, she worked at a children’s bereavement charity and as a mental health practitioner. Passionate about empowering people with disabilities or sight loss to live independently, Toni also enjoys staying active, reading, and attending music festivals.

Ayelet Libson

Ayelet Hoffmann Libson is associate professor of Talmud at Bar Ilan University and was previously a visiting professor at Harvard and Penn Law Schools. She is also a graduate of the MaTaN Advanced Talmud Institute and is a member of the Beit Hillel rabbinic organization. Her first book is entitled Law and Self-Knowledge in the Talmud.

Sharone Lifschitz

A British Israeli Academic and Filmmaker, Sharone, daughter of Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, was born and raised in Kibbutz Nir Oz and has lived in London since 1992. Since the abduction of her parents she has fought tirelessly for their release.

Eliana Light

Eliana Light is cultivating a more connected world by making the spiritual wisdom of Jewish liturgy and prayer practice (tefillah) accessible and meaningful through her music, consulting, teaching, and the Light Lab, a centre for tefillah education. Eliana earned her MA in Jewish Education from JTS in 2016 and lives in Durham, North Carolina.