Presenters: S

Joel Salmon

Joel Salmon is a lover of chilled walks with friends on a sunny day, a funky sweater, cheesey bangers from the noughties, and a lovely glass of red. Professionally speaking, he works in hate crime policy.

Diane Samuels

Diane has been writing professionally for over 30 years. Her award-winning play, 'Kindertransport', has been performed and studied all over the world. Regular practice includes meditative free-flow writing, cold swimming, automatic art and Qi Gong. Diane's latest projects are completing a novel, 'Cinders', and random-word writing serialisation 'In a Word' on Substack.

Eli Sassoon

A member of the HMDT Youth Forum for the last three years, Eli co-authored an educational resource for the Trust focusing on teenage vicitims of Nazi persecution. Eli also works as a Freelance Educator for the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), and is their youngest-ever educator. Eli currently studies medicine at the University of Nottingham.

Laurence Saul

Laurence Saul is an Anaesthetic and Intensive Care Registrar in London. He is a Liberal Jew from SW London. His religious practice has increased since marrying a rabbi.

Lev Saul

Lev Saul is the rabbi of Kingston Liberal Synagogue. Ordained from Leo Baeck College in 2022, he is a co-founder of Babel's Blessing and Queer Yeshiva. He sits on the board of UK Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights. He lives in Essex, and enjoys bouldering and cooking.

Katy Sayers Green

Katy is a fine artist creating exuberant paintings. She currently has a solo show 'Noah's Woods: Stories of cultural memory and the natural world' at 60 Threadneedle Street, near Bank tube, until 20th February 2026. She also co-runs a dining group for singles in 50s and 60s, is a divorcee and mother of adult daughter. @katy_sayers_green

Marnina Schon Wirtschafter

Marnina Schon (she/they) is half of comedy duo Couplet, known for their song “People Think We’re Straight” and the one about their couples therapist, as heard on BBC. A Californian with a pluralistic Jewish background to sustain her performing habit, Marnina starred in Israeli Sundance series Chanshi, and has appeared on Dropout, Netflix, and Hulu.

Libi Sears

Libi Sears is the Community Engagement Officer at René Cassin. René Cassin is the Jewish voice for human rights in the UK, working to promote and protect universal human rights within the UK by drawing on Jewish teachings, values, and historical experiences.

Aaron Seitler

A Jerusalem resident, Aaron is a gap-year and high school educator. Born in Manchester, he studied at UCL and served in the Paratroopers unit of the IDF. He now teaches Israeli Arabs and Americans alike how to speak decent English. A graduate of the LSJS Rabbi Sacks Fellowship, he is currently writing a Master's thesis on Rabbi Sacks' thought.

Dani Serlin

Dani Serlin is a Retirement Coach at Second Spring. She helps people to work out what they want from the next stage of their life, what they don’t want – challenging assumptions and expectations, to create retirement on their terms. She draws on 20 years’ experience as a project management professional. Dani works in the UK and internationally.

Naava Shafner

Naava Shafner is an Israeli-American social entrepreneur and bridge-builder leading Ashoka in Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. Driven by passion and optimistic vision, she has worked in the intersection of Judaism, Israel, women’s rights, and social justice. A zealous moderate, Naava has never met a donut she didn't like.

Sarah Sharman Moser

Sarah Sharman Moser combines teaching Tanach and Jewish thought in Israel and abroad with her work in cancer research at Maccabi Healthcare. She serves as a yoetzet halacha (halachik advisor) on the Nishmat hotline, and volunteers with the Tzohar organisation, offering pre-wedding guidance to non-religious couples.

Marvin Shaw

Marvin is currently working on his eighth book. A poet, as well as an accomplished author, nothing pleases Marvin more than inspiring creativity and well-being in people. His books include Ten Days To Change Your Life, Kosher Happiness, Modern Day Psalms, Mindful Judaism and Seize The Day! A Poem To Enhance Every Day Of The Jewish Year.

Michael Shire

Michael Shire is a professor of Jewish education at Hebrew College Boston and a rabbi of Central Reform Temple in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the founder of Torah Godly Play, a Torah-based pedagogy for spiritual growth and awareness.

Anya Shire-Plumb

From London, and now living in Boston, Anya Shire-Plumb has been a life-long Limmudnik. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counselling at William James College. When she’s not providing outpatient therapy for adolescents, Anya paints in her studio and exhibits her work in the Boston area.

Micah Shire-Plumb

Micah Shire-Plumb (He/Him) is a recent graduate of Imperial College as an MSc in Chemical Engineering. His degree focused on sustainability and the environment. He is a lifelong Limmudnik and an avid analogue photographer.

Keren Shurkin

Delivering UK-Israel diplomacy through tech partnerships, Keren is a mother of three living in Tel Aviv. She is a director at the British Embassy in Israel and this is her first time back in Brum since graduating. Currently a Cambridge Policy Fellow with 15+ years leadership experience, she champions equity in tech and bridging start-ups, investors and governments.

Paul Silver-Myer

Having spent his working life in accountancy, Paul Silver-Myer retrained as a psychotherapist and now combines preparing tax returns for therapists with a private therapy practice. He is also a financial coach and mediator. Paul is a former treasurer of Liberal Judaism and a past chair and now president of Finchley Progressive Synagogue.

James Silverman

James is the head of Humanitarian Programmes at World Jewish Relief. He has worked in Afghanistan with the United Nations for 3.5 years on emergency response.

Zoe Silverman

Zoe is an accomplished, experienced, award-winning architect with over 20 years experience in residential, education and commercial sectors.

Ali Simmons

Ali is an artist and art teacher based in South London. She co-founded the Limmud Print Shop and co-curated the exhibition 'People Of The Body: Contemporary artist explorations of Jewish embodiment', funded by the Limmud Microgrant in 2024. See her artwork at @alisimmonsart

Paula Slier

Paula Slier is an award-winning South African-British war correspondent who has reported from more than 40 conflict zones, including Gaza, Syria and Lebanon. As a Jewish journalist she brings a unique perspective. She heads NewsHound Media and NewsHound Academy and speaks on fake news, propaganda and media narratives in conflict.

Andrew Smith

Canon Dr Andrew Smith is the Director of Interfaith Relations for the Bishop of Birmingham. His Phd is on Christian-Muslim relations amongst young people and he writes and speaks on interfaith issues. In 2008 he founded the youth charity The Feast and is the tutor on interfaith relations at the Queens Foundation.

Jacob Smith

Jacob Smith is the volunteer running the Limmud Microgrant Fund. Speak to him if you have an idea for an bold, innovative project that brings people together and expands Jewish horizons. In his free time, he's a civil servant working on biotech policy and is learning to make pottery.

Yiscah Smith

Yiscah, a spiritual activist, empowers others to encounter the Divine spark within and beyond. She teaches at Pardes & Applied Jewish Spirituality. Yiscah hosts spiritual Shabbat gatherings in her Jerusalem garden. Her newest book, Planting Seeds of the Divine, was recently published by The Jewish Publication Society.

Madeline Solomon

The Solomon Sisters - Yiddish Cabaret Sensational sister duo fuse melodies from the golden age of New York’s Yiddish Theatre, featuring klezmer greats, Pete Rushefsky, and virtuoso violinist Gideon Rochman. Expect glitz, glamour and downright chutzpah!

Penelope Solomon

The Solomon Sisters - Yiddish Cabaret Sensational sister duo fuse melodies from the golden age of New York’s Yiddish Theatre, featuring klezmer greats, Pete Rushefsky, and virtuoso violinist Gideon Rochman. Expect glitz, glamour and downright chutzpah!

Tommer Spence

Tommer Spence is a member of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, where he helps lead the Tikkun Olam social action group. He is also a board member of Liberal Judaism and works as an academic health researcher.

Chlo Spinks

Chlo is a question writer for the BBC quiz show Only Connect, having written for the current season (21). She is also a member of the Glastonbury-featured orchestral punk band THWACK!, and you may see her running around Festival with a camera as Limmud's Marketing Manager. She is very busy.

Alan Stanton

Alan is an experienced birdwatcher, who is a hide and Visitor Centre guide at the RSPB reserve in Sandwell Valley. In a previous incarnation he was a Community Paediatrician, but now divides his time between the RSPB, the Severn Valley Railway and being the Torah and Philosophy Track Chair at Limmud Festival.

Janine Stein

Janine Stein works in marketing and communication for Masorti Judaism. She studies Daf Yomi and writes about it as part of Sugya Sistas. Janine has an MA in Jewish Studies from King’s College, where her dissertation explored chutzpah in the Talmud. She loves exploring Rabbinic texts that make us think differently about Jewish life today.

David-Yehuda Stern

David-Yehuda (‘D.Y.’) studied Film at Nottingham, Jewish Education at LSJS, and trained for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College. A Rabbi at Radlett Reform Synagogue, he writes on kindness in Jewish thought and produces podcasts exploring spirituality, creativity, and community.

Estee Stimler

Estee Stimler is a playwright, lyricist and producer completing a PhD on comedy in theatre. She’s written three musicals and five plays, including 'Smother', premiering in 2026. She serves on the board of StandWithUs UK, is an online advocate for the Jewish people, and engages in Holocaust education through theatre.

Andrew Stone

Andrew Stone has lived in Manchester for over 15 years. Having trained in karate for much of his youth, after a 20+ year gap, he started again with his daughter about three years ago. Eliana, Andrew’s 10-year old daughter, loves nothing more than showing how she has progressed in karate training by seeing if her dad can take one of her punches. Children must be accompanied by an adult to this session.

Eliana Stone

Eliana is 10 years old and lives in Manchester with her mum, dad and pet cat, Tiptoes. This is her fifth Limmud. Eliana has been training karate with her dad for about three years, and is currently a 2nd kyu, which is the second of three brown belts. She is extremely excited to share her enjoyment of karate with you wonderful Limmudniks.

Helen Stone

Helen Stone is a founder member of the Holocaust charity, Generation 2 Generation. She is a retired secondary teacher and one of G2G's 41 speakers. She has presented her mother, Emmy Golding's, story to countless schools and other organisations and also teaches English to refugees and asylum seekers.

Maurice Stone

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

Robert Stone

Robert Stone is a political economist who has served as a member of the Board of Deputies for 20 years, many of them as member to the Finance and Organisation Division. He is one of the 36 Deputies sanctioned by the Board for an open letter to the the Financial Times in April critical of the Israeli Government’s policies and actions in Gaza.

Sheldon Stone

Sheldon is an former stroke physician and hand-hygiene doctor. He is an advisor to Stop Uyghur Genocide, trustee of Rene Cassin, Israel advocate and peace and coexistence activist. He considers himself 'meikl modern Orthodox', going to Hendon United Synagogue on Shabbat and Beis Gavriel during the week. He has three children, one wife and a Spurs season ticket (Champions of Europe, we know who we are!).

Claire Straus

Claire is a career coach & workshop facilitator, with a masters in Career Management & Coaching, where she specialised in networking. She is also Chair of Governors at the Archer Academy and is a former Chair of Limmud. An off-the-scale introvert, she’s fascinated by how people connect through conversation - so if you fancy a chat, she’d love that.

Pavlina Sulcova (Schultz)

Pavlína Šulcová (Schultz) is the Director of the Center of Memory and Dialogue Bubny, public institution in Prague, Czech Republic, which aims to preserve the memory of Shoah victims while serving as a cultural and educational space relevant for today. She also creates projects that make contemporary Jewish identity accessible to diverse audiences.

Sydney Switzer

Sydney Switzer is a Jewish educator and artist who blends Jewish ritual and exploration of the natural world. Making use of experiential processes and land-based practices, she uses tradition and material as tools for community building and growth. She recently became a Forest School Practitioner, and loves knitting, coffee and a loch swim.

Gideon Sylvester

Gideon served as Rabbi of Radlett Synagogue turning it into Britain’s fastest growing Orthodox community. He is now the US's Israel Rabbi. He served as an adviser in the Israeli Prime Minister's office; he taught Jewish approaches to Human Rights to rabbinical students and authored articles in numerous publications.

Maayan Gani Symon

After hosting endless music jams, song circles and Tishes in Jerusalem, Maayan now resides in Cambridge where music of the soul is scarce. She is excited and hopeful for this opportunity to sing together. She believes anyone can enjoy singing, no matter the amount of musical talent, and does her best to create an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable.