Our Staff Team
Executive Director:
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Head of Community Life:
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Head of Education:
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Programme & Volunteer Officer: Leora KurtzerLeora is an experienced project manager with a passion for learning new things and teaching others. She has her BSc in marketing from the University of Texas at Dallas and recently graduated with an MA in history of art from University College London. Prior to moving to London, Leora spent 2 years volunteering in China through the United States Peace Corps and lived in Israel for 5 years as a teenager. As the Programme and Volunteer Officer at KeshetUK, Leora works with volunteers to deliver programming within Jewish schools and youth groups.
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Our Board of Trustees
Allison Zionts (Interim-Chair)Allison is a secondary school teacher based in Greenwich, and is working on her PhD in inclusive spaces for LGBT+ young people in single-sex schools. Allison is passionate about equality within education.
Allison joined as a Trustee in 2015 and in 2021 stepped into the role of interim-Chair. During her time at KeshetUK, she has worked closely on the educational programmes and in supporting the staff. Originally from Pittsburgh and Montreal, Allison moved to the UK in 2010. She is active in her synagogue and seeks to create inclusive spaces within Jewish life. |
Benjamin EllisBenjamin grew up in an orthodox family in Leeds, and studied for two years at Yeshivat Har Etzion before embarking on his career in medicine. He has been involved with KeshetUK since it was founded and believes passionately that every Jewish organisation can find a way to be more inclusive and welcoming to LGBT+ Jews.
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Michelle JacobsMichelle has a background delivering complex programmes for government and non-profit organisations. She has a deep commitment to providing leadership in promoting inclusive values and creating change across the Jewish community and, as a Founding Governor of Alma Primary, helped to establish the country’s first cross communal, inclusive Jewish Primary school.
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Robin MossRobin worked professionally in the Jewish community for many years, including almost a decade at UJIA, finishing his time as Director of Strategy. He was previously a movement worker for LJY-Netzer. In a voluntary capacity, he has been involved with Limmud since 2011 and was on the Board of National Officers of Liberal Judaism for six years. He is now the Chief Executive of Unitas (Barnet Youth Zone), a purpose-built facility in Burnt Oak providing high-quality activities and support to young people in Barnet from the ages of 9 to 18.
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Simon SolomonSimon grew up in an orthodox family in London and attended an orthodox jewish primary and secondary school. He has an MBA from Cass Business school and has worked for 25 years in the technology sector in a number of commercial and business development roles and also as an investor in several enterprises.
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Stephen ShashouaStephen is a programme designer, trainer and capacity-building specialist working at the intersections of the arts, identity and culture in order to promote better social relations and inclusion. Of Iraqi background and born in Montreal, Canada, Stephen moved to the UK in 2003 and found his calling. He is former Director of the UK based 3FF (Three Faiths Forum now Faith & Belief Forum) having led it’s development over 10 years. He is Co-Director of the intercultural intermediary, The Caravanserai Collective, whose CERITA programme has run in different parts of the world through partners Google and Facebook. He is Interim Director of the UK Charitable Trust, The Pointline Foundation.
Stephen is a Yale World Fellow, a KAICIID International Fellow, a member of the IF20 Educational Working Group, an Advisory Board member of Standing Together Against Domestic Violence SAFE Programme, a Strategic Advisor to New Horizons in British Islam, and a UNAOC Global Expert. |
** Vacancies**
None currently.
Some of our passionate volunteers
Emma Grant
Emma grew up in Brighton and believes her hometown helped inform her strong beliefs of equality. She has a background in informal education, volunteer coordination, and ceramic art. Since having her children (who are now 4 and 6), she has been increasingly passionate about the gender inequality wider society shows towards all children. Emma defines as Modern Orthodox and believes that the Jewish community at large can do more to include LGBT+ communities. Emma is excited to support KeshetUK in cherishing its volunteers. |
Jordan Jacobs
Jordan is a trainee solicitor at an international law firm. He was born and raised in London and has always been engaged with the Jewish community, whether that be through school, university or the University of Warwick Jewish society. Over the last few years he has been increasingly passionate about improving inclusion of LGBT+ Jews in the community, and believes the best way of achieving this is through volunteering his time with KeshetUK. By volunteering with KeshetUK, he hopes not only to make the community as inclusive as possible, but also to learn more about himself and the community. |
Naomi B
With a background in teaching languages, Naomi was our intern from October 2017 to March 2018 supporting Neil Levitan in programming for schools and youth organisations, as well as in schools and other community organisations. They are passionate about discourses of language and terminology, and how these relate to and interact with our understanding of ourselves and those around us. As a non-binary and queer Jewish person, they are keen for new and intersectional identities to be understood and included in LGBT+ Jewish communities. Naomi continues to volunteer as a facilitator for our education and training. They received their BA in Russian with German and their MA in Applied Linguistics from University College London. |