Each of the nine current trustees - the Trust Deed allows a maximum of nine - is a member of a Liberal Judaism synagogue and to avoid bias may not participate in any decision relating to an application from his/her own synagogue. Three trustees are from the London area and four from the provinces. A trustee is expected to serve for a term of 3 years and may be invited to serve up to a maximum of 4 successive terms. Any new appointment requires the approval of the trustees.
Because the Trust Deed limits the number of years a trustee may serve, new trustees need to be appointed from time to time. Collectively, the present trustees have expertise in law, finance, business, education and medicine and have experience in synagogue management. If you think you may be interested in becoming a trustee, please get in contact.
Because the Trust Deed limits the number of years a trustee may serve, new trustees need to be appointed from time to time. Collectively, the present trustees have expertise in law, finance, business, education and medicine and have experience in synagogue management. If you think you may be interested in becoming a trustee, please get in contact.
Current Trustees
Michael Hart
MICHAEL HART is a member of the Wessex Liberal Jewish Community. He previously belonged to The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, having joined its Religion School in 1964 and contributed to many aspects of the congregation’s services, education provision and other activities. Over the years, he has been involved in the Kadimah Summer School, was a founder member of Reading Liberal Synagogue, was the headteacher of the LJS’ Religion School, was a member of the Centre for Jewish Education’s Board, co-chaired the LJS’ Centenary Committee, and set up the LJ Chairs’ Network.
Professionally, Michael began his career as a teacher, specialising in provision for children with special educational needs and championing their inclusion in mainstream schools. After about 20 years in this role he was appointed to a series of senior positions in the London Borough of Harrow, co-ordinating all the Council’s teams providing support for children with a range of additional educational needs. Following other leadership roles within Harrow’s education and children’s services, a short spell leading Ofsted‘s teams that inspect childcare and social care provision, followed by self-employment in education and related areas, Michael is now retired and involved in a variety of voluntary activities.
Michael is the Chair of the NLPS Trust.
Professionally, Michael began his career as a teacher, specialising in provision for children with special educational needs and championing their inclusion in mainstream schools. After about 20 years in this role he was appointed to a series of senior positions in the London Borough of Harrow, co-ordinating all the Council’s teams providing support for children with a range of additional educational needs. Following other leadership roles within Harrow’s education and children’s services, a short spell leading Ofsted‘s teams that inspect childcare and social care provision, followed by self-employment in education and related areas, Michael is now retired and involved in a variety of voluntary activities.
Michael is the Chair of the NLPS Trust.
Jane Greenfield
JANE GREENFIELD has been a member of LJ synagogues since 1979. Jane is an ex-chair of Southgate Progressive Synagogue and has been very involved within the LJ communities, serving on innumerable committees for most of that period.
Jane has been very involved in the organisation of the Liberal Judaism Biennial conferences and is proud to have recently been appointed a Vice President of LJ.
Jane is currently a member of Finchley Progressive synagogue.
Although now retired, in the last part of her working life Jane was the Senior Dental Nurse for Barnet Community Dental Services for 25 years, specialising in children and adults with severe learning disabilities.
Jane has been very involved in the organisation of the Liberal Judaism Biennial conferences and is proud to have recently been appointed a Vice President of LJ.
Jane is currently a member of Finchley Progressive synagogue.
Although now retired, in the last part of her working life Jane was the Senior Dental Nurse for Barnet Community Dental Services for 25 years, specialising in children and adults with severe learning disabilities.
Karen Katz
KAREN KATZ has been a member of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue for over 25 years, Karen is currently Secretary of BHPS Council and a member of its Finance Committee. Karen’s role at BHPS has been described as “general factotum” - with an emphasis on constitutional issues, policies and procedures and minute-taking but including fundraising, lay leading of services, and organisational matters.
Karen has worked as a solicitor both in private practice and in-house in the financial sector, and now co-runs a family business in Brighton. Karen’s pastimes include sea swimming, city walking and listening to popular music.
Karen has worked as a solicitor both in private practice and in-house in the financial sector, and now co-runs a family business in Brighton. Karen’s pastimes include sea swimming, city walking and listening to popular music.
Mike Leci
MIKE LECI has been an active member of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue for over 30 years after moving from Nottingham where he was born and attended school.
After moving to Birmingham he attended the Medical School there and subsequently worked as a General Practitioner in Bromsgrove for over 30 years. He retired from practising medicine in 2017.
In retirement he enjoys spending time with his family, travelling and cycling.
After moving to Birmingham he attended the Medical School there and subsequently worked as a General Practitioner in Bromsgrove for over 30 years. He retired from practising medicine in 2017.
In retirement he enjoys spending time with his family, travelling and cycling.
Steven Sanderson
STEVEN SANDERSON is a member of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue. His parents joined what was then called Wembley Liberal Synagogue in the 1960s. He went to the Cheder, was Barmiztvah’d and received Kabbalat Torah there and was involved in their youth groups. He remained involved and served as Hon Treasurer, and then Chairman for 3 years, before returning to become Treasurer again, which he remains. He has been involved in the Synagogue’s moves to new buildings, starting with the construction of a new Synagogue in 2003 at Preston Road, before, in 2011, moving to share premises with Middlesex New Synagogue (now Mosaic Reform Synagogue) at Bessborough Road, Harrow. He is now a member of Mosaic Jewish Community, which is a unique combination of Synagogues from Liberal, Reform and Masorti backgrounds who operate as a joint Community and share premises in Stanmore, Middlesex.
Professionally, Steven graduated from Manchester University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1985. Since then, he has worked as a Finance Director in the technology sector for both international and UK companies. He is currently CFO of e2E Group, a company based in Welwyn Garden City that specialises in systems and software engineering for the space and satellite communications sector.
Professionally, Steven graduated from Manchester University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1985. Since then, he has worked as a Finance Director in the technology sector for both international and UK companies. He is currently CFO of e2E Group, a company based in Welwyn Garden City that specialises in systems and software engineering for the space and satellite communications sector.
Nick Shire-Feldman
NICK SHIRE-FELDMAN is a member of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, and also of the Suffolk Liberal Jewish Community (he lived in Ipswich most of his adult life) and The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (where he was brought up). His involvement has ranged through organisation, lay leadership, teaching and outreach.
Nick's career was in insurance underwriting and management and, since his retirement, he has been involved not only in the Jewish community but also with a number of local charities, both as trustee and as volunteer.
Nick is the Trust's Treasurer.
Nicola Solomons
NICOLA SOLOMONS is a member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue and has been so all her adult life. Over the years she has been involved in many of its activities including teaching in religion school, being part of the group that ran the Alumni club for teenagers and serving on Council for six years and as Chairman of the Social Activities Committee. At present, she chairs the Restaurant Tuesday Committee and sits on the boards of two of the synagogue’s subsidiary companies. She also attends the 4C’s Committee which oversees the social work undertaken at the LJS.
Nicola qualified as a solicitor in the 1980’s and went on to become a Mergers and Acquisitions partner at a firm in the City. After her retirement she increased her voluntary work, becoming Secretary and then Chairman of The Abbeyfield (Camden) Society, a charity that founded and ran supported sheltered homes for older Jewish people, a Trustee of the British Friends of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Board Member and Chairman of the Housing Services Committee of The Industrial Dwellings Society (1885) Limited, a housing association that was originally founded by the Rothschilds to provide housing to poor Jews in the East End of London. She also currently sits on the Audit and Risk (Non-Financial) Committee of Nightingale Hammerson.
Nicola is a member of the Trust's Investment Committee.
Nicola qualified as a solicitor in the 1980’s and went on to become a Mergers and Acquisitions partner at a firm in the City. After her retirement she increased her voluntary work, becoming Secretary and then Chairman of The Abbeyfield (Camden) Society, a charity that founded and ran supported sheltered homes for older Jewish people, a Trustee of the British Friends of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Board Member and Chairman of the Housing Services Committee of The Industrial Dwellings Society (1885) Limited, a housing association that was originally founded by the Rothschilds to provide housing to poor Jews in the East End of London. She also currently sits on the Audit and Risk (Non-Financial) Committee of Nightingale Hammerson.
Nicola is a member of the Trust's Investment Committee.
Michael Woodcock
MICHAEL WOODCOCK is the Treasurer of the Ark Synagogue (formerly Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue). He previously belonged to The Liberal Synagogue, Elstree, being one of its earliest members, having joined in 1976. He trained as a Youth Leader at the Montagu Centre in 1978 and helped set up the Youth Group at Elstree. At various times he served as a Youth Team Leader, a Religion School teacher and a Council Member.
For nearly twenty years Michael worked as an Investment Research Compliance officer for a number of investment banks including Merrill Lynch and RBS. Prior to this Michael was an equity investment analyst.
In Michael's spare time, he enjoys travel, reading, walking and learning the piano.
Michael is Chair of the Trust's Investment Committee.
For nearly twenty years Michael worked as an Investment Research Compliance officer for a number of investment banks including Merrill Lynch and RBS. Prior to this Michael was an equity investment analyst.
In Michael's spare time, he enjoys travel, reading, walking and learning the piano.
Michael is Chair of the Trust's Investment Committee.
Philip Zeligman
PHILIP ZELIGMAN is a member of Southgate Progressive Synagogue (SPS) and is actively involved in the running of the community. He is currently vice-chair of the Religious Activities Committee, which is responsible, along with the Rabbi, for organising all services at the synagogue.
He is involved in services, occasionally leading them but usually either as the camera technician, or as shammas, or on security, or on the Kiddush rota.
Philip’s background is in IT having done everything from programming, systems administration, creating websites, software installation and support, telecommunications support, and installation.
As a pastime, Philip enjoys playing badminton and is the co-founder of a badminton club which was started in 1996 and still meets for club nights every week. He was elected the first chairman and have been involved, as part of the committee that runs the club, ever since then.
He is involved in services, occasionally leading them but usually either as the camera technician, or as shammas, or on security, or on the Kiddush rota.
Philip’s background is in IT having done everything from programming, systems administration, creating websites, software installation and support, telecommunications support, and installation.
As a pastime, Philip enjoys playing badminton and is the co-founder of a badminton club which was started in 1996 and still meets for club nights every week. He was elected the first chairman and have been involved, as part of the committee that runs the club, ever since then.