Each of the seven 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. Four trustees are from the London area and three 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 unanimous approval of the other 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, click here for more information.
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, click here for more information.
Current Trustees
Phil Stone
PHIL STONE is the Chair of the NLPS Trust having been a Trustee since 2007. He is also a member of its Investment Committee.
Phil has been a member of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) since 1973. He has been responsible for maintaining all its membership records, for the collection of subscriptions, and Burial Officer since the early 1980s. Phil has served on NPLS’ Council in three separate periods: in the 1980s, the 1990s and 2010-2015 when he was Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee. Phil has also been a teacher at Cheder, a Bar/Batmitzvah teacher and Chair of the Education Committee.
Phil qualified as an actuary and worked in senior management roles in financial services until he retired in 2004. Until late 2008 he was Chair of Trustees at Relate North London. In 2014 Phil completed a 4 year term as the Honorary Treasurer of Edgwarebury Cemetery and in September 2016 he was appointed Chair of the Cemetery’s Board.
In his spare time (!) Phil’s hobbies include foreign travel and wildlife and landscape photography.
Phil has been a member of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) since 1973. He has been responsible for maintaining all its membership records, for the collection of subscriptions, and Burial Officer since the early 1980s. Phil has served on NPLS’ Council in three separate periods: in the 1980s, the 1990s and 2010-2015 when he was Vice Chair and Chair of the Finance Committee. Phil has also been a teacher at Cheder, a Bar/Batmitzvah teacher and Chair of the Education Committee.
Phil qualified as an actuary and worked in senior management roles in financial services until he retired in 2004. Until late 2008 he was Chair of Trustees at Relate North London. In 2014 Phil completed a 4 year term as the Honorary Treasurer of Edgwarebury Cemetery and in September 2016 he was appointed Chair of the Cemetery’s Board.
In his spare time (!) Phil’s hobbies include foreign travel and wildlife and landscape photography.
Michael Hart
MICHAEL HART is a long-standing member of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue (St John’s Wood), having joined its Religion School in 1964 and contributed to many aspects of the congregation’s services, education provision and other activities. Most recently he was the LJS Chairman from 2011 to 2015. 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.
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.
Paul Kanas
PAUL KANAS is an independent occupational health physician based in Worcestershire. Prior to the start of 2016, he was employed as the company doctor for Mondelēz International, formerly known as Cadbury’s until the takeover of this company by Kraft Foods in 2010.
Paul was born and educated in Nottingham. His family were amongst the earliest members of the emerging Nottingham Liberal Synagogue back in the 1960s. He moved to Birmingham in 1987 and joined the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS). Paul has served a couple of terms on the BPS Council and was Chairman of the synagogue for two years in the 1990s.
Paul was born and educated in Nottingham. His family were amongst the earliest members of the emerging Nottingham Liberal Synagogue back in the 1960s. He moved to Birmingham in 1987 and joined the Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS). Paul has served a couple of terms on the BPS Council and was Chairman of the synagogue for two years in the 1990s.
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.
Paula Scott
PAULA SCOTT is currently Vice President of the Nottingham Liberal Synagogue. She and her family are longstanding members, having been actively involved there since the 1980s. She held the position of Chairman for 4 years and has been active in almost all aspects of synagogue life.
Now retired from a “working life” Paula's professional skills in organising and managing people come from her years spent as MD of a small company in the employee benefits sector which worked closely with HR departments in both public and private organisations. She has chaired various business networks over the years and her voluntary work as a counsellor has included Relate counselling and more recently Cruse Bereavement support. She recently led the organisation of the NLS 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Now retired from a “working life” Paula's professional skills in organising and managing people come from her years spent as MD of a small company in the employee benefits sector which worked closely with HR departments in both public and private organisations. She has chaired various business networks over the years and her voluntary work as a counsellor has included Relate counselling and more recently Cruse Bereavement support. She recently led the organisation of the NLS 50th Anniversary celebrations.
Judy Thwaites
JUDY THWAITES was a Primary School teacher in Kingston before leaving to raise her family and has since worked in Jewish Education for thirty years. She was joint head teacher of the supplementary Religion School at Kingston Liberal Synagogue for many years as well as teaching adults and organising residential community retreats. She has an Advanced Diploma in Jewish Education and MA in Religious Education and has had training in Facilitation Skills for Parent Education.
Judy worked as an Education Consultant at Leo Baeck College, Department of Education developing resources for teaching about Judaism to non-Jewish pupils and then at Liberal Judaism, creating an online curriculum for Religion Schools, and organising informal Education courses for adults and children. A former President of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, Judy was Chair of the Kingston Synagogues’ Holocaust Workshops Committee providing Holocaust Education for schools. She is an Associate Governor of Mosaic Jewish Primary School in South London.
Judy is married and has four children (who took an active part in many LJY Netzer Activities) and has six grandchildren.
Judy worked as an Education Consultant at Leo Baeck College, Department of Education developing resources for teaching about Judaism to non-Jewish pupils and then at Liberal Judaism, creating an online curriculum for Religion Schools, and organising informal Education courses for adults and children. A former President of Kingston Liberal Synagogue, Judy was Chair of the Kingston Synagogues’ Holocaust Workshops Committee providing Holocaust Education for schools. She is an Associate Governor of Mosaic Jewish Primary School in South London.
Judy is married and has four children (who took an active part in many LJY Netzer Activities) and has six grandchildren.
Michael Woodcock
MICHAEL WOODCOCK is a member at 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 set up the Youth Group at Elstree. At various times he has served as a Youth Team Leader, a Religion School teacher and a Council Member at Elstree.
Recently retired, Michael had worked as a Research Compliance officer for a number of investment banks including Merrill Lynch and RBS. Prior to this Michael was an equity investment analyst. Michael is also a member of the Trust's Investment Committee.
In Michael's spare time, he enjoys reading and cycling.
Recently retired, Michael had worked as a Research Compliance officer for a number of investment banks including Merrill Lynch and RBS. Prior to this Michael was an equity investment analyst. Michael is also a member of the Trust's Investment Committee.
In Michael's spare time, he enjoys reading and cycling.
Administrator
Sandra Greenberg
SANDRA GREENBERG has been a member at Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue for over 25 years. She served as an NPLS Council Officer responsible for new Membership for 3 years and more recently was co-ordinator for the NPLS’ High Holy Days. Sandra worked in the synagogue office as a volunteer for several years and has recently joined the Shammash team at the synagogue.
Most of Sandra’s career was spent at Marks & Spencer Head Office in Baker Street, working for Directors in the Personnel Group, Food Group and for the Chairman until she went on maternity leave in 1991. Her 3 children have all graduated from University.
Sandra joined the Trust as its Administrator in September 2013. In addition to the Trust work, Sandra also works part time for the John Lewis Partnership.
You can contact Sandra here.
Most of Sandra’s career was spent at Marks & Spencer Head Office in Baker Street, working for Directors in the Personnel Group, Food Group and for the Chairman until she went on maternity leave in 1991. Her 3 children have all graduated from University.
Sandra joined the Trust as its Administrator in September 2013. In addition to the Trust work, Sandra also works part time for the John Lewis Partnership.
You can contact Sandra here.