Each of the eight 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 five 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
Phil Stone
PHIL STONE is the Chair of the NLPS Trust. He is also a member of its Investment Committee.
Phil has been a member of Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) since 1973. He is responsible for managing subscription subsidies and has served as Burial Officer since the early 1980s. Until 2019, as Subscriptions Officer, Phil maintained NPLS’ membership records and collected membership subscriptions. He 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. Phil was a Board member of Edgwarebury Cemetery representing LJ from 2006, serving as the Board’s Honorary Treasurer from 2010 – 2014, Vice Chair 2014 - 2016 and Chair from 2016 – 2019.
In July 2019 Phil was appointed as a Vice President of Liberal Judaism.
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 is responsible for managing subscription subsidies and has served as Burial Officer since the early 1980s. Until 2019, as Subscriptions Officer, Phil maintained NPLS’ membership records and collected membership subscriptions. He 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. Phil was a Board member of Edgwarebury Cemetery representing LJ from 2006, serving as the Board’s Honorary Treasurer from 2010 – 2014, Vice Chair 2014 - 2016 and Chair from 2016 – 2019.
In July 2019 Phil was appointed as a Vice President of Liberal Judaism.
In his spare time (!) Phil’s hobbies include foreign travel and wildlife and landscape photography.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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 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 Chair 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 Chair of the Trust's Investment Committee.
In Michael's spare time, he enjoys reading and cycling.