Presenters - J

Organisation: Liverpool Hope University

Bernard Jackson has held chairs in both Law and Jewish Studies at the universities of Kent, Liverpool and Manchester, specialising in legal philosophy and the history of Jewish law, and is now teaching part-time at Liverpool Hope University. He directed the Agunah Research Unit at Manchester, 2004-2009.

Sessions:

• The Manchester Agunah Project: Principles and Strategies (1 of 2)
• The Manchester Agunah Report: Halakhic Arguments (2 of 2)

Organisation: Environment Agency

David has been a regular at Limmud events for very many years, and involved in several Jewish communites. He works as a pollution inspector in London, but has been directly involved with many things in Israel, and also has a great love of Israeli songs and poetry.

Sessions:

• Poetry in Wonderful and Popular Israeli Songs
• Israel's Environmental Issues

Harry Jacobi, MBE was born in Berlin, escaped to Holland in 1939, and came to England in May 1940. He served in the Jewish Brigade and BAOR (British Army of the Rhine), and after ordination in 1961, congregations in Southgate, Wembley, Zurich and South Bucks. Currently, he is a vice-president of Liberal Judaism.

Sessions:

• Dutch Rescue - 70 years ago

Organisation: Birmingham Progressive Synagogue/Liberal Judaism

Margaret is the rabbi of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue. Before the rabbinate, she studied medicine and worked in medical research and she has written and lectured on medical ethics. She is currently studying for a PhD in Talmud.

Sessions:

• Medical Ethics Panel
• The Great Leadership Challenge
• God Learns to Forgive

Organisation: Woodford Liberal Synagogue

Richard Jacobi enjoys being the Rabbi of Woodford Liberal Synagogue. He believes that organisations, like people, must be true to their best selves and helps both individuals and organisations achieve this. He still advises charities and other non-profit organisations.

Sessions:

• The Woolworths Synagogue
• What Makes a Kehillah Kedoshah?

Website: http://www.ParentingCoachingNow.com/

Bebe Jacobs is a counsellor and trained business and parenting coach. She is also the head of the cheder for Alyth North West Reform Synagogue, and has worked in Jewish education for 25 years. She has run training workshops for many years in education, spirituality and personal development.

Sessions:

• Raising Kids to Listen, Talk and Love being Jewish
• How Can We Forgive When We Can't Forgive?

Organisation: Finchley Reform Synagogue
Website: http://www.frsonline.org/

Having recently received semichah (ordination) from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, Zöe Jacobs is delighted to have returned to London. Working as the cantor at Finchley Reform Synagogue, Zöe is passionate about singing, studying, storytelling, and creatively exploring Judaism with all generations.

Sessions:

• Limmud Choir! (1 of 4)
• Any fiddle will do! (1 of 3)
• God: Beyond Translation
• Limmud Choir! (2 of 4)
• Any fiddle will do! (2 of 3)
• Limmud Choir! (3 of 4)
• Any fiddle will do! (3 of 3)
• Limmud Choir! (4 of 4)

Organisation: Meaningful Life Center
Website: http://www.meaningfullife.com/

Simon Jacobson is author of the best selling Toward a Meaningful Life, founder of The Meaningful Life Center and publisher of the Yiddish-English weekly Algemeiner Journal. As a pioneering and sought after writer and speaker, Jacobson has deeply impacted diverse audiences world over.

Sessions:

• Dancing with God: The Ecstasy of Jewish Mysticism; The Energy of Kabbalah and Chassidus
• Is Your Self-Worth Defined By Your Net-Worth? Future Economics – A New Model
• The Fourth Revolution: An Historical Overview Of Spirituality
• The Soul of Sexuality: Can I Find Eternal Love?
• Can We Bridge Faith and Modernity? A Frank Discussion on Jewish Relevance to Our Lives Today (1 of 2)
• Who Are You: Id Or Yid? A New Psychological Model
• Toward a Meaningful Life: Universal Jewish Life-Skills
• Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Spirituality Confronts Reality
• Was Moses Orthodox, Conservative or Reform? The Secret to Jewish Unity and How We Can Eradicate Divisiveness

Organisation: UJIA

David joined UJIA as Programme and Planning Director in 2007, having previously been Head of the Centre for Local Sustainability at the Local Government Information Unit and Head of Good Practice at Transport 2000. David's partner is Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner; they live in London and have three lovely children.

Sessions:

• A greener organisation, step-by-step

Organisation: JAFI Young Volunteer Shaliach to RSY-Netzer
Website: http://www.rsy-netzer.org.uk/

Ben was born in Kibbutz Yiftach to parents who made aliyah from the UK and USA. He studied in the International School of Brussels, Belgium. Ben served for three years on a battleship in the Israeli navy. Today he is a Jewish Agency for Israel Young Volunteer Shaliach for RSY-Netzer.

Sessions:

• I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien, I’m a kibbutznik in Belgium…

Elie spent many years studying Judaism and philosophy at a variety of institutions. Working by day as a derivatives trader, he has increasingly contributed to practical and intellectual Jewish life in North London. He rejects intellectual compromise and is endlessly fascinated by the challenges that religious life throws up.

Sessions:

• What do we do when we pray?
• The big questions: Existentialism, Psychoanalysis and God

Organisation: The Jewish Teachers' Association
Website: http://www.jewishteachers.org.uk/

The Jewish Teachers' Association works with Jewish teachers in all educational settings. We provide opportunities for support, networking and professional development for teachers and educators. We were founded at Limmud conference 3 years ago.

Sessions:

• The Social Staffroom: Jewish Teachers (and Wannabe Teachers) Networking
• I'm the Only Jew in the Staffroom

Organisation: Yeshiva University
Website: http://www.yu.edu/

Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel is dedicated to ennobling and enabling the next generation of Jewish leaders. Previously, as president of Hillel for 14 years, he gained international renown for his devotion to the mission of Jewish peoplehood and education. He and his wife Esther live in Riverdale, NY.

Sessions:

• Bringing Jewish Values to Jewish Organisations (1 of 2)
• Knowing Your Story and Owning Your Story (2 of 2)
• Limmud Town Hall: 2020 Vision – What Next for the Jewish People?
• That Reminds Me of a Story – Together and Apart

Organisation: West Midlands Faiths Forum

Gareth is a Methodist minister currently working full-time as inter-faith development officer for the West Midlands Faiths Forum. Before this, he spent 16 years as a university chaplain. He is also a former chair of the Birmingham branch of the Council of Christians and Jews.

Sessions:

• Scriptural Reasoning