Drum roll… Forty Under 40: The countdown begins – 40 to 31!
From interfaith activists and charity campaigners to top educators and faith leaders, we reveal the rising stars of Anglo-Jewry, set to shape the community for years to come
Last week we set the scene by profiling the rising stars who just missed out on a place in our Forty Under 40.
This week we kick off the countdown with those in positions 40 to 31.
Next week we reveal numbers 30 to 21…
40 Michael Livingston, 35
Michael is one of the most senior Jewish civil servants in government. As deputy director in the Cabinet Office, he leads a team tasked with improving the cross-government response to serious violence.
He is also a senior policy adviser working on justice and home affairs issues in the prime minister’s Policy Unit.
A “visionary”, he organised and leads a major cross-departmental Holocaust education initiative in Whitehall. He is also a Mitzvah Day UK trustee, a JLGB member and an Adam Science Foundation alumnus.
39 Anthony Shaw, 30
Now Jewish Learning Exchange’s fundraising director, Anthony was previously Young Norwood manager, at the forefront of increasing the charity’s presence among the young Jewish community with a programme of high-profile social and business networking events.
“Passionate about an inclusive future focused on giving back,” Anthony’s initiatives included facilitating activities between people with learning disabilities and young professionals, as well as recruiting individuals for committees, which raised more than £250,000 a year.
READ MORE:
- Drum roll… Forty Under 40: The countdown continues – 30 to 21!
- Forty Under 40: Our community’s rising stars
38 Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen, 36
Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen was inaugurated at Manchester Reform Synagogue in 2018 and is the only female rabbi in the largest Jewish community outside of London. Previously a human rights solicitor, Robyn has been praised for “advancing equality and justice in and beyond the community”.
The co-founder of Tzelem, the Rabbinic Call for Social and Economic Justice in the UK, she frequently mobilises rabbis and congregants on issues including homelessness, asylum seekers and LGBT+ equality.
37 Sophie Dunoff, 33
Having rapidly risen from a parliamentary affairs role at the Board of Deputies to becoming COO of University Jewish Chaplaincy at just 29, Sophie is the first female CEO of the organisation.
The 33-year-old, described as an “extraordinary role model for Jewish and female leadership”, is known for fostering autonomy and collegiality among her 20 chaplains, empowering them to inspire the 8,500 Jewish students on UK campuses. An observant single mum, Sophie finds time to travel across the UK ensuring the pastoral needs of students are met.
36 Joel Friedman, 33
Joel played a central role in establishing and subsequently leading the newly-established Orthodox community in Canvey Island, Essex.
For many years a dedicated communal activist as head of policy and public affairs at the Interlink Foundation, in 2016 he was one of six families who moved to Canvey.
As policy director of the Jewish Congregation of Canvey Island, Joel has overseen the community’s successful integration into wider society, working closely with the local council, clergy schools, businesses and residents.
35 David Collins, 34
David is the United Synagogue’s chief programmes officer. This proud Scotsman’s responsibilities include Tribe, schools, chedarim and Living & Learning (Adult Education). He oversees a 45-strong team and is the director responsible for the US’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The Tribe summer programmes have grown exponentially, and he has overseen numerous social responsibility initiatives, including Tribe in Ghana, an asylum drop-in centre and a plastic waste reduction policy. Most recently he rapidly introduced the US coronavirus helpline.
34 Georgina Bye, 32
As Mitzvah Day chief executive, Georgina works tirelessly to guarantee the success of the UK’s biggest faith-based day of social actions.
She helps develop its long-term strategy, manages the staff, fundraises and ensures the 40,000 annual volunteers are supported. Georgina has held senior roles across Jewish organisations including JDC Entwine, OLAM and the Union of Jewish Students. She is also a former Moishe House London resident and hosts Moishe House Without Walls programmes, as well as volunteering for Limmud and March of the Living UK.
33 Rafi Addlestone, 34
A “strong and challenging leader”, Rafi uses his expert skills to deliver change and implement modern business practices across both the charity and commercial sector.
A former director of youth leadership at FZY, the 34-year-old now works in the sustainability and impact strategy team at Deloitte.
Previously head of external relations for the Treasury’s Child Poverty Unit and a senior policy adviser to ministers in the Department for Education, he is experienced in public consultation and policy development. Rafi continues to volunteer for community charities and organisations, including the UJIA and JW3, where he is the youngest trustee.
32 Laurence Field, 36
As JW3 Gateways director, Laurence has significantly improved the lives of more than 300 highly vulnerable Jewish youth.
Gateways is a vocational programme for at-risk young adults within the Jewish community. Laurence develops and oversees bespoke courses tailored to each student, ranging from core academic skills such as maths and English to practical courses in cooking, business and personal training. Thanks to the “driving force” behind ensuring JW3 offers a safe space for some of the community’s most vulnerable young people, more than 150 students have emerged with qualifications.
31 Chayli Fehler, 35
Chayli is the founder and director of Project ImpACT and The Step Up programme. The former facilitates meaningful and impactful group volunteering opportunities for school Years 8-13 across London, encouraging youth to actively make a difference in the community. The Step Up programme provides vital life skills and education in innovative ways to young people living in refugee camps in East Africa working in partnership with local communities.
Chayli is driven by a desire to “encourage and promote social action in the wider community and empower young people.” She is a dynamic educator and also launched the thriving Aleph Learning Centre at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue, which has become one of the largest of its kind in Europe, and established the international Jewish Educators Network.
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- Forty Under 40
- Michael Livingston
- Mitzvah Day
- JLGB member
- Adam Science foundation
- Anthony Shaw
- Jewish Learning Exchange
- Young Norwood
- Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen
- Manchester Reform Synagogue
- Tzelem
- the Rabbinic Call for Social and Economic Justice in the UK
- LGBT
- Sophie Dunoff
- University Jewish Chaplaincy
- Joel Friedman
- Canvey Island
- Jewish Congregation of Canvey Island
- David Collins
- United Synagogue
- Tribe
- Georgina Bye
- JDC Entwine
- Olam
- the Union of Jewish Students
- Moishe House London resident
- Moishe House Without Walls
- Limmud
- March of the Living UK
- Rafi Addlestone
- FZY
- Deloitte
- Treasury’s Child Poverty Unit
- UJIA
- jw3
- Laurence Field
- Gateways
- Chayli Fehler
- Project ImpACT
- The Step Up programme
- Aleph Learning Centre
- Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue
- Jewish Educators Network (JedNet)
- Camp Kochavim
- News
- Features
