Governors & Trustees
The school is governed by 13 governors from a variety of backgrounds. The governing body is chaired by Ian Kamiel, with Simone Gershon as vice-chair, and is responsible for setting the direction of the school, including the approval of school policies, and the appointment of staff. The governing body is split into the following sub-committees:
- Education and Care
- Premises
- Finance
- Marketing and Recruitment.
The charity that underpins Morasha, the Finchley Jewish Primary School Trust, is served by seven trustees who ensure that the charitable trust is run properly. The chairman of the trustees is Jeremy Newman, and he is supported by Peter Sheldon OBE, Howard Rubenstein, and four individuals who are also on the governing body (Chavi Abeles, Robert Gershon, Ian Kamiel and Adam Phillips).
Trustee Profiles
Jeremy Newman (Chair of Trustees) is global CEO of BDO International Limited, one of the world’s leading accountancy networks, having previously been Managing Partner of BDO’s UK firm for seven years. He was a founder member and finance governor of The Leigh City Technology College and served on the finance committee of North West London Jewish Day School. He was a trustee and treasurer for many years of the Community Security Trust (CST) and is a trustee of a number of private charitable trusts. He is married to Judi and they have two adult children.
Peter Sheldon is a qualified chartered accountant with a corporate track record in senior positions in a wide range of listed and private companies. He has held positions as chairman, executive and non-executive director in private and public companies ranging from retail to high-tech, clothing manufacturing to banking, and healthcare to publishing. He has served as non-executive chairman of BATM Advanced Communications, a successful Israeli technology company listed on the London Stock Exchange for 12 years. His long involvement in the voluntary sector includes 12 years as chairman of Kerem Schools and 6 years as president of the United Synagogue. He is currently chairman of the Chief Rabbinate Trust, a trustee of the Jerusalem Foundation and Hadassah UK among other charities and recently retired as a JP after 25 years service. He was made an OBE in the 2010 New Years Honours for his services to the Jewish Community.
Howard Rubenstein is currently the Operations Director for Yell UK having previously served as Group Company Secretary and General Counsel until August 2010. As part of his role, Howard has responsibility for (amongst other things) customer services, 118 247 call centres, group property, purchasing and external relations. Married to Ruth, they have three children and Howard is also the current serving Vice-Chairman of Finchley United Synagogue.
Governor Profiles
Chavi Abeles (Legal & Trustee) - Chavi grew up in Temple Fortune and was an active member of Bnei Akiva. After school she spent a year studying at Midreshet Lindenbaum ("Brovenders") in Israel. On her return, Chavi read law at Cambridge University and qualified as a solicitor in the Trusts and Charities Goup at Herbert Smmith in September 2006. Chavi now works as a solicitor specialising in Charity law at Bates Wells & Braithwaite LLP. Chavi and Daniel have a young son, Elisha.
Daniel Abeles (Premises) - Daniel grew up in Muswell Hill and was an active member of Bnei Akiva and also ran synagogue services at the local old age home. Daniel spent two years in Israel at Yeshivat Kibbutz Ha-Dati. On his return he continued his involvement in Bnei Akiva at residential camps as well as heading the local group in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Daniel qualified as a doctor from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in 2002 and holds a degree in psychology from University College London. At present he is a physician and intends to specialise in gastroenterology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in hepatology and immunology at King's College Hospital.
Rob Gershon (Treasurer & Trustee) - Rob has been involved in the community and with informal Jewish education from a young age, having spent many years as a participant and youth leader with B'nei Akiva, both before and after his gap year in yeshiva in Israel. He is also a graduate of the AJE's teacher training programme and the UJIA's Adam Science Programme for leadership in the Jewish community. Rob is a partner at Lyceum Capital Partners LLP, a private equity firm in Central London. He is a qualified chartered accountant, holds an MBA from the Cass Business School (City University) and is a member of the CFA Society of the UK.
Simone Gershon (Vice Chair & Head of Fundraising Committee) - Simone has been involved in the Jewish Community from a young age. She was instrumental in setting up the youth centre at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue and, whilst at university, chaired the umbrella committee overseeing Jewish student activities in the Greater Manchester area. Simone subsequently served on the executive of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) as a fieldworker. She holds a Masters degree from the London School of Economics in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research and is currently working as the Head of Strategy for BT Operate, part of British Telecom plc. Simone and Rob have a young son, Rafi.
David Goldschmidt (Parent Governor) - David grew up in West Hampstead and studied Economics at LSE. He is a chartered accountant and partner in Berg Kaprow Lewis LLP. He has previously spent two years working in New York as well as three years as finance director of a business that grows flowers and vegetables in Africa and supplies them to all the major UK supermarkets. He is married to Deborah and has two children, Jake and Ben.
Hayley Gross (Head Teacher) - Click here for Hayley's full profile.
Ian Kamiel (Chair & Trustee) - Ian grew up in the Finchley community and was warden of the Minyan service for 3 years. He was active in Bnei Akiva and spent his gap year on their Hachshara programme. Ian has an Economics degree from Manchester University and has spent most of his career working in Jewish education; he is currently Chief Executive of University Jewish Chaplaincy. Ian is married to Angela and they have three sons, Jay, Charlie & Abe.
Gillian Marantz (Education) - Gillian was actively involved in Bnei Akiva both before and after her gap year in Midreshet Ha'Rova, having grown up in Manchester, and has also taught at cheder in Manchester and London. Gillian is a doctor who qualified from the Royal Free and University College Medical School in 2002. She holds a degree in Genetics and is currently working as an Oncology registrar at UCLH. Gillian is married to Jason and has two children, Ellie and Ora.
Ben Morris (Limmudei Kodesh) - Ben also grew up with a Bnei Akiva background, and spent one year learning at Ein Tzurim on the Hachshara Torani scheme. He has a law degree and a doctorate in regulation, and worked in a variety of public sector contexts, including the House of Commons and the National Audit Office, before joining KPMG Corporate Finance in October 2007. He spent 18 months as youth director of St John's Wood synagogue and regularly takes the services at several synagogues.
Talya Morris (Admissions) - Talya has been active in Bnei Akiva, Leeds University Jewish Society and the European Union of Jewish Students. She holds a degree in French and Italian and a masters degree in Romance Languages and Literatures from Columbia University in New York. Talya works in a city law firm where she specialises in EU and Competition Law. Talya and Ben have three children, Aviya, Daniella, and Calev.
Adam Phillips (Health, Safety and Security & Trustee) - Adam grew up in Stanmore and was an active member of Stanmore synagogue. He has organised Barmitzvahs, Weddings and Corporate events for many years and won Jewish Care's Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He studied Accounting and Finance at Birmingham University and qualified as an Accountant (ACA) with BDO Stoy Hayward in 2004. He left BDO in 2005 to expand his party planning business, Uptown Events. He is involved with organising the events for many Jewish charities. Adam also has a property business.
Anna Phillips (Fundraising & PTA) - Anna was born in Manchester and attended Broughton Jewish and Yavneh schools. She was an active member of Bnei Akiva and spent a gap year in Jerusalem at Midreshet Lindenbaum ("Brovenders"). She studied Law at Birmingham University and qualified as a solicitor in 2006. Anna now practises Property Law. Anna and Adam have three young sons, Sami, Koby and Jamie.
Leonie Sher (Education) - Leonie has particular responsibility for educational standards. She coordinates the United Synagogue's AJE Initial Teacher Training programmes. Her main responsibility is managing the School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Programme, which is a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Leonie has had extensive experience in Jewish Primary Schools. She has held many posts of responsibility and has a particular interest in management and leadership. She has been a Deputy Head Teacher and acting Head Teacher. Leonie is a trained OFSTED inspector as well as a Pikuach inspector. She holds an Institute of Education Master's degree in Educational Management and Administration. Her Master's dissertation included an extensive study of the relationship between Head Teachers and their Deputies and how this relationship impacts on the leadership of the school. Leonie has participated in the Tavistock Institute Conferences on ‘Leadership in Organisations'.
