Who’s who
Below you will find a list of Who’s Who at Muswell Hill Synagogue. They can be contacted through the Office.
Our staff:
Rabbi David Mason
Rabbi
Rabbi Mason joined Muswell Hill in 2008 he is married to Elisheva and has four children Hodaya, Natanel, Akiva and Amalya. He has just completed his Masters in Conflict Resolution in Divided Society for which he received a distinction.
Jo Cowen
Administrator
Jo is the front line for Muswell Hill Synagogue, if you want to book an event, arrange a simcha or talk about membership Jo can help you out
Josh Brickman
Youth Director
Responsible for all things Youth related
I’m 25 y/o and from Elstree. My academic journey has taken me from Jewish schools to Music College to University to Yeshiva and back. I went from Yavneh College to JFS 6th form to a gap year studying a vocal diploma in popular music performance to study Human Geography at the University of Leeds. From there I landed in Har Nof, Jerusalem in a Yeshiva called Machon Shlomo where I've arrived back from last summer following 2 years of studying. Growing up I took on leadership roles at Bnei Akiva in my local community and worked at many different summer camps both in the UK and in the US. I am passionate about Youth Work and having seen how special this community is, I am really excited to get to know the community better and help support in any way I can.
Beth Franks
Community Events Co-ordinator
Beverley Geissing
Welfare coordinator
Juan Vasquez Cifuentes
Caretaker
Vince Caluori
Honorary Officers:
Karen Ackerman
Chair
I am married to Warren Taylor, and we have three children , Nathan, Noa and Aron. I was a Producer at the BBC for over 10 years, most recently on the CBBC programme Blue Peter. Since leaving the BBC, I have set up my own business, helping charities tell their stories using digital media more effectively, either through film, social media or their websites.
As Chair, I want to engage as many people as possible in shul life, whether that is through the welfare committee, the social action group or through getting involved in services or communal events.
Marc Rubinstein
Financial Representative
I've been a member of Muswell Hill Shul since moving into the area in 2000 with my wife Judith Vandervelde. I grew up in Liverpool and attended King David High School where my headteacher was eminent community member Clive Lawton. I pursued a career in the City and worked for a major investment bank before moving into the asset management industry as a partner in an investment fund. Judith and I have two sons, Sam (16) and Avi (13).
Greg Swimer
Vice Chair
Ilana and I moved to Muswell Hill and joined the Shul in 2003. We have three children Yael, Annie and Saul. My main involvement in wider shul life has come through my continuous search for volunteers to help on the Security Rota. I was born in the North (although Manchester, not Liverpool), took a year off in Israel, and also attended Oxford University, studying Engineering &Management. Not really knowing what to do I ended up in IT which turned out to be a reasonable career choice, and I've worked for a number of companies over the past 20 years, spending three years living and working in Haifa between 1997 and 2000 along the way.
Daniel Shaw
Warden
I’ve taken the plunge to join the new team of wardens after a number of years taking and running Children’s Services, as well as a 5 year stint on the Board. I was born in Leeds and went to Manchester University to study physics before eventually ending up in the City working in banking. In order to keep in touch with my northern and my family’s medical traditions I married Melinda, a Doctor from Manchester. Melinda and I joined Muswell Hill 2006 with our sons Louis (now 16) and Zak (now 13). Our daughter Lauren (now 7) came along in 2009.
Neil Cohen
Warden
My wife Linda (also known as The Mysterious Mrs Cohen - TMMC) and I joined Muswell Hill shul in 1995 to get married and we have remained members here ever since. We now have two children Anthony (17) and Rochelle (12). I am the youngest of four brothers and work in the family business having originally trained as an accountant. This is my second stint as Warden following a two-year break. I have previously served on the board of management and the events committee and been a member of the security and pouring rota during my two-year hiatus as a warden.
Helen Style
Women’s Officer and Community Safeguarding Coordinator
My role is to support the engagement of our female members in community life and religious services, with particular sensitivity to issues which affect them. I aim to ensure that positive opportunities for women’s engagement are incorporated into all areas of community life.
If you become aware of information that leads you to be concerned about the physical, emotional or sexual abuse or possible neglect of a child or vulnerable adult in our community, please tell me without delay.
I have been a shul member since 1994 and have served under 6 different Chairs over a 20 year period! Originally from sunny Surbiton I moved north of the river after getting my Masters in Arabic. I trained as a French teacher before retraining in Early Years and setting up Yeladenu Preschool.
Synagogue Council:
Linda Cohen
Catering
Catering: To manage catering for kiddushim and community events and ensure kashrut standards are upheld in the kitchen.
I'm married to ex-Warden Neil and we have two children, Anthony and Rochelle, aged 15 and 10 respectively. Having spent around 30 years working in banking and corporate finance I now work for the United Synagogue as the Office Manager at Cockfosters & Southgate shul, known as Old Farm Avenue. Here at Muswell Hill I'm responsible for kiddushim and catering for the various chaggim and celebratory events that take place. Please don't hesitate to contact me via the shul office if you're planning a simcha or have any questions.
Irene Mansfield
Interfaith
Interfaith: To work with local other faith groups to promote interfaith understanding and harmony
Gerry and I joined our Shul in the 1970s, when our children were very young, and we quickly became active and involved. Our children grew up, celebrated their bat and barmitzvahs there and were each married there. My emphasis during my years on the Board, and as its first women Vice Chair, has always been on the Human Rights side of our community, a field which has been expanded under the religious leadership of Rabbi David. It is a privilege to be a part of our wonderful community.’
Judith Devons
Inclusivity
Inclusivity: To help ensure that all members feel valued and able to participate in MHS
I’m a freelance artist and mother of three grown sons. I have lived in Cambridge, London, Manchester, Newcastle, New York, and Israel. When I moved from the Midlands back to London nearly 10 years ago, friends encouraged me to visit Muswell Hill Synagogue, knowing that I would love this open-minded and knowledgeable yet traditional community - and they were right! I have been involved in progressive, Sephardi, Lubavich and traditional communities, been part of a two-parent family, a single parent and now living alone, so I am very much drawn to an INCLUSIVITY portfolio.
Melinda Shaw
Community Cares
Children and Young People: To work with all children/youth to enable access to Jewish learning, social events and synagogue services under the direction of the youth director
I'm wife of Daniel and mum to Louis , Zak & Lauren .
Having been brought up in Manchester I find Muswell Hill a similarly friendly community which reminds me of my roots .
My working week is spent as a GP in central London.
I would like to promote cross community understanding in my role on the board .
Daryl Green
Fundraising/Building project
Fundraising: To raise funds for the building project
I am a business development, sales and marketing consultant and also have had many years experience working in a professional capacity as well as a volunteer for leading Jewish Charities including Jewish Care and Nightingale Hammerson. I have been a member of Muswell Hill for 18 years and it has a provincial community atmosphere, like the shul I grew up in South London. My wife is Estelle is a Psychotherapist and we live in Whetstone.
Edward Miller
I’ve enjoyed being a member of the Muswell Hill community for over twenty years. My particular interests on the Council are ensuring the community is a place where all (eg women) feel welcome and included, and inter-community relations.
Keith Mount
Top of the Hill and Events
I retired as a dentist 3 years ago and moved from Stanmore with Steph. We have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. We both love being involved in shul services and events and really enjoy the atmosphere at Muswell Hill.
I’m joint chair of the Top of the Hill group together with Janet Goodman.
It’s an interesting time at the shul with the building project and the eruv and I’m happy to help wherever needed.
Jo Kaye
Eco Synagogue
Support Rabbi David in integrating the principles of Eco Synagogue and sustainability into the Muswell Hill Synagogue building and community.
I am really passionate about sustainability, having worked for many years at the Energy Saving Trust and spent a vast amount of my life persuading friends and family to be more aware of their impact on the environment. My husband Mitch and I, with our two girls Ruby and Millie are fairly new recruits to this wonderful community so I feel very privileged to be involved in this way. I would love to hear from anyone else who is passionate about this and would like to support our journey to zero carbon.
Bracha Games
Edward Leigh
Representatives:
Board of Deputies
Anna Lawton
Deputy to the BoD
Judith Prinsley
Deputy to the BoD
Jo Miller
Deputy to the BoD
United Synagogue Council
Karen Ackerman
Irene Mansfield
Daryl Green