Who’s who

I became Chair after a 5 year stint as a warden as well as having previously taken and ran 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 and Zak. Our daughter Lauren came along in 2009. As Chair, in the post pandemic world I want to engage and re-engage as many people as possible in shull life, across the full ranges of activities that take place in our community.

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. After studying mathematics at Oxford University, 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. More recently, I have shifted my focus into financial journalism. Judith and I have two sons, Sam (22) and Avi (19).

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.

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 (21) and Rochelle (16). 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.

I have been a member of Muswell Hill for a little over 10 years and last year Daniel and Neil asked me to be a warden, I thought they had made a mistake but apparently not! I have served on council for a number of years and kicked off the fund raising for the building works. I have worked in mapping and technology for the last 25 years and am now largely retired.

I’ve been a member of Muswell Hill since 1997, having joined with my husband, Neil Rosenthal. For many years, I ran the toddlers and children‘s services, and I’ve been on the shul council in the past, responsible for new members and for youth. I’m also very involved with interfaith work and have set up many initiatives with our friends at Whiteman Road Mosque. Our three children, Ruby Lara and Jonas have all taken active parts in shul life as youth leaders and Cheder assistants . I run a teaching organisation called Judaism for Schools and I’m very happy to be a part of such an outward - looking community.