Follow The JC on Twitter
Stephen Smith 41 (72)
A non-Jew devoted to Holocaust education, Stephen Smith founded the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire in 1995 with his brother James as “a place of education, memory, testimony, art, academia and so much more besides”. The centre offers facilities for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the history and implications of the Shoah. Its success led to his involvement in the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, which he chairs. The trust is responsible for the national HMD commemoration, which will next year be in Coventry on the theme of “Stand up to Hatred”.
Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg 42 (39)
The New North London Synagogue minister has been enjoying a dog’s life of late — a 100-mile walk in the company of his pet Mitzpah to raise funds for the shul’s building development. The trek, taking in places reflecting “the values to which the community aspires”, typifies the enterprise of the leading voice of Masorti in Britain, who has turned his Finchley congregation into one of the country’s largest and most influential. Glasgow-born Rabbi Wittenberg, 50, is also a gifted speaker and writer and is active in Jewish-Muslim dialogue.
Joshua Rowe 43 (21)
A major Manchester educational player and philanthropist, whose goal is for young people to grow up with a Jewish identity. To this end, he is an unstinting supporter of the Manchester King David School, of which he is governors’ chairman. Mr Rowe was one of the fiercest critics of Education Secretary Ed Balls for naming faith schools said to have breached the government’s admissions policy, arguing: “You are not dealing with gangsters, but people who give their time for the benefit of the community.” The qualified pilot is also a respected Manchester speaker on other issues of concern.
Jeremy Newmark 44 (56)
Progress up the list for the Jewish Leadership Council chief executive recognises that the JLC is “beginning to find its legs” in its mission to enhance the effectiveness of the community’s political representation, influence strategic priorities and encourage greater cooperation. A savvy and diplomatic operator, the 35-year-old built his reputation as an effective communications director for Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, having previously served the Board of Deputies as international-affairs officer. After his stint for the Chief Rabbi, he ran a consultancy working for a number of Jewish organisations and was director of the Antisemitism Coordination Unit, monitoring threats in the UK and abroad.
Rabbi Dr Abraham Levy 45 (13)
The long-time spiritual head of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation is liked and respected as a voice for unity and moderation. But judges argued that his ranking last year reflected deference to the Sephardi community rather than an accurate assessment of his influence. Gibraltar-born Rabbi Levy, 68, presides over his community’s largest synagogue, Lauderdale Road in Maida Vale. He founded the Naima Jewish Primary School and supervises the UK’s only modern Orthodox rabbinical ordination course.
Clive Lawton 46 (18)
There was a divergence of views among the panel over the placing of the 56-year-old educationist. His supporters laud him as one of the community’s most charismatic personalities, expressing admiration for his chairmanship of Tzedek, the UK-based overseas-development charity which works with some of the world’s poorest communities. The former Liverpool King David High head and Liverpool educational authority deputy director was a major force behind the rise of the cross-congregational Limmud educational project.
Norma Brier 47 (New)
A steady hand in the progress of children and family charity Norwood, Norma Brier has served as chief executive since 1997. Family breakdown accounts for a significant percentage of Norwood’s caseload and Mrs Brier, 58, points out that such circumstances can leave children in a “very vulnerable state, needing a great deal of support at a time when they might not be getting it from their family”. She was formerly executive director of the Ravenswood Foundation, a lecturer in social work and a psychiatric social worker.
Professor David Cesarani 48 (New)
The research professor in modern history at Royal Holloway, University of London, is one of Britain’s foremost authorities on the Holocaust and advised the Home Office unit responsible for Holocaust Memorial Day. He has written widely on the subject and was engaged as a consultant to TV documentaries on Nuremberg and Auschwitz. Professor Cesarani was previously director of the Parkes Centre for the study of Jewish/non-Jewish relations at Southampton University. Awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to Holocaust education, the 51-year-old has been overseeing a major research project on Jewish philanthropy and social development in Europe (1800-1940).
Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain 49 (9)
The long-serving Maidenhead Reform minister remains a capable media performer and has added a new string to a sizeable bow as chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis. But some on our panel considered his 2007 top 10 placing somewhat generous. The 53-year-old minister has helped his congregation grow from 80 families to 700 over the past 30 years. A pioneer of seminars for Jews with non-Jewish partners, Rabbi Romain has been a mainstream voice against faith schools, suggesting that they create religious ghettoes.
Nick Viner 50 (New)
Chief executive of the Jewish Community Centre for London, which aims to “provide a way into, or back into” Jewish life for its users. His major challenge is delivering the 80,000 sq ft community centre on Finchley Road planned to open in 2011. The centre will incorporate meeting rooms, performance space, fitness facilities, restaurants, a library and a nursery. The Belsize Square Synagogue congregant was formerly a senior partner of the Boston Consulting Group and changed careers because of his belief in the “vision” of the JCC. He also chairs a young people’s charity, Pop-Up. As a member of our judging panel, he diplomatically absented himself when his nomination was discussed.