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Rabbi Danny Kirsch 61 (43)
A fall in the rankings for the Orthodox outreach activities specialist. Raised in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Rabbi Kirsch “caught the community involvement bug” as a youth leader and activist. After a foray into the fashion world, five years in Israel at Ohr Somayach Yeshivah prepared him for a rabbinical return to run the Jewish Learning Exchange.
Mark Ronson 62 (New)
The uber-cool DJ and producer of Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen has wowed critics and music buyers with his Version album, which also features Winehouse and Allen. Proud of his Jewish roots, the British-born, New York-raised multi-talent has been talking with Winehouse about recording a festive record, with Chanucah songs on one side and Christmas melodies on the other. When interviewed by the JC, the 32-year-old said it was the only paper he could remember his grandma having on her table. He also said he would want to bring up his children as Jews because of the “things I love about it, both traditionally and spiritually”.
Lord Rothschild 63 (66)
Slight upward mobility for the power behind Yan Hanadiv, the family foundation, which maintains the famous banking family’s philanthropic credentials. Yan Hanadiv has an impressive range of Israeli interests and Jacob Rothschild is a top-table regular at fundraising events. But some panel members questioned the domestic influence of the peer.
Helena Miller 64 (New)
Described by a Power 100 judge as a Reform treasure who has reached a wider audience, Helena Miller is UJIA’s research director. She has taught and written on a wide range of subjects and is a mentor to many in the educational field. Previously director of education and professional development at Leo Baeck College, she fronts the Pikuach schools inspection programme.
Richard Desmond 65 (60)
Has settled in as president of Norwood with improved financial results suggesting that he has met his brief of reinvigorating its donor base. Mr Desmond’s Norwood role is evidence of his increased charitable involvement in recent years. “Adult” publications and pornographic TV channels have contributed to the fortune of the Express newspapers and OK! magazine boss.
Elkan Levy 66 (New)
The former United Synagogue president continues to impact on an important strand of activity as director of the Office of Small Communities. He has also been in the limelight as chair of the publication committee of the well-received new edition of the Singer’s Prayer Book, which is used by Orthodox congregations. A keen Anglo-Jewish historian, he lectures widely.
Jewdas (Geoffrey Cohen) 67 (New)
“Geoffrey Cohen” is the collective pseudonym for representatives of the subversive Jewish group. It came to wider attention in 2006 when four members were arrested at the Simcha in the Square celebration in Trafalgar Square on suspicion of disseminating antisemitic material — flyers for a “Protocols of the Elders of Hackney” party. Police decided not to press charges. A more recent event featured obscure films on Jewish anarchists, “extreme Jewish food” and “Jewla hooping” (Jewish hula-hooping, obviously). Once promised a talk from Lord Levy on “fraud, antisemitism and where to buy in Totteridge”. Unsurprisingly, the peer didn’t show.
Yeshua Stobietsky 68 (New)
The low-profile businessman who has built up the UK franchise of Hamodia newspaper from small beginnings to be, in the view of many, the main voice of the strictly Orthodox community. Writing in this month’s 10th-anniversary magazine of British Hamodia, Mr Stobietsky defines its aim as providing “kosher reading for the whole family... It is important that people should see the Charedi world in a positive light”. He is also helping to establish Hamodia in France.
Leonie Lewis 69 (63)
As project director of the Chief Rabbi’s Office, Leonie Lewis has been stepping-up its interfaith involvement and promoting the Israel — Home of Hope CD, featuring songs selected by the Chief Rabbi. She was appointed after making an impact within the United Synagogue as director of its community-development group, helping to revive fading congregations and establish new ones such as Brondesbury.
Mike Grabiner 70 (New)
In conveying the Reform Movement’s message, Mike Grabiner, 57, brings to bear a wealth of communications experience. The one-time chief executive of telecoms company Energis is a senior member of the tech and telecom team at investment house Apax Partners. The Cambridge graduate and former Brent Labour councillor was brought up within the United Synagogue fold, but his religious compass changed on meeting his wife Jane, who was from a Reform home. He is working to entice the young unaffiliated, opining: “I think the Reform approach is one of British Jewry’s best hopes”.
