As reform Judaism’s first informal educational director, Libby Burkeman will head the movement’s youth department, taking responsibility for RSY-Netzer and Jeneration, MRJ’s student and young adult initiative.

Ms Burkeman, 30, will join the movement next month from international aid charity Tzedek, where she is education director. She is also a Limmud trustee, having co-chaired the Limmud conference.

Reform chief executive Ben Rich said “Libby was the stand-out candidate in an outstanding field. She has Reform Judaism in her soul and is a truly inspirational educator. She will be a wonderful addition to our senior team.”

Active in RSY-Netzer from the age of 11, she gained Israel tour and summer camp leadership experience before serving as a movement worker from 2003-4.

She was “delighted to be rejoining the movement in a really exciting and challenging role. I am passionate about informal education.”