NNLS ~ Our Lay Team

Veronica Kennard, Joint Chair

Veronica joined NNLS in 1984. Her involvement in the Synagogue has included Noam liaison, Honorary Secretary, and she took on the Joint Chair role in 2006. In her spare time Veronica works for an investment bank in the City.

Basil Shall, Joint Chair

Basil joined NNLS in 1998. He came on Council in 2007 to take on issues relating to Health & Safety and Accessibility within NNLS. Basil then assumed role of Hon. Secretary during 2008/09, and took over as Joint Chair from Nick Brill at our AGM this June.

Bernard Manson, Treasurer

Bernard joined NNLS in 1984. In addition to his current stint as Treasurer, Bernard has previously been Chair of the Services Committee. As well as managing the community’s general finances, Bernard has worked extensively on the funding of our new building project. In his brief interludes between dealing with NNLS’s accounts, Bernard can often be seen running to or from work in Euston.

Simon Freeman, Hon. Secretary

Simon joined NNLS in 1996. He has been an active member of our Charities Committee since its inception in 2001, and in 2008 he joined Council to work with our Treasurer, Bernard Manson, on finance related responsibilities. In June 2009, Simon assumed the role of NNLS’s Hon. Secretary.

Judith Bernstein, Education Portfolio

Judith joined NNLS in 1984, and has held the Education Portfolio on Council since 2006. Judith liaises closely with NNLS’s Director of Education, Barbara Stern, and has recently set up a Primary Education Committee. Outside of her Shul commitments, Judith is also a Parent Governor of JFS.

Nicholas Brill, Ex Officio Council Member

Nicholas joined NNLS in 1982. Being an architect by profession, he has been heavily involved in NNLS’s New Building Steering Committee since its inception in 1995, and has recently agreed to Chair this team. Nick previously served on Council between 1993 and 1997 and organised security for 5 years in the 1990's. He was Joint Chair of NNLS from 2005-2009.

Ben Camissar, Charities Portfolio

Ben joined NNLS in 1989. Ben regularly leads services at NNLS. He is also a keen member of the Charities Committee, and has been one of NNLS’s Board of Deputies’ Representatives for the last 3 years.

Ruth Clifton, Council Member

Ruth joined NNLS in 1994. She has gradually got involved, initially assisting in Children's services, then with many others organising the sport fund raising event, Project 2143 in 2006 and the Chanukah gift and book fair in 2007. She joined the council in 2009.

David Farbey, Communications Portfolio

David joined NNLS in 1999, and has been a member of the Services Committee for several years. His current role on Council has seen him very closely involved with our community's re-branding process including the launch of the new web site.

Nick Gendler, Synagogue’s AMS Rep

Nick joined NNLS in 1994. He has worked with our Community Programming Coordinator, Rivka Gottlieb, to help deliver our extensive range of social, cultural and festival-related events including our recent hilarious Purim Spiel, and more recently, Nick took on the role of being the Synagogue’s link with and to the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues.

Fabien Havas, Events Portfolio

Since Fabien joined NNLS in 2008, he has been active in helping run various events in the community and in the Young Adults group. Fabien's taking up the Events council portfolio from 2009 is thus a natural fit.

Jeanie Horowitz, Israel Portfolio

Jeanie joined NNLS in 2001. Professionally, Jeanie runs the Cheder at another Synagogue. Her NNLS Council role involves working on a whole range of Israel related activities within the community, including speaker events, Yom Ha'zikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut events, and Ivrit b'Ivrit - a monthly club for Hebrew speakers.

Debbie Mallandaine, Young Families Portfolio

Debbie joined NNLS in 2003. As well as being part of our Network group, Debbie now facilitates much of the activity at NNLS focussed on young families.

Alison Richardson, Membership Portfolio

Alison joined NNLS in 1993. Being a qualitative market researcher by profession, Alison has helped NNLS over the years with various focus group projects. She joined Council in 2007, and together with Adam Taylor, Alison has headed up the Membership Team.

Gillian Seigal, Strategic Development Portfolio

Gillian joined NNLS in 1999. As well as playing a part in NNLS’s new building fundraising campaign, Gillian is part of the Synagogue’s Strategic Development Team, which is working towards the production of a strategic plan for the Synagogue over the coming 3 years.

Adam Taylor, Membership Portfolio

Adam joined NNLS in 2002. Together with Alison Richardson, Adam runs NNLS’s Membership Team, which focuses on integrating new members and more fully engaging existing members into the Synagogue. Adam is currently taking part in the Masorti Movement’s leadership programme, Atid Hadash.

Barend Velleman, Youth Portfolio

Barend joined NNLS in 1999. After co-ordinating Children’s Services at NNLS for a number of years, Barend has now graduated to working with informal provision for our teenagers. Barend is also on NNLS’s Services Committee.