About

Educator & Chief Executive Officer

Ben read Law at University College London before working at Herbert Smith until 2012. He spent four years in higher Jewish learning in Israel, and has been involved in community and leadership projects such as UCL Jsoc President, Ner Yisrael Youth Director, Har Etzion British Alumni Programmes Co-ordinator and informal educator for Immanuel College and Hasmonean. In his spare time, Ben continues to practice law and is the General Counsel for a number of Jewish charities, as well as running a family investment fund. He lives in Israel with his wife Aviva, and their three children, but regularly commutes to the UK.

Educator & Chief Programme Officer

Rabbi Dr. Effie Kleinberg serves as Senior Educator and Programme Director at Forum for Jewish Leadership and affiliated Jewish Futures Trust organizations focused on developing the next generation of ambitious future Jewish leaders around the globe. Rabbi Kleinberg holds a Masters in Education, Semicha and a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Yeshiva University. Rabbi Kleinberg worked as a Jewish educator in North America before making aliyah. He currently resides with his family in Ra’anana, Israel.

Educator & Co-FJL UK Director

Jonny grew up in London and attended JFS before studying Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge. He then spent several years learning in Talmudic colleges in Jerusalem and London, including Ohr Somayach, the Mir Yeshiva, and Kollel Eitz Pri. After living in both London and Jerusalem, Jonny and Elisheva joined the Aish on Campus team in Bristol for two impactful years. They are now based in London, where they lead FJL’s UK team as Programme Directors and Senior Educators. A proud alumnus of the 2011 FJL Washington D.C. programme, Jonny is passionate about building meaningful relationships with students and helping others grow—just as his own mentors did for him.

Educator & Co-FJL UK Director

Born and raised in London, Elisheva attended Menorah High School followed by a year’s seminary in Israel. Elisheva holds a first class BSc in Mathematics and has QTS teaching qualification. She was an inspiring and much-loved teacher at Mathilda Marks Kennedy Primary School for 9 years before moving to Israel with her husband, Jonny. Passionate about people and Judaism, Elisheva has held various educational and social director roles including spending two years in Bristol with Aish on Campus; opening her heart and home to Jewish students. Elisheva and Jonny, now back in London, are the UK FJL Programme Directors and Educators; responsible for the recruitment, programming and follow up of the UK programmes.

Educator & Head of Israel Recruitment and Engagement

Jen is originally from New York. Before joining FJL, Jen dedicated several years to advanced Torah learning, with a focus on Talmud and Jewish Law, at Migdal Oz and GPATS. Jen received her bachelor’s in Jewish Studies and Philosophy from Yeshiva University, where she was active in strengthening campus life, and is currently completing her MA in Bible at the Bernard Revel Graduate School. She has worked in informal education for many years in Bnei Akiva summer and year-long programming, as well as in formal education at SAR High School, Migdal Oz, and Midreshet Torah v’Avodah. As an FJL Educator, Jen has the privilege of building meaningful relationships with participants, engaging in thoughtful conversations about Jewish life and ideas, and continuing to learn with alumni long after the summer ends. Jen lives in Jerusalem with her husband, Jacob, and their daughter, Leeba.

Educator & Head of Programme Development

Keren grew up in Sydney, Australia, and made Aliyah to Jerusalem in 2021, where she lives with her family. A graduate of the University of Sydney, she began her career in Experiential Jewish Education at Moriah College. Keren has since held leadership roles in program and operations management and serves as an educator for World Bnei Akiva, Aish Aspire, Ohrsom Student, and MMY. She is also actively involved in shaping local community life through the emerging Pnima initiative in Jerusalem. Keren currently serves as Program Director, Operations Manager and Educator for FJL.

Educator & FJL Australia Director

Gila resides in Sydney, Australia and is the proud mother of three. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science and brings extensive experience in Jewish education and community leadership having spent over five years working in Jewish Life at Moriah College and as Community Relations Manager at CHS. She is a certified kallah teacher (trained by the Eden Centre) and is deeply passionate about empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders. As the Australian Director of FJL, she is committed to nurturing Jewish identity, values, and purpose among young adults in the Australian Jewish community.

Educator & FJL Melbourne Director

Eddy has worked across consulting firms, the Not-for-profit world, business councils, parliamentary offices and Community youth groups all over the world. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion for two years, after which he commenced and studied his Rabbinical Smicha. He completed his undergraduate studies at Monash University in Global Studies with a focus on International Relations and Chinese Mandarin. He has extensively worked as a consultant with multinational companies and organisations and has advised politicians in Australia and abroad. Together with his wife, he was Community Leader at the Shule ‘Gesher’ in Melbourne Australia, an Orthodox synagogue for young adults. He currently resides in Melbourne, Australia where he leads community-based educational projects. As Melbourne’s FJL Director, Eddy brings years of educational and corporate experience to help educate and lead the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Internship & Volunteer Programmes Coordinator

Dina is originally from Australia and made aliyah in 2022. She is an alumna of the Forum for Jewish Leadership (FJL) January 2025 program in New York and recently graduated with a degree in Political Science and Communications from Bar Ilan University. Dina is passionate about Israeli Diplomacy, building connections and empowering young leaders. In her role at FJL, Dina looks forward to creating meaningful relationships within the internship industry and continuing to inspire in the world of FJL volunteer programs.

Israel Partnerships Liaison & Operations Manager

Hadassah Thau serves as the Israel Partnerships Liason & Operations Manager at the Forum for Jewish Leadership. She previously served as Program Coordinator and Shlicha for Mizrachi Canada in Toronto and as Director of Programming at Camp Moshava Ennismore, where she led experiential education and Israel engagement initiatives. With a background spanning nonprofit operations and strategic program development, she also worked as an Operations Associate at OurCrowd, bringing organizational excellence and an entrepreneurial mindset to her work.
Hadassah holds a BA in Business and Marketing from IDC Herzliya. Passionate about Jewish leadership, community building, and impactful programming, she is dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity and fostering a dynamic, values-driven leadership pipeline.

UK Project Coordinator

Sandra grew up in Essex and has worked in the Jewish charity sector most of her working life. She organised trips and events for the Community Security Trust and Norwood, working with Jewish community leaders such as Gerald Ronson, Richard Harrington MP and Richard Desmond. Sandra currently lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and son and is crucial part of the FJL team bringing extensive experience in arranging and delivering FJL programmes

Jewish Futures Project Manager

Yocheved has organized countless Israel trips, and she is passionate about making sure participants have the greatest experience. Although much of Yocheved’s work is done behind the scenes, she is accompanying the programme experiences every step of the way. Originally from Cleveland, Yocheved now lives in beautiful Ramat Beit Shemesh with her husband and five chidlren.

FJL UK Coordinator

Chaya Sarah graduated from King’s College London with a BSc in History and Political Economy. While at university, she worked actively within the local London Jewish community, inspiring and mentoring youth through organisations such as GIFT. Chaya Sarah joined the staff team on a couple of FJL programmes in London and NY. She is now beginning her career in property and investment, as well as continuing her involvement with FJL, maintaining meaningful relationships through learning, social and Jewish experiences combining her passions for community and growth.

UK Office Assistant

Chief Executive, Jewish Futures & Founder, FJL

Founder of FJL and CEO of Opendor Media

Co-founder and COO of YuLife

FJL Alumnus ‘13, CEO - Stonehill Credit

Non-profit Consultant & Activist

Head of School, Manhattan Day School

Solicitor & Senior Vice-President, Board of Deputies of British Jews

Senior Rabbi, S&P Sephardi Community, UK

Leading Barrister, Red Lion Chambers

Yoetzet Halacha & Tanakh Teacher, Kohelet Yeshiva High School

Israel’s Special Envoy for Trade & Innovation

Chief Operating Officer, Windmill Hill Asset Management

Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Lecturer in English Literature, NYU London

Co-Founder, Israel Impact Partners; CEO, Share

Professor of Gastroenterology & Biophotonics, London Gastroenterology Centre

Former Deputy Assistant to the President & Former Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber & Emerging Technology, The White House National Security Council

Director, Jewish Classical Education Concentration Track, University of Dallas; Academic Director & Dean, The Lobel Centre for Jewish Classical Education; President, Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty; Research Fellow, Tikvah Fund

Executive Vice-President & CEO, Ronald S. Lauder Foundation

Japan Chair & former CEO, Hudson Institute

Founding Member, UAE–Israel Business Council; Head of Primary Markets, Israel; Founder, Jewish Women’s Business Network (London Stock Exchange Group)