The Montefiore College

There are currently a dozen students on the current course, most of whom are expected to qualify for semicha in July 2013.

Norbert Abenaim

Born in Casablanca, Natan graduated from the Ecole Central Paris in Paris and later studied at Yeshivat Yad Mordechai, Paris. Natan has held senior positions in the research and development sector of the energy industry. He is widowed with one son.

David Carmel

David was educated at Hasmonean High School and then at Yeshivat Har Etzion. He is active in the Hendon United Synagogue, where he studied under Rabbi Ginsbury for the past fifteen years. Though not a candidate for semicha, he is undertaking the Course (particularly its halachic learning) with the aim of being of further benefit to the wider community.

Stephen Dansky

Steven Dansky was educated at Alteret Yisrael, and is currently Youth Director of Mill Hill Synagogue, where he also runs its Bnei Mitzva programme.

He graduated from Witwatersrand University with a degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Occupational Psychology. He holds the Diploma of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development; and is a registered tester of emotional intelligence, personality and ability for career guidance and selection.

Steven is married with one daughter.

Yaacov Finn

Yaacov was born in Jerusalem but has spent most of his life in Borehamwood. He attended Immanuel college, followed by a period of study in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City of Jerusalem. Following this, he read Pychology at University College London, where he gained a first and was placed on the 'Deans List' for merit'. He is now reading for a postgraduate degree in Health Psychology at UCL.

Currently, Yaacov is the Ministerial Assistant of Shenley United Synagogue and also Head Teacher of Muswell Hill Synagogue Cheder. In his spare time he runs activities for children with special needs as part of Norwood's 'Unity' scheme.

Rev. Meir Lev

Born in Birmingham and married, with joint British/Israeli nationality, the Rev. Meir Lev is a yeshivah-educated professional Minister and Hazan who has served in a number of synagogues all over the country and is currently the Minister of the Sutton and District United Synagogue. He is a mature student who, despite a lifetime of experience in Jewish communities, still has a strong desire to improve his knowledge.

Adam Mather

Adam was born in London and obtained a B.A. in Theology at Durham University. He also has the degree of LL.B and was called to the Bar in November 2010. In tandem with his secular studies, Adam spent 3 years studying in Yeshivat Bet Yosef, Gateshead, and also at Yeshivat Medrash Shemuel in Jerusalem.

Alongside the Semicha course, Adam expects to be teaching Jewish Studies at Naima Jewish Preparatory School, doing outreach work in the community and reading for a master's degree.

Asaf Mittelman

Asi, an Israeli, is married to an English wife and has one daughter. He spent many years at yeshiva in Israel, including six years at Yeshivat Hakotel, and also obtained an LL.B law degree from Kiryat Ono College. His army service was with the Paratroopers, in which he qualified as a group commander. Before joining the Montefiore Semicha Course, Asi taught at Immanuel College, where he worked as a kollel leader. He was also an active educator in the Edgware United Synagogue and in the Edgware Adath community. He is currently directing activities for pre-barmitzvah children at Lauderdale Road Synagogue as an integral part of his practical training for the rabbinate.

Ofir Ronen

Ofir was born in Haifa, where his grandfather was its first Sephardi Chief Rabbi. He studied at yeshivat Benei Akive Raanana and at yeshivat Moreshet Yaakov, where he qualified as a teacher. He was given Smicha for Shechitat Ofot.

Ofir engaged in Communication and Media Studies and gained a B.A. in Psychology. He has published two books on improving communication in the family. He taught in Israel, led educational teams for its Ministry of Education and is currently teaching Religious Studies at the Hillel Woolfson School, Southgate. Offir is married with five children.

Sammy Rubin

Sammy Rubin studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion "Gush" before taking his B.Sc. in Engineering at Imperial College. He is a business entrepreneur who has built several ventures in the area of financial services.

Sammy is also a prominent Jewish educator, with an M.A. in Jewish Studies from Jews' College. He founded the Beit Midrash in Hendon and is a trustee of the London School of Jewish Studies. Sammy is married with three children.

David Steinhof

David Steinhof was educated at Hasmonean Grammar School, Yeshivat Chai Olem and Hull University from which he took his joint honours degree of B.Sc. in Biological Chemistry and Zoology. He holds the diploma of the Institute of Marketing and is a member of the Royal Society of Biology, and is a Chartered Biologist.

David has worked in the pharmaceutical and scientific instruments industries and was Marketing Director of the Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din (Court of the Chief Rabbi). He is currently the Executive Director of the Sephardi Kashrut Authority, a position he has held since the year 2000. David Steinhof is divorced with 3 children.

Rev. Lee Sunderland

Lee first studied in Gateshead and Sunderland Yeshivas and later graduated from Jews' College with a B.A. in Jewish Studies. Having served as Minister in various communities around the country, he is now part-time Minister of Romford and District (Affiliated) United Synagogue; and he also works for the United Synagogue Burial Society. Lee is married to Lynette and has two teenage sons.

Dr Raphael Zarum

Raphael Zarum is the Chief Executive and Head of Faculty of the London School of Jewish Studies and is a sought-after Jewish educator in the UK, Israel, the USA and Europe.

Raphael has a PhD in theoretical physics from King's College London, has an MA in Adult Education from the Institute of Education in London and is a graduate of the Jerusalem Fellows Programme (Mandel Leadership Institute in Israel). He created the Torah L'Am crash course and is the author of Torat Hadracha and The Jampacked Bible.

Raphael is married with two daughters.