Engagement and Visioning Team

The engagement team is taking charge of the engagement process that will be taking place during the first half of 2023. The engagement process will help us come together as a community to better understand who we are and what we are trying to build (both metaphorically and physically) in the future). Meet the current members of the engagement team. 

Marcelle Samuels

My husband and I have been members of Jacksons Row for about 25 years and both our daughters had their Bat Mitzvahs there. We have had many happy family times as part of the JR congregation, with many JR weekends away at Hartington Hall back in the day! We are not a religious family and do not attend services much anymore, however we are very grounded and connected to our Jewish heritage and roots which remain extremely important to us all. I am originally from North West London but moved up here in 1991. My professional background is in Human resources and I have also trained as a Mediator and Conflict Coach. 

Roy Saatchi

Roy has been on Exec for the past two years and has been a member for almost 30 years.  He is a media professional, who has helped start up our online services and the revamped JR News and continues to help look after the JR website.

Dan Kyle

Dan has been a member of JR since 2020 and has helped teach Hebrew to members of our conversion classes ever since. A graduate of Manchester University, Dan now works in Financial Services.

Dan Jackson

Dan grew up in Sinai Synagogue, Roundhay, Leeds and RSY-Netzer where he was a Movement Worker after graduation from university in Spanish, Italian and Linguistics. Dan's worked in television, radio and podcast production for almost 20 years at ITV, the BBC, in the indie sector and even the MRJ where he's been privileged to produce Rabbi Robyn, Debbie and Miriam's hit show 'Rabbiting On'. He lives in Levenshulme with his cat and loves music and going away in his campervan.

Leona Vaile

Hi, I'm Leona, a wife, mum, daughter and life long JR-er. I'm currently on Shul Council with a passion for engaging our community elders and ensuring their voices are heard in our future plans; by respecting our traditions and carrying them forward, with us, we continue our legacy from generation to generation. 

Naomi Ward

Some of my earliest memories are at Menorah, some of my best at Jackson’s Row.  I’m a past Chair/President working with this fabulous community to help craft a fascinating future, full of joy, challenge and hope.

Deborah Baker-Barnett

I've been a member of the shul for 3 years, following in the footsteps of my grandparents who met at our previous shul at Park Place. I work as a town planning consultant and am pleased to bring these skills to the next stage of our community's journey.

David Bailey-Vella

Alison Branitsky

I have been a member of shul for 4 years and during that time, have worked across a range of teams and with many different members of the community. I am looking forward to working with this committed group of people to bring about JR's vision during this period of transition. 

With additional Movement for Reform Judaism support from:

Sarita Robinson

Amit Handelsman