Fellowships

The Mizrachi Fellowships are creating the next generation of Modern Orthodox Religious Zionist Rabbis and Teachers.

They are funded through three to five years of study in Israel to obtain the necessary qualifications to come back and work in the UK in our communities and schools.

Participants are able to choose from a variety of institutions to study in, who work with Mizrachi UK to build a unique and personalised programme to support every individual’s requirements. Currently, there are fellows studying in Yeshivat Har Etzion, Yeshivat HaKotel, Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, and MATAN.

The World Mizrachi Shalhevet programme is an integral part of training for Mizrachi UK Fellows. Shalhevet is a two-year leadership programme, training young men and women who are studying in Israel to be educators and Rabbis, in order to play a plethora of potential educational roles. The participants are equipped with practical skills and tools, and benefit from professional guidance and top speakers, within a supportive learning environment. Shalhevet is the only programme of its kind in Israel taught entirely in English.

During their time in Israel, participants are committed to support their learning by writing Divrei Torah for Mizrachi publications, such as the weekly email or speaking to Mizrachi UK groups in Israel on trips.

Approximately two to three couples are accepted onto the programme each year.

Proudly supported by:

Rachel Charitable Trust

Meet our current fellows

Yoni and Hannah Abrams

Yoni and Hannah Abrams

Hannah Abrams grew up in Highgate, London and went to City of London School for Girls. Hannah was a madricha for many years in Bnei Akiva UK. She then studied in Midreshet Lindenbaum in Jerusalem for a year and returned to England to get a BA in History from Durham University. Hannah then got a MA in gemara and halacha from Yeshiva University, New York, studied in MATAN in Jerusalem for two years and now is studying in Yeshiva University in Israel’s new women’s Kollel.

Yoni Abrams grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and went to Berman Hebrew Academy for secondary school. He studied in Yeshivat Mevaseret Tzion for two years in Israel before earning a Bachelors in Maths from Yeshiva University, New York. He has almost finished his semicha from Yeshiva University, learning in their Israel campus.

Adam & Racheli Herszaft

Adam & Racheli Herszaft

Adam grew up in Edgware and attended Rosh Pinah Primary School and then went on to Hasmonean High school. After this, he went on to learn at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh for 2 years after which he returned to London to study Geography at LSE. Adam found his passion for community through his time as the Youth Directer at Kehilat Netzach Yisrael in addition to leading several trips, including JFS’s ATOI, Camp Simcha’s Kesher, and many Bnei Akiva camps.

Racheli was brought up in Hendon and also attended Hasmonean High school following her time at Menorah Foundation.

She then spent 2 years at Midreshet Tehillah, fulfilling Madricha responsibilities during Shana bet. After this, Racheli returned to London and completed her degree in psychology at the University of Westminster during which she worked for JLE, AISH, Meor and was the youth director at Ner Yisrael in hendon. This was followed by a TeachFirst qualification at UCL, after which Racheli taught for 3 years at an underprivileged primary school.

After getting married in 2019, Racheli convinced Adam to make the big move to hendon and together they were Youth Directors at Ner Yisrael until they moved to Jerusalem to join the Mizrachi fellowship programme in August 2020. Adam returned to learn, teach, and obtain Smicha at Netiv Aryeh and Mizrachi’s Musmachim programme, whilst Racheli studies at Matan and teaches at Midreshet Tehillah. In their spare time, Adam passionately cheers on the mighty Arsenal whilst Racheli runs a home made baking company.

Dovi & Mimi Lebrett

Dovi & Mimi Lebrett

Dovi Lebrett was born and raised in NW London and studied at Hasmonean where he was head-boy during his final year. Following this, he spent a number of years learning in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Mir and has received a BSc (hons) in Mathematics and Economics. Dovi is currently completing his Semicha studies at the Yeshivah University Jerusalem campus. He has significant experience working in the community including as the educational director of the Ezra Youth Movement and camp head as well as studying one-on-one with at risk teens. Dovi is a grade 8 pianist and an avid cricketer.

Mimi was born and raised in Manchester and is an exam qualified accountant by trade. She attended Yavneh Girls High School, completed a years study in Michlalah Seminary Jerusalem, and also has a BSc (hons) in Mathematics and Finance from City University of London. You can find her reading or painting in her spare time. Mimi also attends an advanced Women’s Halacha course. She has led Israel tour, and been a counsellor and leader on many summer camp programmes.

Their daughter Racheli is 2 years old, very cute, and is currently working on constructing full sentences.

Meet our graduate fellows

Ben & Atira Baruch

Ben & Atira Baruch

Jack & Rivka Cohen

Jack & Rivka Cohen

Jack grew up in Mill Hill and has a degree in Philosophy from UCL. He is currently training for rabbinic qualification in Yeshivat Har Etzion where he also teaches. He has rabbinic ordination from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.

Rivka is a computer programmer with a degree in Maths and Philosophy from King’s College London. She grew up in Hendon and has spent time in both Nishmat and Midreshet Moriah Seminaries.

Jack and Rivka are the Rabbinic couple at Hampstead Synagogue.

Yossi & Channah Hambling

Yossi & Channah Hambling

Yossi grew up in Ilford, Essex and attended Hasmonean High School. He then learned in Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years before returning to London to read Hebrew & Jewish studies at UCL. Yossi has also served in a variety of educational roles in the UK Jewish community, including as a Cheder teacher, Seed 1-to-1 Tutor and Educational Co-Ordinator for Bnei Akiva UK. He was a Kollel Fellow in Yeshivat Har Etzion and has completed Semicha as part of the World Mizrachi Musmachim Program.

Channah, originally from Finchley, also attended Hasmonean High School, during which time she was heavily involved in Bnei Akiva, holding a number of positions on both local and national levels. She learned in Midreshet Ye’ud for a year before completing a BA in Fashion from Heriot Watt University, Scotland. She has worked in Fashion Retail and Administration and studied on the joint Matan and Mizrachi Lapidot Educators Program, which prepares aspiring female educators to teach Torah texts and Jewish thought on a high level.

Rabbi Yossi and Channah Hambling are the Rabbinic Couple at Birmingham Central Synagogue.

Josh & Tali Harris

Josh & Tali Harris

Josh Harris grew up in Ilford and attended Haemonean High School. He was very involved in the Ilford community, including running the local Bnei Akiva. After high school he went to Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel for three years. He then completed a BA in Business Management at Machon Lev in Jerusalem. Since joining the Mizrachi UK Fellowship programme, Josh has been a participant in the Mizrachi Musmachim Semicha Programme while learning at Yeshiva University’s Gruss Kollel in Jerusalem. He has also taught at Yeshivat Hakotel for two years.

Tali Harris grew up in New York and then made Aliyah after spending a year learning in MMY. She then did a year of Sherut Leumi before continuing on to study Education and Communications at Bar Ilan University.

Since joining the Mizrachi UK Fellowship program, Tali spent 1 year learning at Matans Eshkolot Tanach Teachers program, an additional year at Mizrachi Lapidot Teachers in Torah She’Baal Peh program, and is currently learning at YU Israel’s advanced Bet Midrash program for women.

Simultaneously, Tali worked in informal education at MMY for a number of years and currently teaches at Machon Maayan.

Josh and Tali met while working as Madrichim on Sinai Israel Tour and were both involved in Sinai Youth Movement as senior staff members. They are in their second and final year of Mizrachi’s Shalhevet Shlichut Training Programme. They recently participated in the United Synagogue Rabbinic Internship Programme.

Luis & Jodie Herszaft

Luis & Jodie Herszaft

Luis spent his early days in Mill Hill and attended Matilda Marks Kennedy primary school before moving to Edgware where he went to Hasmonean High School. Luis then learnt in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh for 2 years. Upon returning back to London after Yeshiva, he studied Music at City University whilst returning to Mill Hill, this time as youth director. It was here that he found his passion for youth work and community. Whilst in London, Luis performed at many Simchas and also enjoyed bringing his musical passion into his youth work (you might remember that annoyingly catchy ‘Mill Hill Shabbat UK’ song!).

Jodie was brought up in Bushey and went to the Royal Masonic School for Girls. She then spent her gap year learning in Israel in Midreshet Tehillah, followed by her degree in Psychology at City University. During her time in London, Jodie worked as the Informal Educator in Immanuel College, as well as at Tribe and Aish.

It was Tribe’s winter camp which bought Jodie and Luis together, after which they got married and continued to work in Mill Hill. Jodie and Luis now live in Jerusalem and are training to become future community leaders as part of the Mizrachi UK Fellowships programme whilst also working as part of the Tribe Israel team.

Luis & Jodie are the Rabbi and Rebbetzen at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue

Matt & Sheerelle Marks

Matt & Sheerelle Marks

Before becoming a Mizrachi Fellows, Matt and Sheerelle lived in Borehamwood with their two children, Lielle and Anayah. Matt was an English Teacher and an Associate Senior Leader for ‘Teaching and Learning ‘at JFS with additional responsibilities for Whole-School Literacy and the KS3 English Curriculum. Prior to this, he was a GoGlobal Ambassador for Tzedek in Ghana; he was a graduate of the Teach First programme, where he gained his PGCE and was also a Youth Director for two years for Muswell Hill Synagogue. He has a BA Hons in Philosophy and has spent several years studying at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in Yerushalayim. Matt’s wife, Sheerelle, attended Michlalah Jerusalem College for one year, after which, she qualified as an Occupational Therapist. As well as working privately in this field, Sheerelle also spent 4 years at Immanuel College, working as part of the informal Jewish education team, during which time she had active roles at the JLE and in Holland Park Synagogue, where she coordinated events and taught at the local cheder as well as volunteering regularly with Camp Simcha.

If you would like to find out more about this programme, or are interested in applying to be a Mizrachi fellow, please contact us here.

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