About us

Georgina Bye – Chief Executive

Georgina@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9962

Georgina joins Mitzvah Day on Monday 11th March 2019 from JDC Entwine and OLAM, two organisations focused around humanitarian aid, community revival and support for vulnerable Jews and non-Jews around the world.  Georgina has also worked for a number of other Jewish organisations – including University Jewish Chaplaincy and UJS – and is a seasoned educator, presenting frequently at Limmud Conference.

Debbie Drapkin – Senior Projects and Partnerships Manager 

debbie@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9961

Mitzvah Day every November is an immense and international undertaking, and Debbie manages it both logistically – pairing volunteering partners with charities – and globally, establishing links with Jewish communities abroad to spread our work across the world.

Josephine Davidoff – Project Coordinator

Josephine@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9963

Josephine joins the MD team at the start of the new 2019 campaign, where she will take a special interest in helping to facilitate Interfaith Projects. Josephine ran the Jewish Society at Coventry University for 3 years where she created and facilitated creative events on a range of relevant topics, from Jewish culture and Holocaust Memorial Day, to Faith dialogue and social action. She was a participant in the Student Leaders Programme by the Council of Christians and Jews, where her passion for Interfaith dialogue further grew.

Lara Bloch – Seasonal Project Coordinator

Lara@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9964

Lara joins Mitzvah Day as a seasonal project coordinator, having just completed her Masters in International Development, during which she gained experience working with a variety of community groups and organisations. She is passionate about Jewish community work, interfaith cooperation and social action, and looks forward to working with all of the amazing organisations and individuals involved in Mitzvah Day 2019.

Rabbi Jeff Berger– Interfaith Advisor

Jeff@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9964

Rabbi Jeff Berger has joined Mitzvah Day as Interfaith Advisor, as the charity seeks to further enhance and build on its work in bringing faith groups together through social action. Rabbi Jeff will work closely with the Mitzvah Day team, including Interfaith Chair Lady Daniela Pears, to deepen Mitzvah Day’s connection with communities, groups and people of all faiths and none.

Simon Rothstein – PR & Communications

Simon@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9960

Jacqui@mitzvahday.org.uk + (44) 203 747 9960

Board of Trustees

Laura Marks OBE – Founder & Chair

Laura@mitzvahday.org.uk

Laura was a planning director of AMV.BBDO, before deciding to work full time in the Jewish community. She set up Mitzvah Day in 2005, which achieved charitable status in 2008. Elected Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews 2012-2015, Laura went on to become Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in 2016 and chaired the government’s interfaith project – A Year of Service. Laura is now an advisor to the Muslim-led day of social action, Sadaqa Day and she co-founded the Jewish Muslim Women’s Network, Nisa-Nashim. Laura was awarded an OBE in The New Year’s Honours list for her work building interfaith relationships. 

Lady Daniela Pears – Interfaith Chair 

Daniela@mitzvahday.org.uk

Daniela qualified as a chartered physiotherapist and returned to her profession once her children had grown, as a volunteer for Jewish Care. Thriving on community engagement Daniela became a trustee and Interfaith Chair in 2010. Daniela was appointed Mayoress of Camden in 2014 as an acknowledgement of her work across the interfaith and social action sector. In 2015 Daniela was recognised by the Prime Minister as a Point of Light, for her work in bringing faith communities together.

Lee Sidney – Vice Chair

Lee@mitzvahday.org.uk

Lee is a civil servant, working as an Assistant Director at HMRC, having joined in 2008 after three years at JLGB, first as Grants Officer and then as Operations Manager. Lee was also a trustee of JLGB, where he remains an active volunteer. He is a graduate of the Adam Science programme and currently sits on its advisory group. He also volunteers for CST and is on UJIA’s Israel Experience Bursary Committee.

Michael Livingston – Governance

Michael is a civil servant and was a board member of JLGB where he led a governance review. His focus is on Mitzvah Day’s governance and ensuring that we maintain best practice.

Judith Falb-Mizrahi – Strategic Development

Judith is a strategic consultant and former CEO of Idea Couture where she specialised in luxury brands and innovation. She has been the coordinator of Mitzvah Day in Mill Hill for many years. Judith works with the senior management team, focusing on our strategy and how we drive Mitzvah Day forwards.

Debra Morris – Treasurer

Debra works as a chartered accountant, she qualified at BDO. Previously she was the treasurer and a trustee of Jewish Women’s Aid and was the Chair of Woodside Park Synagogue for 3 years. Debra is the group scout leader with 20th Finchley Scout Group.

Edwin Shuker – International Development

Edwin is a Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Vice President of the European Jewish Congress. He is an international activist and public speaker on the Middle East, particularly on the subject of Jews from Arab countries, with specialist knowledge of his native Iraq. Edwin has engaged in and supported numerous projects promoting human rights and freedom in the Middle East.