Chava grew up in Antwerp, Belgium, and has lived in London for over 20 years with her husband and children. Qualified as both a hairdresser and a bookkeeper, she gained experience in these fields before joining the PaL team.

Passionate about building meaningful connections, Chava thrives on bringing people together and creating lasting relationships - something she credits to the natural matchmaker in her. Fluent in six languages, she works with partnerships across Europe and internationally, enjoying the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Outside of work, Chava loves spending time in the kitchen, sharing good food with family and friends, and enjoying music. Her warmth, people-focused approach, and ability to build genuine relationships are at the heart of everything she does.

Originally from the USA, Kiki Gilbert has called the UK home for the past 20 years. Holding a degree in Education, she brings a wealth of experience from a varied professional background that includes teaching both Jewish and secular studies. Her years in education have shaped her into a warm, adaptable, and engaging communicator with a natural ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Kiki joined the PaL team in 2024, where she quickly became known for her compassion, positivity, and genuine care for others. She has a remarkable ability to make every person she speaks to feel heard, valued, and understood, helping to build meaningful relationships across the community. In her role at PaL, Kiki combines her passion for people, learning, and community, and describes the work as both deeply fulfilling and rewarding.

Ralph was born and grew up in North West London, went to a non- Jewish school and was active in a local Jewish youth movement.

Before and during his studies at London School of Economics, he went for 2 years to Yeshiva, one in Switzerland and then in Gateshead.

Subsequently he joined the family firm, producing steel wire and worked on the Chief Rabbi’s Torah Corps, probably the earliest outreach organisation in the UK.

Later he was active giving shiurim and organising activities for Dvar Yerusholayim, a local outreach organisation under the inspiring leadership of the late Rabbi Joe Freilich.

Ralph was born and raised in North West London, where he attended a non-Jewish school while remaining actively involved in a local Jewish youth movement. Before and during his studies at the London School of Economics, he spent two years studying in yeshiva — first in Switzerland and then in Gateshead.

He later joined the family steel wire business while also working with the Chief Rabbi’s Torah Corps, widely regarded as one of the earliest Jewish outreach organisations in the UK. Ralph subsequently became deeply involved with Dvar Yerusholayim, where he gave shiurim and organised educational activities under the inspiring leadership of the late Rabbi Joe Freilich.

Following his retirement as a governor of Hasmonean Boys’ School, Ralph became involved with the Lauder Foundation, the major Jewish outreach organisation in Germany. In 2004, he founded TOPP, a telephone learning programme for European Jews seeking to deepen their knowledge of Judaism. The programme ran successfully for nearly two decades before merging with PaL in 2023.

Fluent in several European languages, Ralph has spent decades as a dedicated Jewish educator, teacher and mentor, building meaningful connections with Jewish communities across Europe. His many years of experience in education, outreach and relationship-building bring tremendous warmth, wisdom and international perspective to the PaL team.

Esther Amos grew up in Germany to Soviet parents, discovering Judaism and an Orthodox way of life at the age of 19. She studied Law in Germany and became actively involved in her local Jewish community, including serving on the board of her shul.

Esther now manages all European partnerships at PaL, as well as programme development and the German Instagram page.

Esther is passionate about making PaL more widely known across Europe and deepening its impact, as she feels that something like PaL is what she would have valued and needed growing up in Germany, to help her strengthen her connection to Yiddishkeit and access more opportunities to learn and grow. Having grown up within a smaller Jewish community, she has a strong understanding of the needs, challenges, and cultural dynamics of PaL’s partners across the region.

Esther moved to London several years ago and lives in Edgware with her husband and four children.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Michy moved to London nearly 18 years ago in search of a vibrant Jewish community. Today, she is proud to give back to that same community - and the wider Jewish world - in her role as PaL Partnership Manager.

Growing up in Sydney, Michy was actively involved in informal Jewish education with Bnei Akiva, as well as teaching cheder classes under the auspices of the New South Wales Board of Jewish Education. After completing school, she spent a year in seminary at Midreshet Harova in the Old City of Jerusalem. Upon returning to Sydney, she undertook a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Civilisation and Politics, along with a Master’s degree in Media Practice at the University of Sydney.

Michy joined PaL in 2024 following a leave of absence from the workforce to raise a family. Prior to that, she worked in a variety of roles across the media industry in both Sydney and London, with her last position in in-house recruitment, where she discovered her passion for connecting people.

Rivka grew up in London went to Hasmonean High school and then studied Jewish thought and texts in Gateshead Seminary. She has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and enjoys meeting and connecting with people from across the diverse Jewish communities in the UK and beyond. Passionate about Jewish education, Rivka taught Religious Studies to high school students and also in a one-to-one setting. An avid traveller, Rivka loves to see new places and visit Jewish communities across the world. Living in London with her husband and children who love to get involved in PaL’s work, they all enjoy hosting Shabbos guests. Since beginning her role as PaL’s Programme Coordinator in 2013, Rivka has launched many new and exciting projects. She uses her broad knowledge of the wider Jewish community to continuously expand PaL’s impact and reach.

Born and bred in London, Jessica spent two years studying Jewish thought and texts in Israel. Simultaneously, Jessica worked with high-risk adolescent and teens at the Jerusalem drop-in-centre Crossroads. She has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and has qualified at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, as an Intermediate Practitioner in Systemic Family Therapy (PGDip) and has worked in various mental healthcare settings to facilitate positive relationship dynamics between families, couples, and individuals. Jessica has worked for many wonderful other Jewish organisations including, Jeff Seidel’s Jewish Student Centers, JLE, SawYouAtSinai, Pathways, Neve, She’arim and Partners in Torah. In Israel, Jessica taught one-on-one tutorial classes to Jewish students from all parts of the globe, who came to Israel to explore their Jewish roots further. She also led and tutored students on various Jewish learning and leadership training trips to Odessa, LA, Belgium, New York and Israel. Jessica and her husband spent three years studying under the auspices of world renowned and highly revered Torah scholar, Rav Yitzchak Berkovitz at the Jerusalem Kollel. In her role as Partnership Manager at PaL, Jessica utilises her academic training, experience and love for people to guide people from all walks of life to achieve their greatest potential through learning and personal growth.

Rabbi Yaakov Hamer grew up in America. He spent 14 years learning in yeshivos in Israel, including 10 years in Mir where he studied under R' Asher Arieli and R' Yaakov Friedman.

Rabbi Hamer learnt under Rav Moshe Shapiro ztz’l and achieved Semicha from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg and Rav Benzion Klein. He returned to London as one of the founder members of Dayan Ehrentreu's Kollel in Edgware where he stayed for three years. During this period, he was involved in the local community giving shiurim and became the Director of the Shaarei Orah Beis Medrash/University programme. More recently he led the Finchley Federation Shul with for 12 years, Bridge Lane Beis Medrash, the past 7 years and serves as a key contributor to the Shailatext initiative as well as giving a number of daily shiurim. 

Tali grew up in South Africa until aged 10 when she made Aliyah with her family to Israel. She studied Jewish thought and texts in Gateshead Seminary after which she taught in high schools in South Africa and Israel. Tali trained in the women’s outreach programme in the Jerusalem Kollel under the esteemed Rav Yitzchak Berkovitz. Together with her husband, Tali ran several medical ethics groups for students. In 2009 Tali moved to London with her family to work as a Seed educator, both in Bushey United Synagogue, Borehamwood and Edgware. Tali is also a qualified integrative therapist. As PaL’s Learning Enrichment Manager Tali draws on her many years of experience as an educator to guide the PaL tutors and partners to have successful learning sessions.