Our Rabbinic Team
Rabbi Elchonon Feldman
Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Feldman, Senior Rabbi of Bushey United Synagogue is a born and bred New Yorker, having been raised in Brooklyn before it achieved its trendier status. Following his studies, he emigrated to Israel, where he was involved in education, and undertook Rabbinic semicha ordination. Since moving to the UK he first served as the Rabbi of Belmont United Synagogue and now has held the position of Senior Rabbi of Bushey United Synagogue since 2016.
Rabbi Feldman also represents the Chief Rabbi as Religious Principal of Hertsmere Jewish Primary School and sits on the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue Committee with the Lifecycle and Burial Society portfolio.
Beyond his Rabbinic qualification and role, Rabbi Feldman is also a certified Psychotherapist trained at Regents University London and a qualified addiction counsellor. He enjoys strumming on an acoustic guitar and loves most things music, literature and outdoors-related. He also would seldom say no to a dram of whisky as well!
However, his main claim to fame is his British wife and partner-in-crime Jacqueline and their five fantastic children. He is passionate about community building, leadership and helping our diverse membership along on their own personal Jewish journey.
As The Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Elchonon’s responsibilities include looking after the vision and direction of the Synagogue, caring for the needs of the community and attending to all halachic (relating to Jewish law) and religious matters.
Rebbetzen Jacqueline Feldman
Senior Rebbetzen
Jacqueline Feldman is the Senior Rebbetzen of Bushey United Synagogue and Ma’ayan. Alongside her husband Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, they lead the second largest Orthodox community in the United Kingdom.
Jacqueline feels blessed to be a part of the Rabbinic leadership team and is passionate about Bushey being a dynamic, exciting and warm community. She is a graduate of the Kol Soroh Suzie Bradfield Leadership Programme and the Chief Rabbi’s Ma’ayan Programme. Jacqueline is involved in women’s leadership across the Rabbinate and communities.
Jacqueline attended Hasmonean High School in London, Bnos Chava Seminary in Jerusalem and received a BSc in Neuroscience from Kings College London. She is a former Special Educational Needs Coordinator having worked both in secondary schools and informal settings, and has a passion for inclusion and education. Jacqueline has a particular interest in the intersection of Jewish law and ethics with medical scientific advancements.
She plays the harp, enjoys arts and crafts and spending time with her wonderful family.
Rabbi Nick Kett
Community Rabbi
Rabbi Nick and Shira are our Community Rabbinic couple, with a primary focus on building and strengthening the provision for young families. They joined the Bushey community in 2017 after five successful years in Hale, South Manchester. Since their arrival, they have connected with every young member family, as well as introducing over 100 new local young families to the programmes and events that the Shul has to offer.
A former JFS boy from Belmont, Rabbi Nick studied at the closest Yeshiva to the Western Wall, Netiv Aryeh, which was followed by three years studying law at university in Manchester. Discovering he was better at communal work than law, he returned to Israel to study for the Rabbinate, during which time he met and married Shira.
In addition to Rabbi Nick’s rabbinic skills, he is a proficient graphic and web designer, as well as a self-taught social media manager and YouTube influencer! Rabbi Nick played a vital role in setting up the ‘B-Online’ provision for Bushey United Synagogue at the start of lockdown, which has connected our wider membership to over 500 hours of educational, social and engaging online content.
Rebbetzen Shira Kett
Community Rebbetzen
Shira is originally from Hendon, and studied at Hasmonean High school. She has a flair for all things creative. Shira is a professional wig stylist and hairdresser, a budding painter and graphic/web designer, an accomplished cook and baker, and worked in interior design. She has a fantastic reputation for her delicious Shabbat meals, home baked goods and ice cream!
On top of balancing a busy home, and an ever-growing Shul calendar, Shira is always on hand to help people with anything. From being a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on, to helping organise meal rotas for parents of new-borns, her devotion and consideration for others is widely appreciated.
The real stars of the show are their four children: Miri, Doniel, Dassi, and Leah. Whether it’s running around Shul or allowing their house to be turned into a YouTube and Zoom recording studio, they bring their love, light and laughter to our wonderful community.
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lister
Assistant Rabbi
Rabbi Lister was born in Jerusalem, Israel and attended Menorah Primary School and Hasmonean High School. On leaving school he moved to Jerusalem to study in Yeshivas Bais Yisroel, then attained semicha at the Jerusalem Kollel under the auspices of Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovits.
Rabbi Lister is a keen runner and footballer, and plays the clarinet.
Rebbetzen Miri Lister
Assistant Rebbetzen
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Miri moved as a teenager to London where she attended Menorah High School. She subsequently studied at Gateshead New Seminary and taught in a nursery for three years. After getting married she moved to Jerusalem and studied in the women’s programme of the Jerusalem Kollel. She is currently studying for a degree in Psychology and Counselling.
Rabbi and Rebbetzen Lister love connecting to people and celebrating Judaism together- please get in touch and say hello, they can’t wait to meet you!
