1 October 2019

Liberal Judaism has welcomed the appointment of former LJY-Netzer youth leader Mandie Winston as the new CEO of UJIA.

Mandie becomes the first ever woman to hold the role, which she will take up in January.

She was raised in London and is remembered as a popular and inspiring leader in LJY-Netzer, the youth movement of Liberal Judaism.

After leaving LJY, she made aliyah, becoming an educator on gap year programmes. She then spent two decades in various roles strengthening Jewish communities, building ties to Israel and promoting Israeli innovations for humanitarian purposes.

Mandie will return from Israel to the UK in order to take up the UJIA position.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships, said: “Not only is it inspiring to see a woman take up one of the most senior leadership positions in the Jewish community, it is gratifying to see another graduate of LJY-Netzer – indeed my own madricha – lead the UK Jewish community into the future.”

The UJIA helps build meaningful connections between the UK Jewish community and the people of Israel, including running programmes for UK Jews that nurture lifelong connections to Israel, as well as educational and welfare initiatives in Israel itself.

Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle, Mandie said: “UJIA is renowned for its strategic, innovative philanthropy and I can’t wait to get to work, making a real difference to communities in both Israel and the UK and strengthening the connections between us.”