Director: Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman
Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman is an accomplished educator, academic, and researcher with a wide range of professional and voluntary multidisciplinary experience specialising in Jewish education, technical analysis, problem solving, and specialised consultancy. He has particular expertise in communicating complex and multifaceted concepts and viewpoints to diverse groups of people with different backgrounds.
Rabbi Freedman grew up in London and studied Medical Electronics at the University of Liverpool before completing his Masters and PhD from the University of Surrey University in Medical Physics, specialising in Physiological Measurement and Signal Processing. After his post-doctoral research, he moved to Israel and studied at the David Shapell College for Jewish Studies/Yeshivat Darché Noam where he completed his semicha.
He began his rabbinic career at Northwood United Synagogue in 2009 before joining the New West End in 2015. In addition, he has worked as the Jewish chaplain to the Canary Wharf Multifaith Chaplaincy since 2012.
In October 2019 he was appointed co-vice-chair to the Moral and Ethical Advisory Group (MEAG) which advises the Department of Health and Social Care on ethical issues related to healthcare in the United Kingdom. He also served on an expert panel advising the government on banning the practice of hymenoplasty alongside other procedures which specifically harm women, such as female genital mutilation.
Rabbi Freedman has written, lectured and broadcast on a variety of subjects, specialising in the conflict between science and faith, and the intersection between Ethics, Law and Religious practice.
In September 2023, following fourteen years as a community rabbi, Rabbi Freedman has returned to his academic roots in medical research working as a Data Analyst for a Clinical Research Organisation on exciting projects using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Large Language Models.
Business developer: Olivia Saunders
Olivia Saunders has extensive experience in business administration and development. She is the co-founder and director at Darwish Contractors Ltd. At Mah Shetashiv, she uses her professional skills to advise and guide the direction of the business as well as focussing on strategic planning and implementation.