The Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre establishes Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of the new entity that will drive forward the creation of the Welsh Jewish Cultural Centre at the historic grade II listed synagogue in Merthyr Tydfil has been appointed. 

The Chair is Foundation for Jewish Heritage Trustee David Bearman.  David is a Founding Partner of the private investment group Firefly Capital.  He qualified as a lawyer and specialised in corporate finance before becoming a founder member of the corporate finance division of a technology investment bank. He is a former Deputy Chairman of World Jewish Relief and an Advisory Board member at the Centre for Business Law and Practice at Leeds University School of Law.

The other Trustees are –

▪ Dr Tomos Dafydd Davies is a senior communications and public affairs director. A former Wales Office adviser to three Secretaries of State for Wales, he has considerable experience of working across the UK and devolved political contexts. A fluent Welsh speaker, Tomos lives in Monmouthshire where he serves as an elected county councillor. A former Trustee of the London Welsh Centre, National Library of Wales and a past Governor of Bangor University, Tomos currently serves as a member of the Deputy First Minister’s Innovating Democracy Advisory Group. 

▪ Stuart Isaacs KC has had a distinguished legal career, with appointment as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in 1991, and with extensive experience in the field of commercial law and international arbitration. He is a Deputy Judge of the High Court. Stuart also serves as Chair of the Board of Governors of North London Collegiate School Singapore.  Stuart has strong family links to Merthyr Tydfil and himself grew up in Newport.

▪ Emelye Clifford qualified as a Solicitor and has extensive experience in employment law. She has a Welsh Jewish background and is presently studying a Masters in History at Cardiff University with a focus on Welsh Jewish history. She has extensive volunteer experience including with the Jewish History Association of Wales, helping to preserve documents and records, undertaking research and develop educational resources.

▪ Rebbetzin Esther Aidel Rose has served as Project Coordinator and Community Leader for the Cardiff United Synagogue since 2012. Her responsibilities have included the coordination and delivery of a diverse programme of projects aimed at engaging the Jewish and wider community, promoting dialogue. She was previously a preschool teacher, youth director, school administrator and Hebrew Studies teacher.

▪ Helen Atkinson is Head of Operations for the Jewish Museum London.  Helen has substantial experience not only of Jewish culture, but of the day to day operation of a visitor centre and the delivery of an activities programme. She brings extensive contacts across the Jewish cultural sector.  She maintains close ties to South Wales where she grew up, and has family in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

▪ Prof Nathan Abrams is Professor in Film at Bangor University and is working on the representation and involvement of Jews in British film and television, as well as editing the journal Jewish Film and New Media, which he co-founded. He is a recognised authority on Welsh Jewish history, and has led initiatives to raise awareness of the history of Jews, Jewishness and Judaism in Wales from the Roman period to the present. He is a Welsh speaker, and a Trustee of the Jewish History Association of Wales.

▪ Sir Andrew Haines has just stepped down from his role as Chief Executive of Network Rail, having previously served as Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority.  He has exceptional experience in the management of capital project delivery. He also has strong third-sector experience having served as a Trustee of the London Youth Choirs, as well as being appointed Pro-Chancellor of Cranfield University.   He grew up directly opposite Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue, and his parents continue to reside in the same home.

▪ Kelly Powell is Museum Manager with the Merthyr Tydfil Museum Service, with direct responsibility for the management of Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum Studies and has extensive experience in museum governance and operations.  Having lived in Merthyr for more than 20 years, Kelly offers invaluable local insight and trusted relationships with community leaders.

▪ Rev David Powell is an ordained Baptist Minister serving the High Street Baptist Church in Merthyr. His role extends beyond the doors of the church into the civic, secular and community activities of Merthyr Tydfil. David has a background in business and finance, and spent eighteen years in the hospitality sector.  He is a trustee of the South Wales Baptist Association.  David is a passionate advocate for his hometown of Merthyr Tydfil and has an intimate understanding of the needs of the local community. 

Several meetings have been held including a visit to Merthyr Tydfil to see the project first hand and meet with local supporters.

The Development Phase, planning the various aspects of the project in detail, has come to an end.  During the course of this phase, the next door building to the synagogue – the grade II listed Primrose Hill House, was purchased to provide greater space for what is a national Wales-wide initiative.   

At the conclusion of the Development Phase, the project received a pass from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to apply for the Delivery (capital works) Phase which will cost £6 million.  In addition to National Lottery, the project is also seeking match funding from the Welsh Government and private Trusts and Foundations.