Our Trustees
Moira Hart
Co-chair
Moira joined SAMS shortly after it was formed in 1990 and has been an active member of the community ever since, taking on a variety of roles and responsibilities. As the Co-chair of SAMS, Moira brings her experience of governance to the table to ensure that SAMS is run in the smartest and most professional way possible. Moira is also actively involved in the work of Masorti Judaism UK.
Moira has recently become involved in Holocaust education and regularly gives talks with her husband, Peter, on the experiences of her mother-in-law, Kitty Hart-Moxon. Moira is delighted to be able to continue to be involved with SAMS and loves to entertain and cook for family and friends. Much to her own surprise, she has lately become a keen cyclist.
Paul Hoffbrand
Secretary
Paul and his wife Barbara first joined SAMS in 1992. Their children grew up in SAMS and now their grandson is also being brought up in the Masorti movement.
Over the years, Paul has served SAMS as Co-Chair and Treasurer, and now runs our meeting and greeting service. Paul has also been the Treasurer at Masorti Judaism and was our representative at the Jewish Joint Burial Society (JJBS) for three years. He also looked after our building for many years.
Paul’s latest role, as Secretary to the Trustee board, will be a challenge, he says. He hopes to bring his pragmatic and people-focused approach to the role.
Outside of SAMS, Paul’s professional role is with IT in law firms. He is a proud Yorkshireman, originally from Bradford.
Lionel Taylor
Co-Chair
Lionel and his family joined SAMS in 1998. He is originally from Manchester (a true but frustrated red) and grew up in Habonim, the Jewish youth movement, eventually making Aliya in 1982. Since returning to the UK, he has settled in Potters Bar. His younger daughter was Bat Mitzvah at SAMS in 2004, around the time when Lionel first took on the role of Treasurer. He has been active behind the scenes as part of the Finance Committee in the intervening years, before agreeing to take on the role of Treasurer again in 2024. Outside of SAMS, Lionel works as an international trade finance advisor and educator to banks and others which takes him across the world and, now his daughters are grown up, splits his affection between Alfie and Henry his two miniature schnauzer best friends.
Michelle Perlmutter
Immediate past Co-chair
Michelle joined SAMS in 2015 when she and her two sons moved from Essex to Hertfordshire with her (then) fiance (now husband). It was Rabbi Adam who officiated at their wedding. Michelle's younger son had his barmitzvah at SAMS in 2016.
Michelle says, “I have always thought that SAMS was a very special community - a community that is welcoming and understanding to the needs of it's members". Michelle joined the Trustee board to be further involved with the long term development of the synagogue and community. Prior to becoming Co-chair, Michelle has been active within the membership committee, the grant application group and on-going initiative around the involvement of volunteers within our community.
Ben Roukin
Trustee
Ben has been a member of SAMS since 2015 and began managing the IT/technical elements of SAMS soon after that. He also oversees Cheder and is the Noam parent representative.
As a trustee, Ben is looking forward to playing an active part in the community and meeting more members.
His day job is in procurement and project management. In his free time, Ben is kept busy by his family in St Albans, including 3 children and 2 dogs.
Howard Levy
Trustee
Howard joined SAMS in 2007 when he moved into the area with his wife, Louise and their three children. All three children had their B’nei Mitzvah at SAMS.
An interesting piece of trivia: Howard and Louise’s eldest daughter Sophie’s Bat Mitzvah was the first after the Ark had been completed in our [then] new building, in 2012.
Howard has spent his whole career in Finance and, with retirement on the horizon, he says he is looking to spend time on supporting SAMS, in whatever way he can.
Ben Shapiro
Trustee
Ben grew up in London and prior to moving to St Albans lived in and ran a Jewish community centre called Moishe House for three years.
He is now a software engineer but previously worked for an interfaith charity for seven years.
Ben and his wife Larissa felt immediately welcomed by the SAMS community and Rabbi Adam married them in summer 2022. He wants to support SAMS to continue to be such a welcoming and vibrant place.
In his free time he plays hockey and volunteers at the community pantry.
Ali Jacobs
Trustee
Ali became a part of the SAMS family in late 2023. Having discovered on her first visit a genuine welcome, she realised there was more to be gained than simply the security of a burial. Within a couple of months Ali had taken the helm of Book Group and was assisting with proofing and editing the SAMS magazine – two roles she continues to enjoy.
For her day job, Ali’s a copywriter – a career that allows her to write stories for a living. Her other interests include travelling, trivia, walking and psychology.
As a trustee, Ali’s hoping that her enthusiasm, openness and curiosity will help define whatever role and responsibility comes her way.
David Leigh
Trustee
David has been a member of SAMS since 1993.
David’s full profile will be posted here shortly.