Rabbi David Lister
Rabbi Lister was born in 1969, and grew up in Manchester where he learned for a year in the Sha'arei Torah Yeshiva before reading French at London University. He graduated with first class honours, before returning to Sha'arei Torah. Rabbi Lister told us that he then moved to Israel where he studied in the world famous Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. One of his many interests was to participate in the Ohr LaGolah diaspora training programme at Ohr Sameach in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Lister returned to England in 1997 with his young family and took up the post of Rabbi in Reading for three years, moving to Muswell Hill Synagogue, where he was the Rabbi for seven years. During this time, Rabbi Lister also qualified as a primary school teacher specialising in Early Years education. He plays the violin and guitar, and enjoys reading about space exploration and quantum physics.
Rebbetzen Rachie was born and educated in London and Seminar Yerushalayim in Jerusalem. Her work for the community has included Cheder teaching, counselling, hospitality, adult education, welfare visits, teaching Bat Mitzvah girls and learning with brides.
In the 1990's she trained as a dental nurse and then as a dental hygienist at the Eastman Dental Hospital in London, re-qualifying as a hygienist in Jerusalem in order to practise there. She now works part-time at a surgery in Temple Fortune.
Since arriving in Edgware, Rabbi Lister has introduced a number of new successful initiatives to the community: the annual Holocaust Memorial Day event run in conjunction with local schools, a popular pre-batmitzvah and barmitzvah Cheder course, a weekly Shabbat afternoon lecture on contemporary issues in Jewish law, the winter Saturday Night Activity Programme for children to learn about key episodes in Jewish history, and much more besides. He is also a founder member of the Council of Imams and Rabbis.
Rabbi and Rebbetzen Lister have five children, Moshe Chaim, Shoshana Kala, Yishai, Leora and Akiva.
Rabbi Avrohom Zeidman (Assistant Rabbi)
Born and bred in Edgware, Rabbi Zeidman is thrilled to have the chance to work for Edgware United. He was educated at Rosh Pinah followed by Hasmonean Grammar School, where he was head boy. He then studied at Midrash Shmuel Yeshiva (Jerusalem) followed by the Mir and gained a smicha in Kashrut and a second smicha from Rav Berkowitz’s Kollel in the laws of Taharat Hamishpach. After further study, he came home to Edgware in 2007 with his wife and three children in order to work for Seed. His role has been varied, including lecturing, children’s programming, running teens programmes and designing promotional materials. One of his projects was the compilation of a book entitled “Foundations”. This book covers the fundamentals of Judaism in a format accessible to adults and children alike.
Rabbi Zeidman’s wife, Rivka, was born and educated in Manchester and the Bnos Chava Seminary in Jerusalem. She studied computer science at Manchester University, then moved to London to work for UBS Investment Bank. She left banking to go into teaching and subsequently qualified with her PGCE in secondary education. Since leaving seminary, Rivka has taught Jewish studies formally and informally, in classrooms and one to one.
Chazan Yossi Schwarz (Edgware's new Chazan)
Yossi Schwarz, born in Manchester, England in the late 70's and spent time studying in yeshiva in Israel, now resides in London with his wife and children. He has been studying voice production with masters of the art for close to ten years.
Chazan Schwarz won the Julian Klein Cantorial Scholarship Competition in 2009 gaining him a years scholarship in the Tel-Aviv Cantorial Institute (TACI). After completing the year, thirst for perfection and mastering the art drove him to study yet a further year under the tutelage of Cantor Naphtali Herstik and his trusted colleagues.
Yossi began leading synagogue services as early as his bar mitzvah and most recently held position as 'Chazan Sheni' for the Yomim Noraim in the Hampstead Gardens Suburb Synagogue. He has also performed in concert in chazanut and chassidic music internationally including London, Jerusalem, Palm Beach, Chicago,The Hamptons, Zurich, Munich, Riga, Vilnius (Vilna) and many more.
The chazan's wife Miri grew up in Gateshead and after studying in the Gateshead Seminary, attended college to study hairdressing,computers and dressmaking. Miri is a professional seamstress with many years of experience both here in the UK and in Israel. Miri and Yossi took a 2 year outreach course whilst in Israel and have spent a couple years working in outreach within the Jewish community here in the UK.
They now have 3 children: Avi 11 who attends the Torah Temima Primary School in Dolis Hill, Ruchama 9 who attends the Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale and Shira 2 who attends the Lubavitch Kindergarten here in Edgware.
Chazan Yossi really enjoys making use of the fantastic acoustics in the main synagogue after years of having to work hard to make himself heard. In fact after years of working with his voice coach learning how to project his voice he is now has to work on diminishing the sound of his powerful voice.
Copyright © 2012 Edgware United Synagogue
