Lea Mühlstein
British Liberal rabbi; chair of the Zionist Federation 2022–2026; former international chair of Arzenu
| Lea Mühlstein
| |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1980 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
| Known for | Chair of the Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland (2022–2026); former international chair of Arzenu |
Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (born September 1980; registered at Companies House as Lea Anna Muehlstein) is a British Liberal rabbi and a senior rabbi of The Ark Synagogue (Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue). She was chair of the Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland (ZF), first as acting chair and then as chair, from 2022 until October 2026, and was one of the first two directors of Zionists UK Limited when that company was incorporated on 2 April 2025. She is the immediate past international chair of Arzenu, the federation of Reform, Progressive and Liberal religious Zionists.[1][2][3][4][5]
Early life and rabbinate
According to her Liberal Judaism profile, Mühlstein was born and raised in Germany "in a Jewish family deeply committed to Progressive Judaism and enlightenment values" and moved to England at the age of 16. She took a BA and MSci in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, worked in science publishing and as a research chemist at Munich University, and was ordained at Leo Baeck College in July 2012. She is one of the senior rabbis of The Ark Synagogue, formerly Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue. The same profile says she has served as a board member of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and as assistant treasurer of the European Union for Progressive Judaism, and that with Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah she has worked on editing a new liturgy for Liberal Judaism.[3] Companies House records her nationality as British and her month and year of birth as September 1980.[1]
Arzenu and the Jewish Agency
On 13 March 2018 Liberal Judaism announced that Mühlstein had been elected international chair of Arzenu. The announcement said the role would represent Arzenu's constituent groups in 14 countries, and Progressive Jews more generally, in the governing bodies of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and Keren Hayesod. It said the position made her "the only British representative, and the only person under 40, on the executive of the Jewish Agency" at that time. Mühlstein said she was "deeply committed to being a vocal and effective advocate for our Progressive values within the National Institutions and using them as a vehicle to bring about real change in the State of Israel." The announcement said that Arzenu had recently been involved in negotiations with the Israeli government over an egalitarian section at the Western Wall (the Kotel) and in opposition to "the deportation of African asylum seekers without due process", and that it worked for the development of Reform and Progressive Judaism in Israel and against "legislation and other measures which discriminate against non-Orthodox Judaism."[6]
Arzenu later listed her as immediate past chair, after the board elected a new leadership team including co-chairs Shoshana Dweck and Harry Levy.[4] The Liberal Judaism profile, which was still online in November 2026, continued to describe her as international chair and as a member of the Jewish Agency executive; those statements appear not to have been updated after she left the Arzenu chair.[3] Whether she remains on the Jewish Agency executive has not been confirmed from a current source for this draft.
Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue reported that Mühlstein sat as a UK Progressive delegate at the 39th World Zionist Congress in 2025, together with Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Paulo Kulikovsky of Leo Baeck College.[7]
Zionist Federation
Mühlstein became acting chair of the ZF after the organisation's financial crisis of 2021–22, and was described as chair, and as a former chair of Arzenu, when the ZF held its first conference since the reorganisation in April 2024. More than a hundred delegates approved proposals to reconstitute the federation as a non-profit limited company, and Mühlstein was among nine directors appointed. She said the organisation had "tried to clear the debt, make sure that member organisations are paying their membership fees and get new articles as a non-profit organisation," and that there was "a real need for a space that organises events that brings diverse views on Israel together." She said it was "important that we can have a dialogue on Israel even if we don't agree."[8]
Zionists UK Limited was incorporated on 2 April 2025, with Mühlstein and Professor John Strawson as its first directors and, at that date, persons with significant control. Each was recorded as holding more than 25 per cent but not more than 50 per cent of the voting rights. Mühlstein's control was notified on 2 April 2025 and ceased on 12 October 2026, the day she resigned as a director. Noeleen Cohen joined the board on 22 April 2025. The ZF website listed Mühlstein as chair, Strawson as responsible for governance, Cohen as responsible for finance, and Josh Aronson as Board of Deputies representative.[1][9][10]
On 11 October 2026 a general assembly approved a new board of 15 directors, which the Jewish Chronicle described as a shift "from the religious left to the religious right". Mühlstein resigned as a director the following day. She said: "I am proud of what we have achieved together in bringing the Zionist Federation back from the brink of insolvency and putting it on a sounder financial and organisational footing, with democratic governance structures fit for the future. It is immensely satisfying to hand over an organisation that is in a much stronger position than the one we inherited. My sincere hope is that the new leadership will build on this foundation and ensure that the Zionist Federation remains a genuinely representative and democratic organisation, reflecting the diversity of views and voices within its membership."[5][1]
London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism
The London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism lists "L A Muhlstein" as a former trustee, treasurer in the 2023 accounts, who resigned on 5 April 2025. The Powerbase page for the centre identifies this trustee as Lea Muhlstein. The initials and unusual surname match Lea Anna Muehlstein; this draft treats them as the same person.[11]
Companies House appointments
| Company | Company no. | Role | Status | Appointed | Resigned | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zionists UK Limited | 16362332 | Director | Resigned | 2 April 2025 | 12 October 2026 | [1] |
Companies House lists no other appointments under this officer ID.[1]
See also
- Zionist Federation of the United Kingdom and Ireland
- Arzenu - International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists
- Arzenu UK
- Liberal Judaism (UK)
- London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Companies House, Lea Anna MUEHLSTEIN: personal appointments (officer ID Kz7Cgv03OBRqiRxZbIkQzSCir54) Companies House, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Zionists UK Limited officers Companies House, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Liberal Judaism, Rabbi Lea Mühlstein liberaljudaism.org, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arzenu, arzenu elects new leadership arzenu.org, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Simon Rocker, Zionist Federation shifts right after new leadership elections, The Jewish Chronicle, 12 October 2026.
- ↑ Liberal Judaism, Rabbi Lea chairs international Progressive Zionist body, 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Oaks Lane Reform Synagogue, World Zionist Congress Report swesrs.org.uk, 5 November 2025, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Simon Rocker, Revamped Zionist Federation will offer forum for dialogue on Israel, The Jewish Chronicle, 9 April 2024.
- ↑ Companies House, Zionists UK Limited persons with significant control Companies House, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ Zionist Federation UK, Board zionist-federation.uk, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism; Charity Commission, Trustees: London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, accessed via that page, 10 September 2026.