Jewish Renaissance
| Jewish Renaissance
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  Jewish Renaissance masthead |
| Type | Quarterly magazine published by a charitable company |
| Founder(s) | Janet Levin |
| Headquarters | Borehamwood, Hertfordshire |
| Industry | Magazine publishing |
| Homepage | jewishrenaissance.org.uk |
Jewish Renaissance (JR) is a British quarterly magazine about Jewish culture, founded in 2001 by Janet Levin. It is published by Renaissance Publishing, a charitable company registered with the Charity Commission (charity 1152871; company 04245529), which uses Jewish Renaissance as its working name.[1][2]
History
In an account published on the magazine's website, Levin wrote that she had run a market research consultancy, with The Jewish Chronicle among her clients, before founding JR in 2001 at the age of 58. She wrote that she invited Lionel Gordon, whom she described as a former chairman of the JC, to chair the venture, and recruited an editorial advisory board that included Geraldine Auerbach of the Jewish Music Institute, Clive Lawton, David Glasser of Ben Uri, Rickie Burman of the Jewish Museum, Maureen Lipman and Arnold Wesker.[1] In 2014 a new team led by Rebecca Taylor, formerly news editor of Time Out, took over the magazine, which was enlarged to 64 pages and redesigned.[1]
The publishing company was incorporated on 3 July 2001 as Renaissance Publishing Limited and changed its name to Renaissance Publishing on 23 April 2013.[3] The charity was registered on 15 July 2013; its governing document is memorandum and articles incorporated on 26 April 2013, and its objects are to advance public education on Jewish culture, arts, heritage, history, religion and community through publishing and through lectures, events and educational tours.[2]
Staff and governance
The magazine's website names Rebecca Taylor as editor and Dr Aviva Dautch as executive director. It says Levin retired as chief executive early in 2019, and describes David Dangoor as president and "the main sponsor of Jewish Renaissance". Andrew Gordon became chair of trustees in August 2023, succeeding Ian Lancaster.[4]
The Charity Commission lists seven trustees: Andrew Gordon (chair), Lucy Walford, Jacqueline Amanda Klein, Hester Abrams, Spencer Debson, David Benmayer and Patti Langton (Lady Collins).[2] Companies House records Benmayer's resignation as a director on 31 July 2026.[5]
Directors and secretaries of Renaissance Publishing
| Name | Role | Born (month/year) | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Frances Falush | Secretary[5] | — | 3 July 2001 | 28 September 2016 |
| Temple Secretaries Limited | Nominee Secretary[5] | — | 3 July 2001 | 3 July 2001 |
| Janet Frances Falush | Director[5] | March 1943 | 3 July 2001 | 8 February 2019 |
| Lionel Lawrence Gordon | Director[5] | August 1933 | 3 July 2001 | 14 October 2015 |
| Company Directors Limited | Nominee Director[5] | — | 3 July 2001 | 3 July 2001 |
| Ian Michael Lancaster | Director[5] | November 1948 | 11 March 2013 | 5 June 2025 |
| Martin David Motz | Director[5] | July 1950 | 11 March 2013 | 10 January 2024 |
| Bernard Gross | Director[5] | June 1953 | 21 May 2014 | 10 February 2016 |
| Judy Ruth Weleminsky | Director[5] | October 1950 | 7 January 2015 | 31 August 2022 |
| Judy Weleminsky | Secretary[5] | — | 28 September 2016 | 10 August 2022 |
| Brian Harris | Director[5] | November 1949 | 1 March 2017 | 30 April 2023 |
| Patti Langton (Lady Collins) | Director[5] | December 1947 | 17 May 2017 | — |
| Diane Henrietta Lukeman | Director[5] | March 1942 | 28 February 2018 | 9 October 2018 |
| David Samuel Benmayer | Director[5] | August 1988 | 1 August 2020 | 31 July 2026 |
| Andrew Michael Gordon | Director[5] | December 1961 | 21 February 2022 | — |
| Lorraine Sheridan | Secretary[5] | — | 10 August 2022 | — |
| Spencer William Debson | Director[5] | October 1964 | 17 August 2023 | — |
| Hester Carmel Abrams | Director[5] | February 1963 | 21 March 2024 | — |
| Jacqueline Amanda Klein | Director[5] | January 1977 | 4 May 2026 | — |
| Lucy Jane Walford | Director[5] | May 1979 | 4 May 2026 | — |
Finances
| Year ending | Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 31 July 2021 | £205,490 | £221,180 |
| 31 July 2022 | £333,180 | £291,000 |
| 31 July 2023 | £303,292 | £303,864 |
| 31 July 2024 | £438,190 | £458,090 |
| 31 July 2025 | £449,868 | £462,549 |
Source: Charity Commission register.[2] Figures for 2021, 2022 and 2024 are given by the register to the nearest £10. The register records one employee with total benefits of £60,000–£70,000 in 2024–25, and a receipt of funds from the Lyons Learning Project (charity 1166512) on 11 July 2025.[2]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Janet Levin, Our story & mission Jewish Renaissance, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Charity Commission, Renaissance Publishing (1152871): full register entry, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, Renaissance Publishing (04245529): overview, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ Meet the team Jewish Renaissance, accessed 8 November 2026.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 Companies House, Renaissance Publishing (04245529): officers, accessed 8 November 2026.