Rabbi Aaron and Miriam Lipsey have been supporting Jewish students in the North East since 2011. Miriam hails from Cape Town, South Africa and Aaron is originally from Manchester and he pursued his studies at yeshivas and universities in Manchester, London, Israel, and New York. Aaron’s diverse educational background includes time as a mentor at Yeshivat Chanoch Lena’ar in New York and serving as a rabbi in Sale, South Manchester.
In their Chaplaincy roles, the Lipseys are committed to helping students strengthen their relationship with G-d, their religion, and their Jewish identity. They offer their home as an ‘oasis of Judaism’, providing a welcoming space for students to engage with their faith.
Aaron and Miriam take pride in forming personal relationships with every Jewish student who seeks one, regardless of their background. Miriam loves getting to know the local students and takes great pride in making delicious home-cooked meals for them. Aaron particularly enjoys teaching and entertaining students, aiming to inspire them to continually grow in their Judaism. He has participated in thought-provoking events, such as a panel discussion with the Durham Jewish Society and the Hungarian Society following a screening of "The Son of Saul."
Outside of his Chaplaincy work, Aaron has interests in plane spotting and academia whilst Miriam enjoys long walks in the sunshine and pilates. Together, the Lipseys feel privileged to nurture students' religious identities and encourage them to become more involved in Jewish life on campus.