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Benjy Maor

Benjy Maor made aliyah from LA to Israel in 1983. He was a founding member of Kibbuz Lotan in the Arava/Negev. With 30 years' experience in informal Jewish education, he directed a youth movement and summer camp in Israel. He received his BA in Jewish Studies and Education from Oranim (of the Haifa University). Recently he lectured Israel-Diaspora relations at Bina in Tel Aviv. Benjy's home is in Hod Hasharon.

Robin Margo

Robin Margo S.C. is the President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. He is also the President of the NSW Council for Jewish Community Security and a Vice-President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Robin is a barrister and mediator. He was formerly a Rhodes scholar and university lecturer in law, philosophy and sociology.

Rodney Marks

Rodney Marks is Australia's misleading comedian. He satirises leadership language in the form of comic speeches at business events, and on the stand-up comedy circuit. There are lots of video clips on his website, www.comedian.com.au. Rodney also performs at bar/batmitzvahs, weddings and divorces; no discounts for Cohens, Levis or schvartz.

Deborah Masel (Miller)

Deborah Masel (Miller) is an author and teacher with a special interest in Jewish mysticism. Her latest work, 'In the Cleft of the Rock: Writings on the Five Books of Moses', is being published by Black Pepper Publishing and will be launched at Limmud-Oz.

Melissa McCurdie

Melissa McCurdie is a lawyer and mediator by training but is not currently in practice. She is a parent of two Masada College graduates and served as an Executive Board Member and then Honorary Secretary of Masada College for 13 years.

Josef McDonald 

I am an Awabakal man from Newcastle. I have completed four years of medicine studies and have two years to go. I am eager to finish my studies so I can return home and practise medicine within my community. Needless to say, the successes that I have enjoyed in my studies and personal development would not have been possible without the Shalom-Gamarada Scholarship.

Alla Melman

Alla Melman is a physiotherapist and yoga teacher, interested in promoting health and well-being. She is involved in Yallah (Young Adults of Emanuel Synagogue, Woollahra) and the Jewish Renewal community. She aspires to integrate the mind, body and soul by way of practical Jewish spirituality.

Philip Mendes

Dr Philip Mendes is a Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Community Development at Monash University, and is the author or co-author of six books including The New Left, the Jews and the Vietnam War, 1965-72(1993), and Jews and Australian Politics (2004). He is currently writing a book titled "Jews and the Left: the Rise and Fall of a Political Alliance". He has been active in Israeli/Palestinian debates since the 1982 Lebanon War, and is a long-time supporter of a two state solution to the conflict.

Chagay Meyer

I was born in the Old City, Jerusalem. I was one of the founders of the Nahariya Hesder Yeshiva that combined social volunteering and yeshiva learning. I have served in the IDF as a sergeant in an infantry unit. I worked with unprivileged kids in Netanya and am now the Hineni and the Central Synagogue shaliach. I am married and the father of three amazing kids.

Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz

I was born in London in 1987 and migrated to Australia in 2004. I became involved in the Australasian Union of Jewish Students in 2006 during the second Lebanon war and was eventually elected as Vice-President in October 2008. I am currently studying financial mathematics at the University of Sydney.

Renee Mill

Renee Mill is a clinical psychologist working in private practice in Edgecliff. She has 30 years' experience working with adults and adolescents, couples and families. She specialises in parenting, marital and emotional issues and is the author of 'No Sweat Parenting'.

Yair Miller

Yair Miller is Vice President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. He holds a degree in Middle East politics. He is on the Committee of Management of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Board of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture in New York and a member of the Alumni Advisory Committee of the Nahum Goldmann Fellowship. Yair is a graduate of six fellowships.

Raymond Minniecon

Ray is an Aboriginal community chaplain. He was the Director of World Vision Australia, Indigenous Program. Presently he is Director of Bunji Consultancies, a production company for Aboriginal documentaries. He organizes many local programs with his Aboriginal people including, Stolen Generation issues; Aboriginal War heroes recognition; Education programs; Lobbyist and activists for Aboriginal rights and freedom.

Lior Misrachi

Lior Misrachi is a graduate of Mount Sinai and Moriah Colleges. Lior has previously been involved with Bnei Akiva and was Coordinator of Informal Education at the Board of Jewish Education. Having recently graduated from the University of Sydney with a Masters of Teaching, Lior now teaches - and loves it! - Hebrew and Jewish History at Moriah College.

James Morrow 

James Morrow - a New Yorker by birth and a Sydneysider by temperament - has worked in Australia as a journalist, editor, political analyst and communications consultant. Frequent contributor to 'The Australian' (commentator and leader writer); speechwriter to Malcolm Turnbull in his role as Environment Minister. Currently regular commentator on the Sky News ptrogram 'PM AGENDA' as an analyst of US politics.

Dirk Moses

Dirk Moses has taught history at the University of Sydney since 2000. He spent a semester at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2007.

Meyer Mussry

Meyer is a 54-year-old Sephardi, born in Indonesia and schooled in Singapore and Australia. His search for meaning in life and religion was intensified by the loneliness and dislocation he felt when he immigrated to Australia at the age of 16. He has a BA in Philosophy and an irrepressible sense of humour.

Sarah Myerowitz

Sarah holds degrees in Psychology and Middle Eastern Studies as well as a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service and Non-profit Administration. Sarah was involved in American Jewish communal life for many years, including Hillel student leadership and leading campus trips. She is now Assistant Hillel Director, The Shalom Institute.