About Us

Bnei Akiva inspires and empowers young Jews with a sense of commitment to the Jewish people (Am Yisrael), the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) and the Torah (Torat Yisrael). As the largest Orthodox Jewish youth movement in the UK, Bnei Akiva runs weekly activities, summer and winter camps, tours and gap years in Israel, and so much more!

We’re an inclusive youth movement, so while we have high religious standards, everyone is welcome. And wherever you go in the world, you’ll find Bnei Akiva – we have branches in 37 countries all over the globe!

‘Bnei Akiva’ means ‘the children of Akiva’, and our ideology relates directly to the story of Rabbi Akiva. At the age of 40, after growing up tending flock, he decided that he needed to find out the essence of the Jewish faith. He reasoned that just as something as soft as water can penetrate a solid rock and cause it to erode, so too can the Torah penetrate into himself.

We endeavour to follow Rabbi Akiva’s qualities, namely his love of Hashem, his devotion to the Torah, his love of Israel and the fight for its independence, and respect for work.

Bnei Akiva gives young Jewish people a framework to live a religious lifestyle in the modern world and a mission to make an active contribution to our community and the State of Israel

Bnei Akiva is more than just a cohort of individuals, we are a united community of like minded, young individuals. We describe ourselves as a youth movement, constantly changing and reshaping, moving with the times. To become part of this incredible community, all you need to do is sign up for your Mas Chaver.

Our Ideology is that of Torah Va’Avodah. In a nut shell, that expresses itself as Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy. We at Bnei Akiva couple the challenges of living an orthodox Jewish Life within the modern world as well as promoting the need to make a positive contribution to Israel, in Israel.

In 2019 Bnei Akiva celebrated its 80th birthday in the UK!

You can read more about Bnei Akiva’s history by clicking the button below.

A Brief History

Summer Machane

Experience Machane this summer – Years 3-10!

Dates: 1-14th August 2023

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Yom Ha’atzmaut!

Join us this year in Kinloss to celebrate!
More Details

HACHSHARA – Gap Years!

Join us for a formative year in Israel with our Torani and Kivun programmes.

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Mas Chaver

Bnei Akiva is more than just a cohort of individuals, we are a united community of like minded, young individuals. We describe ourselves as a youth movement, constantly changing and reshaping, moving with the times. To become part of this incredible community, all you need to do is sign up for your Mas Chaver.

Mas Chaver Form

Our ideology

Our Ideology is that of Torah, Avodah v’Aliyah. In a nut shell, that expresses itself as Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy. We at Bnei Akiva couple the challenges of living an orthodox Jewish Life within the modern world as well as promoting the need to make a positive contribution to Israel, in Israel.

Constitution

Meet the Team

Gidon Schwartz

Gidon Schwartz

Mazkir (National Director)

Gidon manages the Mazkirut and is responsible for the strategic direction of the movement. He is the National Director and represents the Movement to the wider community. In his spare time he has a penchant for the theatrical, and moonlights as an extra in Cats - The Musical

Ben Rothstein

Ben Rothstein

Chinuch Worker

Ben is responsible for all the educational content of Bnei Akiva. This includes publications such as Shabbat Lashem and weekly chovrot for Sviva. If he's not writing letters of complaint to Collins Dictionary, Ben can be found painstakingly trawling through previous editions of the Financial Times for obscure Bnei Akiva references.

Anoushka Goldman

Anoushka Goldman

Camps & Social Action Worker

Anoushka is in charge of Bnei Akiva's Winter and Summer camps, as well as all our Social Action events. In her time away from the office she can found wandering the hills of Cheshire with her binoculars, and is known as the country's foremost expert on the migratory habits of the Red Kite.

Rafi Kleiman

Rafi Kleiman

Svivot & Hadracha Worker

Rafi is responsible for our numerous local communities (Svivot) across the country, and manages our teams of volunteers. He has recently put aside a promising hop-scotch career at Leeds Casuals to focus on his real passion, the building of and distribution of climbing frames.

Rav Avichai and Rabbanit Aviya Goodman

Rav Avichai and Rabbanit Aviya Goodman

Rabbinical Shlichim

Rav Avichai and Rabbanit Avia Goodman are based in Hendon with their 4 children - Reut, Netta Zion, Eitan & Hadar. They are our Rabbinic Shlichim and provide halachic guidance to the tnua.

Lani and Elad Eshel

Lani and Elad Eshel

Northern Shlichim

Lani and Elad are our Northern Shlichim. They look after Chaverim in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and beyond - putting on events, supporting Svivot, and engaging with the local communities. They are based in the Manchester Bayit. They have three children, Yehuda, Yishai and Ayala

Bnei Akiva is made of our Chanichim, Madrichim, Bogrim, Nivcharim, Mazkirut and Shlichim, with each category providing a key role to the Tnua. There are currently six nivcharim, and they are Joel Kaufmann, Michal Benjamin, Rafi Davis, Raphael Kastner, Shira Neville & Tamara Kay