Rabbi Dr alan a kimche

Rabbi Dr Alan Kimche was born in Melbourne in 1952 and came to London with his parents in 1958, where he was educated at the Avigdor and Hasmonean schools. He went on to yeshiva in Jerusalem, first at Yeshivat Kol Torah for 3 years, where he learned under the guidance of HaGaon R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, who became his lifelong mentor. He continued his yeshiva studies at the Mirrer Yeshiva for a further 5 years under the guidance of Hagaon R. Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l. He received his first rabbinic Semicha from R. Yaakov Fink zt”l, the Av

Beit Din of Haifa, and later continued his halakhic studies with Rav

Yehoshua Neuwirth shlita, (author of “Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata”) from whom he received an advanced Semicha.

In 1976 he married Via Evers from Amsterdam with whom, baruch Hashem, he has seven children. Via is a qualified educator in her own right and fully involved as the Rebbetzen of the Ner Yisrael Community.

After his marriage, Rabbi Kimche continued for a further 2 years in the

kollel of the Mir Yeshiva and then from 1980-1984 taught in Darche Noam Yeshiva (Shappels) and in Michalala College for Women. In 1984 he came to London and began two new initiatives. One was the very successful adult education Da’at programme, involving several weekly lunch-time shiurim for businessmen and women in the City and West End of London. At the same time, he launched a new minyan in Hendon together with a small group of dedicated individuals, which continues to grow and develop under his leadership into the vibrant community that Ner Yisrael is today.

Rabbi Kimche completed his BA in Philosophy at University College London in 1978 and later worked towards his Masters and PhD. He received his doctorate from London University in 2005 with a doctoral thesis entitled: “Kavod Habriyot: Human Dignity in Talmudic Law”.

His involvement in university level secular studies, combined with his

extensive yeshiva and halakhic training, has given him a special quality

of intellectual Torah knowledge that is widely appreciated at Ner

Yisrael and beyond. He gives regular shiurim on a wide range of topics,

specializing in Jewish philosophy and halakha, contributing to

rabbinical conferences and a wide range of educational programmes.

Rabbi Kimche also gives a very popular Daf Yomi shiur, which is now in

its second 7-year cycle. He also teaches and counsels many people on an individual basis, and is a sought-after posek, answering personal and halakhic questions from people throughout the UK and beyond. Among Rabbi Kimche’s communal achievements has been the 15-year project of initiating, planning and completing the North West London Eruv.

Rebbetzen Via Kimche

Born and raised in Amsterdam, Rebbetzen Kimche was very involved in Jewish youth groups. After attending seminaries in Israel, she attained a BA in Psychology, Education and Women’s Studies, a Diploma in Childbirth Education and a certificate in Marriage Education. Today she teaches and counsels countless brides, from Ner Yisrael and beyond, and runs preparation classes for expectant parents about childbirth and parenting.

Rebbetzin Kimche has been teaching Torah for over 25 years. She has taught post-high school girls, tutored at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary in Israel, set up and taught in the Ner Yisrael Women’s Learning Programme, and designed and implemented a curriculum in Jewish personal and social health education for sixth-form pupils at Hasmonean Girls High School.

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kimche have seven children and seven grandchildren.