Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzen Channah Hambling started at Birmingham Central on 20th July 2021.
Rabbi Yossi grew up in Ilford, Essex. Encouraged by his family and his Shul Rabbi, Rabbi Yossi became increasingly involved in Shul leadership through his teenage years. Later, he helped to revive the local branch of Bnei Akiva and headed it until he completed his secondary education at Hasmonean High School.
From Hasmonean, Rabbi Yossi went to Israel and studied in Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years. He then returned to London to study Hebrew and Jewish Studies at UCL, which both broadened his understanding of Jewish civilisation and fuelled his love for Jewish history.
After graduating from UCL in 2018, Rabbi Yossi and Rebbetzen Channah moved to Israel on a Mizrachi UK Rabbinic Fellowship. Rabbi Yossi studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion, was a participant in Shalhevet, the leadership training programme of the World Mizrachi Movement, and completed his Semicha through Mizrachi’s Musmachim programme, under the guidance of Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman.
Rebbetzen Channah grew up in Finchley, London, and ran the Woodside Park branch of Bnei Akiva for two years. She attended Hasmonean High School and then went on to study at Midreshet Ye’ud in Israel for a year, where she combined Torah learning with volunteering work.
Upon her return to the UK, Rebbetzen Channah obtained a Foundation Diploma in Fashion Design from the University of the Arts, London, and a BA in Fashion from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.
In Israel, Rebbetzen Channah participated in Shalhevet and Lapidot, a Women’s Educators Programme run by the Matan Women’s Institute for Torah Studies and the World Mizrachi Movement. Rebbetzen Channah has also qualified as a Kallah (bride) Teacher, certified by the Rabbinate of Gush Etzion.
Rebbetzen Channah has experience in retail and administration in the UK and is a keen knitter. She plans to launch a small business in the near future, focused on creating knitted headbands, hats, and scarves, in tandem with her career as a Community Rebbetzen.