Rabbi Dr Robert Ash

Rabbi Ash came to South Africa from England in late 2007, where his most recent work had been as Rabbi of Newcastle (Upon Tyne) Reform Synagogue for five years. Rabbi Ash is a graduate of London University where he obtained a degree in Religious Studies. He later undertook further academic research and received a doctorate in Sociology of Religion from Leicester University.
Before becoming a Rabbi, Dr Ash worked for twelve years in the UK Civil Service, mainly dealing with immigration and visa work. At the beginning of the 1990s he moved over to employment in private sector businesses, including the financial services industry and marketing in national print media.
Dr Ash returned to full-time study at the age of 40 and entered training for the rabbinate at Leo Baeck College from where he graduated in 2002 with further degrees in Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
Rabbi Ash has taught in several UK universities, including Leicester, Newcastle and Durham. He was elected to Newcastle City Council as a Liberal Democrat councillor.