While I was growing up my dad, Rabbi Tony Bayfield, was head of the Reform Movement and my mum, Linda, was headteacher at Akiva school. You could say Reform Judaism runs through my veins.
After a straight path from Henrietta Barnett school to reading theology at Bristol university, to a year at HUC in Jerusalem, I enrolled on the rabbinic training programme at Leo Baeck college.
I was ordained in 2006 and came to work at FRS – initially as the associate, but shortly after I was made Principal Rabbi.
The community has accompanied me on life’s journey since that time, celebrating with me when I was engaged and married to my husband Jonni, and again in 2011 when we had our son, Ben.
Having personally lived through some challenging times, as well as supporting members through their own difficulties, I have been inspired to create the Mikveh Project UK. I hope to see “Wellspring”, a centre of wellbeing with a mikveh at its heart, opening very soon.
During my time with FRS, I have watched the membership almost double in size, and the clergy and professional team grow – but hope we continue to feel like a small and closely connected community.
