Officers
Vivien Lichtenstein
Chair
Vivien Lichtenstein has been active in the Israeli-Palestinian peace / human rights movement for decades, including Jewish-Arab Dialogue and Jews for Justice for Palestinians. Being a child of Holocaust survivors has certainly influenced her approach and activities. She initiated Jewish Greens, was a former Chair of her local party and of the Disciplinary Committee. Now London Region’s Local Party Support Officer and a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.
David Farbey
Secretary
David Farbey, is a semi-retired technical communication professional. Activist and campaigner in Barnet, local officer and council and parliamentary candidate in Barnet Green Party, Regional Treasurer for London Green Party. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Member of New North London Synagogue (Masorti). Former council member of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators.
Zack Polanski
treasurer
Zack Polanski is the Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales elected in September 2022. He is a London Assembly Member and chairs London’s Environment Committee, and proposed successfully a motion at the London Assembly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. He also represented the Assembly at COP26. Zack has campaigned for years on Proportional Representation and is working on a Universal Basic Income pilot.
Joshua Alston
Policy Officer
Joshua Alston is an academic at the University of Leeds specialising in Jews in apartheid, South Africa. He is a member of the Kingston and York Liberal communities, and was an active member of the Liberal Youth movement. Joshua was the principal compiler of the Antisemitism Guidance adopted onto the Green Party Framework for Ethics & Conduct in 2021. When not working with the South African Jewish community, or fighting climate change, Joshua is a long-suffering supporter of the English Cricket team and Bolton Wanderers football club.
Jo Bird
Non-Portfolio Officer
Jo Bird is a councillor on the Wirral, coming from a long tradition of Jewish eco-socialists, passionate about equality, justice and fighting all forms of racism. Her grandfathers fought fascism in Europe as soldiers in the British army.
Sam Alston
Non-Portfolio Officer
Jewish Greens Non-Portfolio Officer Sam Alston Non-Portfolio Officer – Sam Alston is a Project officer in Milton Keynes. He was previously a young Greens committee member in the South East and London. His commitment to Green Party aims draws from his Jewish values. Brought up at Kingston Liberal Synagogue, he is now a member at Oxford Jewish community. Previously he has been a youth worker at Liberal Judaism, a staff member of Yachad, a representative on the Board of Deputies, and a co-founder of Na’amod. He is currently a council member for the Zionist Federation.
Elly Stanton
Non-Portfolio Officer
Elly Stanton Elly is a GP in a large Practice in Smethwick, West Midlands. It can feel like a field hospital at times as many of our patients are new arrivals to the UK. She joined the Green PArty in 1987 and also belongs to the Jewish/Muslim Women’s Dialogue Group Nisa NAshim which was conceived as a way of increasing understanding between the 2 communities. Elly has 3 adult children and worships at Birmingham Progressive Synagogue.